Clay Extruder Flower Mod Canes – A New and Innovative Technique
"It is probably the fastest & easiest way to make flower canes
I have ever seen!"
~Cindy-L
One of the best thing about the web is how it allows people from all corners of the globe to share ideas and adapt them to come up with their own way of doing things.
This is the case with a cool idea that Nathalie from the French blog Parole de Pate, came up with recently. It is a technique for making a flower version of the mod cane using an extruder, a die and a bead core adapter.
Then Galina who is from Russia, ended up modifying the technique. She did not have the bead core adapter, so instead used two different dies and a rubber ring to accomplish similar results.
Since both the French site and the Russian one are published in languages foreign to me, it took a bit to figure out exactly what they were doing. I played around with the idea, trying many different combinations of dies and clays before I knew how and why it worked. It is actually very simple, but there are a few things that you can mess up if you do it wrong.
The beads in the photo above, were made with canes from my experiments with the technique. I'll show you how to make this cool flower mod cane in a video if you like. It is probably the fastest and easiest way to make flower canes that I have ever seen.
Let me know if you're interested, and I'll add it to the growing list of tutorials on my "to film" list.
I have to say how much I appreciate you people that share your experience with clay with all the world. I honour all the excellent women-teachers-clayers that during all these years exchange their knowledge with us in the foreign countries. I am the only teacher in my region, Rhodes Greece, that after a long personal journey claying, I have the satisfaction to enter into one of the best private schools in Greece in a regular basis weekly the lesson-activity of polymer clay, because the manager is a fanatic admirer of the work we do with the kids, 4th grade up. Thanks again. ~Helen-L
What a small world! Just think, not too long ago this would be just a dream. My grandmother is 95 and when she was born no cars were invented, no airplanes, no good way to travel except by train. Now, all we have to do to visit with friends and share information is to "log on!" ~Catalina
Filed Under: 07: Cane Work, 14: Feature Guests by Comment. 
Leave a Comment
Comments on Clay Extruder Flower Mod Canes – A New and Innovative Technique
4:01 am
Good Morning, Cindy,
This is a "must have" technique I think. Hopefully many others will say the same. Looks like so many possibilities I may have to eat once a week!
I hope everyone will visit the two sites you highlighted, "Parole de pate", this puts the little French I know to the test, what fun! and be sure to click on "blog", things are beyond anything I have seen. Didn't have much time at "Galina" but will return there soon. What marvelous clay artists are in our world only to be discovered by a click of a mouse key. Thanks for this inclusion today. We're going to have to find a way to stretch these 24 hr. days….
The books are coming along fine, first Christmas gifts are ready for the oven.
6:07 am
Very interesting! I went to the site and looked around. I noticed down the list on the left hand side there is a translation option. I wrote and asked for the translation (just to see how it would work). But even better would be to see a video by Cindy! Yes add it to the list! I think you may have to start doing videos more than once a week to keep up with all the ideas! lol
6:09 am
How interesting! Just looking at the pictures opens up many ideas. I think a video would be great. Just to let you know I tried one of your recommendations, PYM II spray. I love it! And have a matte spray ordered to use on my sculptures because I don't want any shine. It makes the bead and chains feel and look so good. After putting them through the rock tumbler, etc. and then with the spray, they are just like satin. I've used it for other things also. Yesterday's blog explains. Thanks for letting us know about it. I have so much catching up to do! Love your site and your videos! Hugs, Lynda
6:17 am
Love the extruder flower cane beads! they look like they have a 3-D effect. I hope you'll make a video for us. I bought a good extruder so I would love any projects you can teach us.
Thank you for everything you do for us.
6:39 am
Absolutely, count me in! I agree these have a lot of potential, thanks Cindy for so many fresh, fun ideas to look forward to. Can hardly wait ;0)
6:46 am
yes! By Christmas?!
edie
7:02 am
Hooray for new techniques!! (and good videos to learn from!) :)
7:06 am
I would love a video! I saw the technique on Parole de Pâte a while ago but I wasn't sur I understood it…
8:03 am
Fabulous! Count me in
9:56 am
Absolutely!
11:03 am
oh: yes please sooner rather than later (how about now) ONLY KIDDING, but yes please Cindy, i will have a look at the two sites as well it will break my bordom of not having much to do here, i miss my work room, and my husband but its great having your blog to go on i dont feel quite so isalated, i will have so much to make when i get home next week
11:34 am
Hi Cindy,
I would love to have the technique in a video.
11:38 am
@Cindy Graveline:
Cindy I visited your website and love the flower cane you made on Wednesday, November 4th. It is beautiful and would love to know how to accomplish this. The colors in todays flower cane remind me of our southwest/Native American colors. Very nice work. The pendant shape reminds me of arrowheads. Again my love of the southwest and our first nations. Continued success to you.
