To start this 3 3/4" vase I will make a translucent and gold butterfly cane. Two brands of translucent clay - kato and sculpey, are mixed together. Kato is a very durable clay, but a little too firm for this cane. By mixing in a smaller portion of sculpey I achieve the consistency I need. Gold and tan clays along with my new translucent clay, are rolled to thicknesses of 3, 5 and 1 on my pasta machine. With a small round cutter, I cut several circles.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOp2oXyc8KlYUJ8GaQRMS-lnyxtDV_DehNDOn4Dlo-H6bbEzVwszoc5fbB1IajepvbEN98egSgYLm1tEfqpapfwYfVqOKnFVO0uVbLzLRygS4BQUA8r0xmgGfh_4ueA8Qum-woPZajVk/s200/4.Arranged.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8uEUZYTn4GdMykxwotWHLTKsy8g27E0MCd9yOwgMJwB8JHutvruPyZR2ikGv-PyEUlhBoiKQicH7PPlc-6W8oOk5d_8Oz8h3omjrMpsi7sl-2x6L_Sql7bvnPLuBDnlhKaNc_OhTMUo/s200/5.ReadyForExtruding.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMkgAd-IlEopR07ByAOfPRPnN_nNwkyH1lhaLBij2lv0_53syu0iTRhHiR7nl4EhEdp6b6Qggdzls5637R92TaAkkvW8RBRGnb3CQJvcIqjxXUXqovCL69kqMNwPFgjRVXIteh_T5omr4/s200/6.Extruded.jpg)
The circles are stacked and packed into the extruder, translucent first. The extrusion forms rings of gold and tan around a translucent center.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_753C3eyghQNw1TUi6Ms8oyunA3qzeazPznRil9Yb3uyVvTHnJeXyzjBbc4dmWYD4tfztpV0xltLYdT4Qr8dp1mKcjnUryFThtwZVvmRhUYdKdu92pqFRAjxB8tPIMGCDa6divlHQA4/s200/7.MoreExtrusions.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYl9JMj3ENXGISiO2lXzs53Y3g7jGa9u4WIOWTzhFM4FrN0ZsVjJyluTKd2KO4U_8L01kZZStzOv3tc6TO6HCplT3ykLmluobuI1jBz4UBGE8dtLexkJpwFr3t3tcncHoQYqEUatSLT8o/s200/8.FlattenedAndRolledThin.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi726sl74FGfYZ_CRNW3REy83h9T0JJNYjz72zEI86aI4zzxmwcGiyPKJ8Rqu9J6iru0cV9CZXgP-YaUB2DhAgZh5Kse0XMZW1DlfmuW12h0WhjQ1aa6N-JOVM8q-iMjW1nn-wiKSfo8_o/s200/9.Stacked.jpg)
Two more extrusions and it's time to start assembling the cane. The three extrusions are rolled to a thickness of 3 and stacked. I trim the ends and make a cut in the middle and stack again, forming a stack of six "stripes".
