A Polymer Clay Tutorial: Folded Kaleidoscope Beads

Welcome to my channel!
Today's tutorial is all about using those bits and left over pieces of canes and blends you probably have stashed away. The original cane was published in my Millefiori book in 2011 but this is an amplification of that simple 2 sheet process. They are one of a kind because they are always different.
After making two canes (I actually shot three but I didn't like the first one - that will happen occasionally!), there is a tutorial on making a simple bead from one of the canes.
Enjoy!
Cheers, D
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[@LisaAFulgenzi]

Love "mom's" cane and whole video, lovely! I miss my parents, too. Both died in 2023, Mom in Jan and Pop in April. married 60 years. So comforting listening to you talk about your folks.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Missing them is the price we pay for having great ones, right? Sorry about your folks. You lost them i the same year? That must have been so very hard. I lost mine 9 years to the day apart. April 13. Dad in 2003 and Mom in 2012. Sure miss them. Take care. Hugs, D❤️

[@barbkeith2697]

When I go to use my old, old stuff, I stick it in a ziplock and put it in my pocket. That helps warm it up. I need to use my old canes. I should make some millifiori canes and make some tiny dollhouse dishes. Thanks for the reminder! ❤ I finally bought a brick of Black Out! And I have a ton of scrap clay, so now I’ll be able to make lots of black clay! 😁 BTW, I really like the original cane. Of course I love the new ones too. Whenever I’ve made beads I have always formed the bead first and then covered it with slices. I love the snake method! I’ll have to give that a try. I wish I had bought a Marks-it when they were available.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Bard, check out the square cane, round bead tutorial. You might find it interesting! Hugs, D kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6HFmI2urbeLd9ksi=7_EoB8DZJR1ZxDkS

[@debbeechy]

Love the Mom's earrings. My Mom would have loved them too.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Deb, they look so much like Moms, right? Yep. Hugs, D

[@DaysieLaing]

I love your videos! So soothing. It’s like a moms hug while teaching us how to do it. All the feels ❤

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Thank you! Cheers, D

[@deetorres424]

I Like the first one with the yellow in it!

[@iammymusictoo8525]

Mrs. Donna Kato, you are a diva in the clay world, you rock! I’m fairly new to the clay and resin world, so I’m enjoying the video’s I’ve found you uploaded for the last four months. My goal is to join your classes soon! I’ll be nowhere close to keeping up, but will not let that deter me, or I may never build on the few skills I’ve developed! Thanks for keeping it fresh and keeping it real, sharing important facts you’ve learned how clay behaves!!! I love your channel so much and am excited to watch your channel grow for you! Good vibes and gratitude sent 🥰

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Thank you so much! I am very touched by your generous and kind words. Polymer clay isn’t the easiest medium - there is a learning curve but it’s not a hard one and in no time you’ll feel like you’re home. Believe it! Hugs, D❤️

[@mrsg3772]

I just need 5 minutes alone with that box of canes! 😂 beautifully done!

[@DonnaKatoArt]

LOL, they're waiting for someone to use them! I will concentrate on that because it's such a common issue. we make them, then...now, I have a favor to ask, would you mind subscribing to my channel. it helps me with the algorythm and spreading my tutes. not sure exactly how but it does. anyway i'd appreciate it very much. big hugs, d

[@mrsg3772]

@DonnaKatoArt done! I just recently found your channel and I didn't realize I wasn't subscribed. I made some starry night canes and made some jewelry and I love it! It's different than anything I've made before. Thank you!

[@chrishodder5645]

Your videos are so insightful, I love watching them as I am new to polymer clay and it is a real learning curve. Thank you so much.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Glad you like them. Chris! Hugs, D

[@Vee_of_the_Weald]

This was very handy. I’m not into whimsical myself, but this flowery cane was really pretty. I’m sorry you miss your parents. I lost mine during Covid (both from cancer) and I’m still recovering. Sending you a big hug from this side of the pond 🇬🇧

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Oh, Vee, both parents lost to Covid? I am so sorry, these days we seem to take Covid for granted and with vaccines, if you're vaxxed, well, you might get sick but it's not so fatal is you're reasonably healthy. I cannot imagine. I lost my parents in 2003 and 2012 - both on April 13 of those years. It was so strange but in a way, we thought it made sense - they did everything together. Sure miss them as you must miss yours. The worst part of getting old is losing those we love so much. Take care. Big hugs, D

[@grittykitty50]

Those earrings are Dainty. And this tutorial was right on time.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

They're sweet, right? Easy to wear, too. Hugs, D

[@BusyBeadBoutique]

A wonderful workshop! Thank you so much! 💜💛💚👏

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Glad you enjoyed it! ❤️

[@John-I-McLeod]

EXCELLENT COLLECTION! ❤

[@DonnaKatoArt]

This is fun, John. Not totally unpredictable but it's a great way to use some canes that need a purpose!