11:47 am
@JoyceM:
Thanks Joyce! :) I found the technique in a book. I made my own tutorial but I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post it since it came from a book…
12:07 pm
@Cindy Graveline:
I guess our Cindy L will have to answer that one. I would be interested in purchasing the book if it is still in print. There's probably other items of interest there also. Thanks for your quick reply.
1:54 pm
@JoyceM: The book is in French and is available on amazon.ca — do a search for this author: SOPHIE ARZALIER (she only has one book listed)
2:23 pm
@Cindy Graveline:
Thank you, Cindy. My french is very limited. I'll have to think about this, it would certainly be a challenge.
3:36 pm
Oh yes Cindy, add it to your growing list. Yay, more ways to use my extruder! :)The 3-D effect is cool…
~Lisa
7:29 pm
Please!!!
9:17 pm
Love the extruder flower cane technique and yes yes yes would love a video the sooner the better. I am trying to get a lot of beads made right now so the easier a method the better for me. This idea looks so promising. You amaze me more and more Cindy. Please try to fit this in soon. Beading away. Peggy
9:43 pm
Went to Parole de pate went through kind of fast don't have a lot of time right now. I hit the translation and was WOWED what absolute beautiful beads. Thank you for the site Cindy. I can not say this enough Cindy you are fantastic in every way. Again please yes to the video I know you will teach us in a way we will be making those beads by the dozens in no time. Thank you for being you, Your parents must be glowing with pride!!
7:23 pm
I am especially interested in how to get the effect of a core without having a core die -that would be *so* helpful! I've been trying to decide whether or not to invest in the core dies and/or finding out where to get a set that will interface with my Makin's extruder. This would be an excellent tute and I hope it's pretty high on the list!
edie
11:54 pm
We placed a Guild bulk order and my core adapters arrived for my Makins extruder. WOW. I spent all day today playing with it for those hollow cores. I also got to do a mokume gane technique I found on the internet using the Makins extruder.
BTW just search for Google Translate and you can enjoy any foreign language site in your own language, mind you sometimes the translations are hillarious.
Cheers
12:55 pm
Lawrence, I tried the Google translate and it worked great!! Thanks so much for that.
4:19 am
Must have Cindy!….(please)
Cara
8:57 am
As it turns out, my suggestion to create a video tutorial for you guys about this extruder flower cane technique, caused a bit of stir. The issue was about giving credit where credit is due, which I can totally understand… and which I have absolutely no problem with at all. In fact, I think it is very important to acknowledge the accomplishments of others as much as possible. This is why I provided direct links in my article above, to both Galina's Russian blog, as well as to Nathalie in France at the Parole de pate site.
Now since the Internet does such a great job of keeping things open book or above board, I had the opportunity to dialog with Galina yesterday. I was so relieved to find out that her command of the English language is very good! The link by my name will take you directly to Galina's blog where you can read what we discussed.
Everything is fine now and Galina has given her blessing for me to proceed with my video tutorial. Thank you Galina. The last thing I want is for other polymer clay artists to be upset with my teachings.
So all of you can look forward to seeing this video in early December (Vol-019). I'm going to base my tutorial on Galina's approach, which does not require the core adapter that Nathalie uses. I think Nathalie's method is great too, but I know many of you do not have a core adapter for your extruder at this point. Besides… you know me… I like to keep things as simple and easy as possible.
Stay tuned…
4:18 am
Hi Cindy,
WE can translate the Nathalie's site using this link translate.google.com/
5:16 pm
OH yes please, that would be a great vid !
1:47 pm
I got so excited when I saw the technique. Ran to my studio and set it all up. No matter how much I extrude it just comes out 4 ugly little strands. It just won't make one. Guess I am going to have to wait for the video from Cindy.
6:59 am
I opened up the extruder and put one disk of clay over the adapter pin and voila' flower cane. I didn't use clay with enough contrast but at least now I can duplicate the idea. Thanks so much for sharing the link!
12:56 am
I can't wait to have a go at this — you make it look so easy! Many thanks for yet another wonderful technique so clearly explained.
2:20 pm
I'm so glad to hear about everyone's enthusiasm about this technique. Thank you to all of you who have posted your comments above.
For anyone who has not seen my latest video post about this extruder flower cane technique, you can click on the link by my name to go there now if you like.
8:19 pm
@Cindy Graveline:
I decided to buy Sophie's book "Tout sur… les bijoux en pate polymere" and it arrived this week. What a wonderful addition to my other clay books. I was surprised just how much I understood. It will still be a challenge as it has been many years since I've used what little French I knew so will have to use Google interpretor or the like at times and that will be fun in its own way. It will be after the first of the year before I try any of the projects there but am looking forward to it. Thanks again, Cindy, for passing on the information.
8:38 pm
@JoyceM: I'm glad you like the book! :)