PageSage Product Review
Millefiori Story

April's
Review
Andrea'
Review
Chris'
Review
Renee's
Review
Lynn Anne's
Review



Review by April

PageSage DVD's are not only educational, but are truly inspiring. Their mission is to produce the best instructional DVD's possible, to showcase talented designers, and to provide inspiration for the craft and hobby community. I have watched several of their previous DVD's and really enjoyed them. Each one inspired me to try something new and experiment with techniques I had not yet tried. I was very excited to be included in the review of their newest DVD, the Millefiori Story - Creating Polymer Clay Canes with Judy Belcher. Working with clay is another one of those fairly untouched mediums I have yet to try, so I considered myself a beginner and was anxious to learn about creating with clay.

The Millefiori Story - Creating Polymer Clay Canes with Judy Belcher DVD I received for this review, was packed with over 141 minutes of polymer clay projects and techniques! The DVD starts with Judy sharing the basic clay tools and supplies you would need have to complete all of the projects. There are nine project sections to choose from:

Also included on the DVD, are extras like tips from projects, bloopers, a resource guide, info on other PageSage DVD's, credits, and a complete gallery filled with all the DVD projects and more! The projects range from basic caning techniques, to intricate polymer clay canes that can be used for home decor, jewelry, and more

For my first project, I wanted to make a clay piece for the front cover of my tag book. I thought the skinner blend Judy demonstrates on the DVD would be perfect for it. I'm also a big fan of alcohol inks, and after learning that I could make any color of clay I desired just by adding them to the clay, I was super anxious to try it out. I rolled out a sheet of transparent clay, then added lime green alcohol ink to one, and sapphire blue to the other. After adding the inks and running them through the pasta machine, they came out perfect. Then I created a skinner blend using both the green and blue clay. To create the design, I rolled the clay sheet over a pretty clear stamp. Then I added some paint to the design, and also used a left over piece of the lime green clay to make another flower accent, which I added to the top corner of the piece. After baking, I painted the edge of the piece to match the tag book, and then used glue to adhere it down.

Title: Creative Tag Book
Products used:
DVD (PageSage "Millefiori Story" with Judy Belcher)
Clay (Van Aken Kato Polyclay)
Polymer Clay Roller (Van Aken Kato Clay Roller)
Alcohol Inks (Jacquard Pinata Colors)
Pasta Machine (AMACO)
Paint (Ranger Paint Dabbers)
Stamps (Fancy Pants)
Tag Book (7gypsies)
Rub ons (Scenic Route & 7gypsies)
Rhinestones (Making Memories)
Glue (K&Company Quick Dry Craft Bond)
Pen (Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust)

I had a lot of fun making different canes to use for my retro bracelet. I created a straight cane and a checkerboard cane using purple and white clay. I used hot pink and white to create the jelly roll cane, and then blended left over pieces of clay from all of the above to make the pretty square charms. I used an awl to make holes in all of them and then put them in the oven. I used jump rings and matching buttons to put the bracelet together.

Title: Totally Retro Bracelet
Products used:
DVD (PageSage "Millefiori Story" with Judy Belcher)
Clay (Van Aken Kato Polyclay)
Polymer Clay Roller (Van Aken Kato Clay Roller)
Pasta Machine (Amaco)
Bracelet/Jump Rings (7gypsies)
Buttons (Autumn Leaves, & Daisy D's)

My third project was inspired by Judy's salt and pepper shakers she created in the DVD. I use chipotle pepper like it's going out of style, so I thought this would be the perfect shaker for my kitchen! I created a skinner blend using red and orange clay, then wrapped it around a glass salt shaker. I used a bottle cap to cut out the bottle cap clay piece. I pressed sand paper against the clay to make a nice easy to hold texture, added another strip of blended clay along with the bottle cap piece, and then baked the whole thing. Afterwards, I added rub-on letters and the metal cap.

Title: Hot Shaker
Products used:
DVD (PageSage "Millefiori Story" with Judy Belcher)
Clay (Van Aken Kato Polyclay)
Polymer Clay Roller (Van Aken Kato Clay Roller)
Pasta Machine (Amaco)
Glass Shaker (Wal-mart)
Rub-ons (Heidi Swapp)

I had a lot of fun trying several of the polymer clay cane techniques in this video. After some additional practice, I look forward to creating more of the DVD projects and beginning some intricate work with clay. I found it necessary to purchase a pasta machine to complete my projects and also heavily relied on the same polymer clay roller Judy used in the video. There are a few other supplies I will need to try out more of the projects, but overall I was very happy with what I was able to create right off the bat and with no prior experience. I think this is a great choice for anyone who would like to expand their knowledge of creating with polymer clay!