[@willsshepherd2976]

Beautiful. Thanks for showing us around the workshop & how to make the creations. ❤

[@DonnaKatoArt]

You are so welcome! 😊

[@RosasUtopia]

Older than me??? Mrs. Donna do you have an almost 60 year old cane? 😂😂❤❤

[@DonnaKatoArt]

LOL, sometimes, Miss Rosa, it feels like it! Hugs, D

[@Robsquick]

This was like watching polymer clay free styling!!!!! Love it, it’s so fascinating to watch your processes 💜💜💜💜 Robs

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Hi Robs! How are you, kid? Hugs, D

[@cindypage8673]

Wow, just fabulous! I cannot tell you how much you inspire me Donna, I do have a your Miliifiore book, which I love, but I could just listen to you all day! Thank you so much x

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Thank you, Cindy! ❤️

[@iammymusictoo8525]

I feel so lucky to have learned from watching you share your mistakes. It’s given me the attitude to share my own mistakes on my Facebook page, which is inspiring to beginners, imho. Some pieces are wonky because it’s my first attempt, and due to aforementioned attitude, I don’t take myself so seriously & have lots of joy from the craft!

[@DonnaKatoArt]

I think mistakes are really learning opportunities. When everything goes right, then wrong at home, well that's not good! Hugs, D

[@gayefletcher5257]

Very interesting! I have tried this stuff before and gave up on it because it didn’t turn out well. I see some of my mistakes by watching you so thank you. I’m willing to try again. I still have lots to learn. Watching is better than reading techniques and making a mess. I love this project it’s beautiful.

[@cabacou1945]

Thank you, I’m inspired!

[@viviankirkham1677]

The beads are beautiful !!!❤❤❤

[@user-pu3vy7xr1b]

Thank you for this. Beautifully done and very much appreciated!

[@DonnaKatoArt]

youre very welcome!

[@selene4621]

Thankyou so much for this awesome clas, learned so much

[@DonnaKatoArt]

You are so welcome!❤️

[@robertatanganelli2390]

I have your book, it’s absolutely gorgeous!!!

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Thank you, Roberta!

[@SourPatches2077]

This is amazing!

[@rebeccafionacornel6558]

Awesome video tutorial Donna ma'am. 🙂..... i just hope i honestly get started on starting the basic clay work..... or i'll never start...... because i am doing beaded jewelry and i want to play around with different techniques in making unique jewelry by using everything i have learnt..... and i am still stuck with taking down notes on different things that interest me.....

[@Maria_Konsta]

As much as I like calidoscope canes I'm not very good at them.I admire artists like you who manage to have such excellent results. I also love your tranquillity when working and your humour!!Thank you Mrs Donna for the wonderful videos you provide us with such generosity. I only wanted to ask if I may ..show us something that doesn't need so much clay because we are not all professionals doing much quantity to sell.I do some for me and dear friends.Lots of love.❤❤❤

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Hi Maria!. You know, if you do that Kaleidoscope cane with just two sheets of color, you can make a good cane with not a lot of clay. start with a jellyroll, then just fold the sheet here and there. Follow the steps for forcing into a triangle. Instead of making a full cane, cut the triangle pieces separately and fit them together. This method uses less clay. You can also watch this class: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKuZhKmJe7uAi8ksi=JY7jl-kcP8Wafxn6 You use very little clay for this. Hugs, D

[@Maria_Konsta]

Thank you so much!!I appreciate it a lot!!Hugs from me too!!❤❤❤

[@vickygoodwin9771]

You have such little hands and the longer you reduce the larger your knuckles. So very hard to see, the master, and one that loves to create get those painful hands. Thank you for the work you did for us today! Beautiful!

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Yup. You know, my hands look more like my Mom’s every day - she was always doing something. I’m just glad I’m not arthritic. Omg, that would be hard. I just have to be more careful, rest up and remember…I am not a spring chickie, anymore! ❤️

[@diana-lc1]

OK. First time I’ve teared up watching a polymer clay video.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

I do everytime something reminds me of Mom...lots of things remind me of her. Hugs, D

[@cindyjames3686]

Donna, could you make a black-and-white jelly roll and/or bull's eye canes and just keep them handy if you intend to keep making this kind of cane? Then you could add them to re-balance the black and white if you see you have too much color, without making a new black-and-white strip.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

That's an excellent idea, Cindy! Yup. I even have them but I forgot....this is why I have so many canes lying around (that I forget I have)...

