I then reform the block and press it thinner.  I do this all by hand or with tiles but never send the clay through the pasta machine.  I then do the distorting and reforming the block a few more times.  Until I think that there is enough interesting patterns inside.

This are my current blocks of Mokume Gane.  The red one is the one that I just took pictures of the steps for my blog.  The purple is on that I did just because I like purples.  I did use metal leaf in that block.  The blue and silver has translucent and no metal leaf.  I have been making beads and barrettes out of it.  I haven’t sliced into the red block.  I try to let the clay rest before making thin slices.

Posted by Helen in Tips and Techniques on January 14th, 2008 |