MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES What is Polymer Clay?    Polymer clay is a plastic-based material when heated becomes very hard and durable. The ways in which this remarkable medium differs from traditional earth-based clays are what makes it so fascinating.    I have chosen Polymer clay as my medium because of its remarkable versatility in color, texture, structural elements and design possibilities. One of the techniques that I use in many of my designs is called Millefiori. Millefiori means - thousand flowers- in Italian. It originated as a glass making technique using colored glass formed into a bundle of various shapes and colors. When the bundle of glass, that is shaped like a long tube, is viewed from either end the pattern of a star or other detailed shape is seen. After the glass is fused, slices are taken off of the cane and used to decorate a variety of art forms such as jewelry, sculpture, metal and glass. Millefiori has influenced the history of decorative art from ancient times until the present day and now this precise and beautiful technique has been adapted to Polymer clay.    Please note that all of my Millefiori designs are created purely from the colored clay...no paints, inks or pigments are used. All of my jewelry and sculpture designs are original, one of a kind, unique and intricate. They are a combination of Millefiori cane designs, sculpture, other clay techniques, glass, metal, beads, precious stones and interesting found objects and antiques. Enjoy!