[@BBerit]

I would love to know where to get those boxes. I have no good way to store my canes. And THANK YOU for all your free tutorials, I'm a big fan. Love your style.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Hmm. Where are you? 😊❤️

[@BBerit]

@@DonnaKatoArt I'm in Sweden.

[@francesluttermoser234]

I would like to see you make guitar picks. I could use them for a special gift.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Frances, I started a pick class. thank you, I will finish it up. I was on the fence about it...Hugs, D

[@francesluttermoser234]

@@DonnaKatoArt I’m looking forward to the tutorial. I can not get myself motivated to do anything right now, maybe this will help. Thanks

[@user-pu3vy7xr1b]

Real guitar picks? Awesome!

[@cynthiakammann7368]

Wondering where to find the boxes you sure to store canes. Got a link handy?

[@offairhead]

❤

[@BATitaniumman]

Thank you for your videos I am just new to the clay world and after months of watching videos, collecting tools and materials I finally made a signature cane and it turned out multiples better than I hoped it would but now I am addicted and I need to know where you got your cane storage containers? I have a feeling I'm going to be needing a few because I'm an organization freak and don't like my things touching other things, lol! Thank you again for making a complicated thing feel much less daunting!

[@DonnaKatoArt]

The containers are actually shotgun shell boxes! I know Cabelas has them! ❤️

[@BATitaniumman]

@@DonnaKatoArt omg I am a hunter, why did I not see this? Lol! Thank you so much, I am going to go empty my boxes now!

[@TheCreativeDork5]

Donna, where do you get your cane containers?

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Hi! Okay, they're actually shotgun and bullet shell containers. I know, why put them individually in neat plastic boxes? I guess they're for people who make their own? Anyway, Cabelas has some but not sure they have all the sizes or what the sizes are. Did I help? I hope so! Hugs, D

[@gayefletcher5257]

I need more instructions on making canes

[@DonnaKatoArt]

it becomes addictive! Just begin with simple ones and you'll find yourself advancing fast!

[@danielazucca1678]

Hi Donna, can you remind me the kind of box (transparent or not) of the storage plastic boxes? I remember you told us to keep attention cause one could damage the clay (or the other way around …)? Thank you so much!!!!!❤ love you

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Okay Daniela! My Plano boxes are recycle 5. Basically, I look for translucent, not transparent boxes that are flexible, not rigid. Make sense? ❤️

[@danielazucca1678]

Yes it does! Thank you! Good night! 🥰

[@desireemarana4997]

Where do you get your blades?

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Hi Desiree; You know, we used to sell these but them the company stopped making them. Boo. So now, I use my old ones, I still have a small stash. Now, there are other blades out there that are rigid and thick like these. I haven't tried them but they exist. We do have on that has handles on the corners and that's a very nice blade. Good luck! Cheers, D

[@psychology4introverts]

could you share which type of clay works best for this please? Thank you so much.

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Hi! You san use any polymer clay for this technique, just make sure it’s supple and resistant to cracking when you make a sharp bend. Cheers! D

[@karalewis8671]

Hi Donna, where did you get the cases you stash your canes in? I looked on Amazon under shotgun shell cases, and those didn't come up?

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Here’s a link to Cabela’s. Not sure of the sizes because I don’t know the sizes! www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabelas-shotshell-boxes

[@lightbulbnirvana]

Hey Donna, Is it ok to bake beads in cornstarch instead of baking soda? TFS this was a fun post! ❤

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Sure you can. It’s just so much finer so I prefer the baking soda which is also cheaper!❤️

[@sucorradae8565]

Where did you get the box that is holding your canes from?

[@DonnaKatoArt]

You might try a sporting goods store, they're actually for shotgun shells and bullets! Mine only see clay... I think Cabelas has them! Good luck! Cheers, D

[@ThaBiss]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻😘

[@traceyowen6136]

This is probably a silly question and probably something only I'm not grasping but why is the black and white folded back and forth, I'm totally not seeing why? Hope someone could explain the reason to me? 💜

[@DonnaKatoArt]

Not a silliy question at all, Tracey. I do it to add interest and pattern. Sometime you end up outlining but the folding creates curves. Make sense? ❤️