I was trying to recreate Sue Heaser’s perfectly worked spiral cane when I started to make these beads out of left over polymer clay. However, a lack of practice and patience resulted in a skew-whiff pink and white version which I decided to use regardless. The black and white ‘spiral’ cane was deliberately made to emulate the first.
With the remainder of the clay, I made three sausages. I divided them into equally sized pieces before rolling them into beads. Each of the spiral canes were then sliced and divided out so that there were 3-4 slices for each bead which I then applied before rolling them into the surface. There is no need for glue as the clays blend together easily.
Each bead was given a hole with a thin knitting needle. I then baked them in a cool oven for 30 minutes. Baking the polymer clay turns it into a hard and durable material. Remember to bake in a well ventilated room and not to use ovenware that will be used for cooking food. I use disposable tin trays, lined with baking parchment.
When the beads cooled, I strung them on a length of black elastic.
Allison Holland