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fiUUsZ0O1IiCwBQnjjruz-Sp87OGbXWvVtcNF_RamKLZVei6Jkc7aGKWLogXfj51ZCP7aU3gbQWbhqofvsuuZLYdyGK0iwAZNLuFFCQ4PpGtIJMYliIKk1v5R5BdNO3dM4ejh9IUXv4/s200/10.Indented.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnfsBNOxVNmjbdXRfnbgIEkb_lEuYg3fbergFbcp-7W5TEkRdaCCEkHpWcvgYxF1JbZhY5rb4CjnlZbmi_cd5DbY8TSW8SiiTj8pjnStkOTto51kwFGXGfuB86z59Ycpw4uwjSFsYwgk/s200/11.PuttingTheWingTogether.jpg)
Using the handle of my x-acto knife, I form a large groove in the stripes, press in a bull's eye cane and roll to form a slight oval.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxlN8mqvAvkUDX6O4IhoH-RRVZOpAXFgsbR7zcUiHSNyyZn86ArEHTnNBiKWU0sM2F9rRTvYBKLaomyV-wosVF3pxaM66p1PPSxW8VoZAkPKRrMi1riZhFyBJ9XyWeBZgNInFGuMnsU8I/s200/12.AnotherExtrusion.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8yXX6Ye04EG9_xrvtkFdZoGKHjq8Yj3XKOrAPABa4pFkiE2UuTb9tMzWrS_AhaokQRXM1NcTtqJ2R1brhhEwtGR_zAhFEEQEiUpR6Wwd-p4QA-sfQ1Lo3gMShml0ZwI7HHwIgnGQQRw/s200/13.MoreExtruding.jpg)
Next I pack the extruder a few times with gold and tan circles. Twice in a pattern of one tan, two golds, one tan and then twice in a pattern of one gold, one tan.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1IrwzMcVLa4fE4EpFRf5QB25EAe7DDloMQgtFH6-9fh3yyv1v67hO4a6FCLi89NQqMdamOydCOCKbcvriCJJMe7z4ShYwTN7OkLmR_HqbHRqm-0ptLVMPSBTZNcTdzC8B1ftzp4jgNE/s200/14.AddingTheSpots.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqv1sIGr7FoyPzgZgENcavvSJx2RrbiiUjzW7Du9Hodqrw0QtOnBrU3wsa1qSKAwiVYuA2Zn8dNx3VCsLG-_9-dmFZqv7ZXCA7HczhjI9r3s6Qrsg3uiaooK-4sR1HmLaXBS_78YaQQ0/s200/15.FormedWing.jpg)
The new extrusions are placed around the stripes and I form a wing by rolling and then pinching and stretching the top sides.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpn16Ikcrhoghv_BIuHo2-BcDhNzWXgt43S_TYlvDwyko3MQiIip5WADtecmxYPA0x06_8a5IYStIqXqsVDTBrQy0kRDOVuqTQZon-QpZKpnD6UDL-XWbY5n4cSvgrXgrM6W0oKFAlmA/s200/16.StartingTheSecondWing.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-mhfplpjMm-1SwFhF6k4fFqiVn6TMGZ0Zj0Vw8_B5mfny1Lcl5XggU9Mcwu7MxqZ8tZJP3HbsqNqGVwXFaXHBoQrLYItAt5E5IC3G48W9bZYjzfj9s8nUJ8xLUfKj9LoP6eCg2y-wZE/s200/17.ACloserView.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZ7tu7Zvx9f8-91Hbkfvgs1PNsJJm2AIciXi4FCsRzM8GVqEGvpwtPKHbhzI3ZvtT17shJQ-sapAO5SPovdzR9Sz7lVxIi3RL09BXF-zXH3GM79UGZdAxWwcJNhV0lvGvANn7KB2oWOY/s200/18.AddingMoreTranslucent.jpg)
Now it's time to start the lower wing. The extruder is packed again. This extrusion is for the eye spot . Two strips of translucent added to one side form a cane with an off-center "eye".
