My first Cigar styled pen in millefiori. Christmas colors

[CreativeCanes]

When I first saw the bushings for these kits, I was a little hesitant at making them in a millefiori style blank. The angles from one end to the other wasn't an easy task for a beginner. I had to shape and slice my canes according to the thickness I needed for the different ends. I couldn't roll this one to get a flat surface (due to the middle bushing being joined) so I had to smooth out by hand and work each slice of clay in with my fingers.
With no lathe to help shape and with the millefiori being delicately thin I had to rely just on feel alone.
No finish on this pen, just sanded and polished the clay.
This style of pen would be much easier to make in a kaleidoscope style of cane work and then shaped on a lathe. Ahhh one day! lol
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
Have a safe and happy new year all.
Mel

 

[Dale Allen]

That looks fantastic. I think you nailed it with the hardware cane matchup.

 

[Dale Allen]

Melanie, if I may ask?
What exactly do you mean by a 'kaleidoscope style of cane work'?

 

[CreativeCanes]

That looks fantastic. I think you nailed it with the hardware cane matchup.

Thank you so much Dale.

Melanie, if I may ask?
What exactly do you mean by a 'kaleidoscope style of cane work'?

It's a cane design that you don't need to layer to get the effect, you take slices of the cane and add directly to the tube and just join up each slice at the seam. A kaleidoscope cane blank can be shaved on a lathe like wood and not have to worry about losing design as it's the same all the way to the tube. The millefiori ones, if you take too much off you can lose design.
A millefiori needs to match up with the bushings where a kaleidoscope can be made on the proud side to allow for giving it a curve.
I hope I explained it ok.
This is a pic of one of my kaleidoscope canes.

 

[Jim15]

Awesome work.

 

[Dale Allen]

OK, I see now. Your avatar has a similar design.
I was trying to figure out if it was some other method of applying the millefiori.
I have done some in the past that turned out just that way and the flowers were partly shaved away.
I need to get back into this and experiment with some of the ideas I've been thinking about.

Thank you for the info.

Dale

 

[mark james]

Wonderful artistry. The finished pen is excellent.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[magpens]

Superbly done !!!!

 

[OZturner]

Glorious Pen Mel.
Superb Millefiori, Polymer Clay Blank, Spectacular Assembly, Fit and Finish.
Outstanding on the Cigar Hardware.
Congratulations,
Brian.

 

[Bryguy]

Beautiful!

 

[CreativeCanes]

Awesome work.

Thank you Jim.

OK, I see now. Your avatar has a similar design.
I was trying to figure out if it was some other method of applying the millefiori.
I have done some in the past that turned out just that way and the flowers were partly shaved away.
I need to get back into this and experiment with some of the ideas I've been thinking about.

Thank you for the info.

Dale

It is a little different as its not layered as such, each slice of cane would connect to the last slice, not having any overlap. Usually canes with no translucent in them can be done with no background color. It's just straight on the tube. It's also quicker to make and no need to worry about bushing size, just make it on the proud side and then can be turned, unlike the floral that just need a light sanding.
Yes sadly that can happen if too much is taken off. I only recommend sanding by hand so the design can be easily watched. It's hard to fit a lot of design in such a small thickness, so they are very thin.
Always happy to help when I can

Wonderful artistry. The finished pen is excellent.

Thank you for sharing.

Thank you Mark. Appreciate that.

Superbly done !!!!

Thanks so much Mal.

Glorious Pen Mel.
Superb Millefiori, Polymer Clay Blank, Spectacular Assembly, Fit and Finish.
Outstanding on the Cigar Hardware.
Congratulations,
Brian.

Thank you very much Brian, that means so much.

Beautiful!

Thank you very much Bryguy.