Vid #180: “Very cool!
I know Cindy is going
to make this easy for us.
She always finds ways to
make the steps easier than
ever!” ~Phaedrakat

When working with polymer clay to make beads and canes, it is always good to know several different bead shapes that you can create to keep your work fresh and interesting.

One classic polymer clay bead shape, popularized by Polymer Clay Artist Karen Lewis (aka Klew), is the Leaf Pod Bead. This week I’m going to show you my spin on the pod bead shape, by using several different cane varieties other than the traditional leaf cane. As well, I’ll show you how to modify the size and shape of the pod to give you an unlimited number of unique bead design possibilities for this fun project.

You’ll be amazed how this simple bead building technique will allow you to make pods shapes that resemble everything from flower buds, to pine cones and even fuchsia blossoms.

Just LOVE those pod beads you made with the feather canes. I do believe it is going to be a VERY BUSY weekend at my work table. Can’t wait! ~Marlene-C

These are stunning!! I think my favs are the pod-looking ones, especially the one that looks like a flower with leaves. Can’t wait to learn this! ~Elizabeth-S

Very cool! I know Cindy is going to make this easy for us. She always finds ways to make the steps easier than ever! I love the samples in the preview video… cool “pod” beads done many different ways. ~Phaedrakat

PODS ! I have wanted to do pods. Now I can. Thanks to the Dream Team, again. ~Patt-W

On Friday, Nov. 19th, 2010 at the Polymer Clay Library (Vol-030-3), you will learn how to you can take any polymer clay cane and use it to create a variety of interesting polymer clay pod beads.

Please Note: A general prerequisite for all of my weekly tutorials is that you have a good understanding of the polymer clay basics, including: conditioning clay, using a pasta machine, clay blade and other simple tools, making Skinner Blends or Teardrop Blends, baking clay, as well as sanding and finishing. If you need help in these areas, my Polymer Clay Beginners Course will get you up to speed quickly. There is also plenty of free information on this blog. Use the search box at the top of the page to find articles on specific topics.

Supplies & Tools: Video-030-3 Pod Beads:

• Polymer cane (any design). I use a Glow-in-the-dark Jelly Roll Cane as my demonstration bead, but also show examples using…
  … >> mitered corner canes,
  … >> traditional leaf canes, and
  … >> a variety of scrap clay feather canes.
• Scrap clay.
• Clay blade.
• Needle tool or bead piercing pin.
• Cornstarch.

The full version of the Vid-030-3 Pod Beads video will be posted in the Polymer Clay Members Library on Friday November 19th, 2010. But if you would like to see a sneak peek intro clip right now, scroll down the page a bit to the video player below.

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Here’s That “Link Below” Referred To at End of the Video
>> Polymer Clay Tutorials <<

The full version of the “Pod Beads” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Volume-030 Back Issue Package.

Customer Feedback About Membership Value:

Another doh! moment. I am constantly amazed to discover after watching these tutorials that I have been doing things the hardest way possible. You would think that just once I would figure out the easy way to do something, but…… no. These tutorials are definitely worth the price of admission. ~Joanne-B

I guarantee, and everyone here will back me up, that you can’t go wrong in becoming a member. So many have said they thought they knew how to do a technique Cindy has done a tutorial on, only to watch her way and realize she does it better and/or faster. The video quality cannot be beat – all shots are up close, in focus, and of terrific quality so you actually see exactly what it is she’s doing, in addition to her easy to understand, step-by-step instructions. She has taken so many of us from “fumbling newbies” to actual artistic creators in such short periods of time it’s almost unreal, and I know a lot of us wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are today if not for her tutorials. Her motto is “I learned by making the mistakes – Now you don’t have to” and that’s exactly what she does – she tries things out and presents them to us after they pass the Cindy test! So that small amount every three months is actually a great money, and time, saver! I hope you decide to join us! ~Tanya-L

The following topics are included in this week’s Polymer Clay Tutor Library, Pod Beads video tutorial:

• See examples of several pod beads, pendants and earrings in a variety of pod bead shapes, using a variety of different cane patterns.
• Discussion of how the basic bead shape is formed as well as some ideas for giving them your own personal look.
• Learn how to make cool pod beads that resemble anything from pine cones, to leaf pods, to flower buds and even fuchsia blossoms.
• Plus find out just how easy it is to create your own one of a kind polymer clay art beads.

The full version of the “Pod Beads” preview video shown above, is now available for purchase at the Polymer Clay Library in the Volume-030 Back Issue Package.

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