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm5H5r-QoUbRtalcCtguXsZgK7lt9Tj4iEAx2z5h-2h-lxIlCAAQEuAB08M9_5taVlMr3-FGligX-e9pKuSy0aWu5xzC-KMkMd6zjVjHvwRyOGn1WVhhCZ2Og_4Q7BS8Blp7P7RneRY4/s200/19.BuildingUpOneSide.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrc2N_cI6Hz0UPX9Xx_8M9hdna85mhBGQi0dp16aVO9hnArKUd96dpg0Wtbz3lCgGxxDl3APcOKFHR5xaF6Aj1YbzvRgSryPOCH3Nnw5aeUgLf4UngzicQUUXu42O_UxuUhVqDfoIHYPQ/s200/20.OuterColors.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lkdDZpTSxTo5zhxUX3sXwPAFr6rZzTJgp_zz7DytEq9vRKGndvSrmJhUK8rLe5qIDpLiYJ2FEOkKHOQyjTdFfu0xTphNyMk1kQsOh6XkmYxY5cmlAJKWPM7hsrhLFaXF9aaLNtxABgA/s200/21.AnotherExtrusion.jpg)
The strips of translucent are pressed into place and a sheet of gold and tan is wrapped around it. (Sorry, no photo of the final eye cane). The extruder is packed again to make the edge spots.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoh9vuucrHEme5ZFtvvJkbWHUyHLiB14B6tTjtO-oIz39pK0sMu3H4bQShcjStorOYiKS62-TBIkZ3F0IrytXzsYNlQQd1dB00TRjOOz3iwYkvenPJ8GC1RR8G39FwkK4mPoIRJXp6ksE/s200/22.OneHalfFinished.jpg)
I missed a bunch more photos again - sorry about that. The butterfly got to this stage by arranging another row of stripes with the eye cane and then wrapping them in a layer of translucent and finally more extrusions.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhefna1do3VkppsHfXgQlyMfXad0nBVx5EPWiN0-7NvmnH3vRaeOLOJ1mRsmzRY4zk8ThysVXnQF204Okg7HrUkO_DTFVsZ8WtoBv8MkgT5XXeoCA3j2SmDQxRQruSLhsASGFPJ6Y45LVc/s200/23.MixingTheBackgroundColor.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWqjbwpPUAJwuCm5eThUv8UhidODwqJumm2DnPKyq0YQeL1I_S1eyu7OPZINx6VqNVUbmNJlCmpgu678UyILWLIcdY_4x2nOZPRWnI0UhGYcDF6UHGcQCm6Tx7LtefxMQM6j90uXJcxQ/s200/24.Twisting.jpg)
Here I prepare the background for the cane by mixing chopped translucent (both kato and sculpey) with gratings of white pearl and tan. Twisting the mixture gives it a marbled look.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBhX1wdxFcaaYEMhRBxy7y0OYKQoOXjt3ZFaajnf2hwa39UR1CPja_Y7J_xs45jGNfnxiBc4v5Pt4yn11yPSaaX5haGpcfGjjhaKqPU_3DPpO7pSpCLXp8SylAvaUVAVEEMghUWLY6Qo/s200/25.PackingTheExtruder.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1CIXZZwgrahbZKXdzyryDpUhIs48ffkn2OZRH8EWgNSoX0VwuMdN2LzwF7lLSDPCj3lAsEyEhmRxp_3oi5lBCP9Fsh_cbNsXtQuSrnQM7ci1Qv8k5TUQ62AUqmIID1XjOzIGAKCdEDw/s200/26.FillingTheWings.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn4hDs_yFWFNNyNLy3CY_vZKG41sXG-N30q04loxEl1355rV03Qst3MtpPcIlnqvUISEuMMZ9ZzChKoL60YZPYI0qfZ_0S6EKLEIpXFXw0bNHfEZkLDfxMjUp0Gcn2clP5hYLWOD3PQfs/s200/27.TwoHalves.jpg)
Part of the background mixture is packed into the extruder and forced through a triangle die plate. The triangle fits perfectly between the wings. More background is added to hold the wings in shape. A cut through the middle of the cane, and you have two identical sets of butterfly wings!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDw86aZ31tH4hwf8NLpTD4rr1j5MzeyaAt7GQ3-sIPaIt5XSShDUEGLnuoWb0Y8yCjXKw1Zsj3GPkd6ay9GfZnGkNcHao2kTnODb-1R8FXyCVfHNH-hRTIzlycFpod-7hroiKz2WnvnMg/s200/28.OneLastExtrusion.jpg)
