Fabric, Mexican Tile and Polymer



Stepping into a fabric store is a little like Alice going into Wonderland.  There are so many colors and patterns, textures and tools!  I used to sew and that was my excuse to investigate any fabric store in any town I visited.  Now I usually go with a friend who quilts and just look.  But every once in a while I find a piece that I just have to have – just to look at.  Inspiration fabric is what I call it. 


This piece brought back memories of many kitchens and baths and furniture I designed for clients using Mexican tile on the walls, floors, counter tops and accents……NO not all at once! It reminded me of Cinco de Mayo and Tucson with Mariachi bands and colorful flowers. I bought a ¼ yard, set it by my desk and looked at it often.  This week I decided to make some polymer canes and see what I could do using the fabric as the inspiration. 














First the colors are selected and mixed.  Then I started making the black and white cane (bull’s eye) for the center and started building canes to combine into the pattern. 

This shows the ends of the canes that are uneven or not acceptable for a complete slice.  These were used to create the bead, medallions and buttons I made

Canes in progress - pieces of the whole!

This is the same cane in different sizes
 I've learned to save parts of a cane for future use and I've learned to save the leftover clay to make buttons and beads!  In fact, I got so involved in using the scraps after I finished the canes that I have yet to make something from the final cane pictured at the beginning of this post.  (A cane is a roll of clay with a pattern running through it.  It is a term borrowed from glassmaking) 

To make the beads, buttons and medallion shown below, I made the basic shape out of scrap clay and thinly slice patterns from the end of the canes pictured above.  I layered and combined them to create the patterns you see.  For the beads, I added translucent polymer in a pattern to give more interest and depth.  If you look closely you can pick out the different cane patterns as they overlap one another.

Finished Medallion Necklace


Finished Art Beads
 I'd love to hear your responses to my Mexican tile fabric inspiration!
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Location: Prescott, AZ, USA

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