Polymer Clay is an incredible medium and one I've always wanted to know more about. Especially those unique "canes" everyone makes. Oh sure, I'd did my research on the internet and found some on line tutorials for cane making. I'd talked to a few friends who have made canes. And I tried my hand at making them myself, with very little success. (read NO success)

So when I saw the new PageSage DVD, Millefiori Story - Creating Polymer Clay Canes, I was immediately interested. It is hosted by Judy Belcher, who is one of the leading artists in the polymer clay field, the cover is beautifully illustrated and the topics covered range from the basics to more advanced techniques and projects. I felt that at the very least I would get $29 worth of information and use out of that dvd, even if the more advanced projects remained beyond my ability to learn. Let me just say....the more advanced projects are not beyond my ability to learn...and I certainly got more than $29 worth of value from that dvd.

One thing I very much like about this dvd is that it covers polymer clay cane making from A to Z. The information is presented in a way that it slowly builds your skill base, starting with the basics and going on thru the more advanced techniques. To my absolute surprise and delight, polymer clay cane making is EASY.

I sat down and worked with a few concepts from the dvd. Fortunately the dvd had explained how to color or tint white polymer clay with products I already had on hand, so my limited pre-mixed polymer clay palette wasn't an issue. I learned the Skinner Blend in no time flat, it is SO easy and incredibly versatile. I learned how to make various types of canes and how to combine each one to create a beautiful new cane. I even learned how to make FACE canes (which not as hard as you would imagine). I made an assortment of fruit canes and learned how to make a polymer clay book cover. And then, if that wasn't enough.....Judy Belcher taught me a few quilting tricks and then showed me how to create polymer clay canes based on quilt block designs (which is totall addictive). Judy also creates some very unique projects that show you what to do with the canes you've made, from jewlery to bookmaking to home decor.

But the best thing about this dvd is that I actually get to SEE someone working with the clay and making the canes and projects, step-by-step. I get to see the little "tricks" the best polymer clay artists have figured out, more often than not its one of those "DUH" kind of moments: common sense solutions to simple problems that just didn't occur to you. Or, I'd see something and think..."OK, that's how you're suppose to hold the blade." or "Now I understand how to cut the can slices without distorting the round cane as I cut".