One last extrusion - it's rolled thinner to form the butterfly's antennae and body. More background is added to make the cane round.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDKKejBrOCwUZFCnzB2GmDtS_2UOxAlRBzebpTpGxXMc6cCtpPs4Ju7yi8BZEo4s0QAdY7q-GMSNoQ6Pme1L4SU-rL2u5_Et-sRM0v9uoEZkdivC4MYUuQ2CEewT2Msb92ORA4Gdf/s200/29.MakingTheCameos.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaiVf1CMYnLdmLOWhoRQMB4f4bltXmb1MvfEoTAsfn1cpz71V2RPFbvgI0Z710oPSKRrukIBDGE5fesuhsHMUhSfpQNnyeNr-QVlFI5l0KNTnssHH1oWhI5w1gPB2BJR6gzFrS2PY3oGl/s200/30.FillingOutTheBackground.jpg)
Now, to shape the cameos. A stack of five circles of plain white clay form the base. Forming each base with stacks of cut clay ensures they will all be the same. A cane slice is pressed into place and more background is added.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGeFEmN0oIvR2NUrVpfFfJAB33qtXu7wa09CwRmjUPyXJgQDV49cFSgzSHnCIsFcvb5rxHwFwh7yhb4oonxPohcINTCAQLaQTA8LlRqG-Qysg8dbV7lPnRaMmbONqQ45YOSAYvxkmU3Y/s200/31.BakedAndSanded.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkK1QEq743tZwSvBCAO0pUuqqHZaGQAdZPshgEo8Np3qMy_PwKUwPIMmKdfE_Rgu_oK3Xksk_Ry2CbhdvawpaIl4_VeOPk4-OFTmKeiiKIGMIdimJpw31xMWoEyAmo2geLFraHzIj02Xr/s200/32.Detail.jpg)
All four cameos after baking and sanding.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLNGizQuOMgZRi-JTxW1_zKmiw5-TanngIUMNkn89LbT5nKp5RSM_IoNJ5dfCGrebg70YQpcS60nXKlALtbgbaijAhZRKujtJFHHzftTMyxYBDv-oqviMoHBwTun2MJUdnDOqFoJvGiTQ/s200/33.Chamomile.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnKOz_rC9P7NDKOQqLHY5cHn0aAyHOGRNRbivj0Yh1SdzyatWOkdezmHvHGoqJApQY5HCR9bRFZC5sr1SMhCAFp_zwQBWyIR6_ZjgVwiwaaTEaWj4PNyVT239s1gBSLLjt-191gEkkzB1/s200/34.ArrangingTheMold.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgVriMVzl69VF7qXm0VmW0JSc9zASZkn27gTixmB9YFvAujJ98MAaoW5fFfg_rNWHkWlvVLgPsyH_SDUHnbv66hYn-5ASJaXUqqu__l0-4t-xWjK7TSAjIUVKf1ichpWlBA1fQlvWEBQtm/s200/35.TheImpression.jpg)
And now, for the molds. Each butterfly will have an arrangement of two chamomile flowers beneath it. Using sculpey Elasticlay MoldMaker, I arrange the chamomile, press it in with a roller and then carefully remove it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdGdm153fOTTKLpoctVmbsH9BcLAwIyJfogEgmrwl2FnhKUwxDvw0UhM_D-CUSVhdBrmctHay1-eQv90b3nmavLF-gQ-YTubVSdxUcHk5YG4iw6HIjvHenHvbGbDSNPIs1i2OmTIOsKkv/s200/36.AllFourMoldsBaked.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzB6uN-ehyv-ZeiLzIFDZvpfx61OqUrDVZ8KAE6JuwrFgZhiFdOyc7taobON8EbVUJKTob9GmCNJodaSA9W7tpOPQT_zP4ux0Dku4D51ruQl90RoipfWlKfSyCZF7J1elJEvpBxgh2LsP2/s200/37.MixingTheBaseColor.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwuKCRk7LWGbQJhvpXPgKM4vQlglthJNy2Hk06MGZBbbKBtcXMyqNLgeJUFfs5n3OJsa97_4-VIX5YWGHeNsjedv3Hk8mNfcXDL3EwV9eA-DIR0uoQCHlLzAY95w-rParjyYle81Jo0aik/s200/38.Twisting.jpg)
The four molds baked and ready to go. The vase clay is a marbled mixture of sweet potato colored clay and copper.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqCniiX2QTfvC8rBT_TztXsrMc9SmpeXRvqgEJrZmACiaFFZkMtidGMKv5bxtwuDJc7GA7WVZ_IVnvxLCP3FJTi9oDuOIzBAgjD1ZAxbne1aGUZN4sM8vaY9DvBH9FN6lRg1_usZ4Nn-o/s200/39.TheFinishedMixture.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilVaoDu1em5FvLZh15W-7rr-TkejZquL1sAB6tXBqk8UZmzp5rfBYlEapWRnwvEc4fFO9i-4RUjHP9M6aKY2oNxebPvQ1CX1LpXy7L91MwlkhlYavRlsS5JM62VHC_Oj3qBnsvuoSD6tod/s200/40.PreparingTheMold.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqz8ewBSSt_LhhIrQX0XHquIOqXThwYF0nTpST8dKM7V-WxlAWSpAwTuCEin-jyCsdR4dx4SiDdUrHkuE0oio3j_ucmFoulpH5JCPbyHZzhjspougCAIRk1SpWIDQ1JF2YuMlp-pycJMk/s200/41.FillingTheMold.jpg)
The molds are bushed liberally with water to keep the clay from sticking. Using my fingers, I press the clay into the molds. More clay has to be packed into the flowers to make them level and then the entire piece is smoothed with a roller.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mLqKMUDyO8_M3cw4HqBMwTx6fOC1KaG44obTb_iEBKmZuDQbIiDFYKtvQxt7HdOwDkDZbnenpJ1GDkstZxPOisUwTHe1s_6_qQopiexhlEBTUAyhMedHP-w5Y6CM6QZVcn8rmxHiXkwo/s200/42.TheMoldedChamomile.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBQ5PwzRlT5tDYG-uBpQ5w6plQay9KSJOcmsgoLjymNlAXXwbP_VJa7NBpPNUrIxeRrPlXVwVh02ljh-lu3ICgJK6bE6FO0iX2nS0QEDMqOknZbhKRfD6NUHOJmh_vOEXE2VjxBRf8HM9/s200/43.AllFour.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi147sTSVc7Ycf_C1pqCPsNRrWWdbLbFNc6SqjozzaGAXhLancRdmDCMLupC5Y93BNBjiqv-qMiXpCm2hk1ZVDeEMfCwT7Oyd06psEBnUP_bk9fDhORGNEcZewb0SAKtFO6s29LmtMaT-i1/s200/44.ApplyingToTheVase.jpg)
The four chamomile castings are applied to the vase and baked.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZuCIgjmXvKb4I4dtLN3QFqE3gt0mV_PCfY9F39FfuW30-qABKet3nqvxu4RhknFg4nhdTSdlc4WKMbsYqRoaQtGWgegkv2RfvBIdaLTYlkouykzLwcDl8rYD2R3zT7H3kGiobfvXUpUtJ/s200/45.FilledIn.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxoxF7NfklNKdvdQt5BMTTj6WMcX2P14Jgswa6vVZAaMTdp-jtyKQHn2ms7gf2imLl7SQhmKI_NXWU1ZL9YnvdhX91cp5LPvJ9U1HFLJP3liZuyr4QyHwou0JD-T9Mu6_fVqAeDGbspu4/s200/46.TheCameos.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4VDykExtNJ7EepFpcSMjGMtTJ5q_uP1JsexKOtSaF6Oh-pCmOmbv3Ti9Mb81cj0YNDSBfWEA5ChhcQrw-HnbuNUdL82E4Speqk4gvj1uxZHWHkFC_w5ZD42btpgETliAcqEEf4XcDTMT/s200/47.FinalDetail.jpg)
After baking the background is filled in and the cameos are put into place. A few last details and the vase is ready for the final baking...
...And here it is baked and with a wash added.
Just had to say you are SO talented and giving thank you very much for taking the time to give such wonderful gifts to us - Sherry
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome Sherry! Thanks for stopping by today! :-)
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