Review by Andrea

Millefiori Story - a journey into polymer clay canes and pure beauty!

I have often watched clay projects being created on the Carol Duvall Show and wondered how cool it would be to whip that clay into those beautifully ornate patterns and shapes! It was just terrific to have the latest PageSage DVD, Millefiori Story, jump onto my review schedule even though I had no idea what Millefiori meant! The subtitle "Creating Polymer Clay Canes" made it clear enough for me as I could envision the secrets being revealed in true PageSage fashion. Even though I've mostly used polymer clay in other ways, I knew that I would learn some very valuable tips about creating canes by watching this program.

The DVD cover is the first exposure to the content on this DVD. In full-color and containing beautiful pictures of clay projects, the case alone makes you want to dive in. It turns out the Millefiori is traditionally known as a technique in glass making that can be adapted to clay caning (different colors and shapes combined to form long tubes or rolls of clay). It reminds me of how many quilting techniques are used in scrapbooking, like paper piecing and collage. The DVD is packed with almost 2 1/2 hours of instruction, tips, stories and bloopers, all using polymer clay canes to create art. Judy Belcher is our host with an evident love and full understanding of all aspects of creating with polymer clay. The DVD is chaptered, making it easy to go back to a certain section, pause, rewind or fast forward. The audio is clear with no background noise throughout each section. The lighting is bright and the video is placed well when the projects are created.

The inside of the DVD case has a listing of each chapter with supply listing. I found it very helpful to refer to as I was watching the DVD since I didn't need to take notes for that detail. And speaking of notes, I took plenty of them! Judy was very thorough when explaining the techniques. She does assume that you have a basic understanding of working with clay, so a little reading or previous experience would be helpful before watching this DVD. Judy's explanations are easy to understand and follow. I really enjoyed the camera following her from beginning to end on practically every project. It was great to see where she started to end up at the gorgeous final project.

The first project that I did was following the first project chapter of "Simple Canes". It was enjoyable to work with the clay and get a glimpse of the "striped", "checkerboard" and "jelly roll" cane success. I found that the more you practice, the better you get at it - pretty evident in my checkerboard coming out more like a diagonal slant piece the first time around! I used the tips that Judy gave concerning the trimming and blending of clays and canes to create the cover to this small scrapbook for a photo-a-day project that I'm doing for December. It will be perfect since this is one of the things that I worked on this month!

Title: Ruler Book Album Cover
Products used: Inspiration (PageSage Millefiori Story DVD)
Ruler Book (Junkitz)
Clay (FIMO AMACO)
Clay Roller (Van Aken Kato)
Clay Machine (AMACO)
Clay Cutters & Texture Plate (Makin's Clay)
Acrylic Paint Dabber (Ranger)
Future Floor Wax
Adhesive (Adhesive Tech, PVA Glue)

Next, I just had to try doing a "Skinner Blend", which is making a graduated color cane. I was successful at blending the gray and purple colors quite well! The trick is to stop before the colors completely blend into one color - you need to see the color change from light to dark. The clay is then rolled into what resembles a jelly roll pastry. The roll can be left round or squished into a square shape using finger pressure. After turning the roll square, slices are taken at even intervals, much like a jelly roll dessert! I thought this would be a perfect lid for a memo cube that I was creating for myself. The base white sheet of clay worked well to hold the slices from the Skinner Blended clay. After baking, alcohol ink was added on the surface to darken the clay and give it some color. An extra Grungeboard embellishment in the center completed the lid.

Title: Memo Cube
Products used: Inspiration (PageSage Millefiori Story DVD)
Paper Block (Marco's Paper)
Clay (FIMO AMACO)
Clay Roller (Van Aken Kato)
Clay Machine (AMACO)
Alcohol Ink (Jacquard Pinata Ink)
Distress Crackle Paint and Ink (Ranger)
Grungeboard "A" (Tim Holtz)
Stamp (Stampin' Up!)
Future Floor Wax (mfg)

There are SO many different techniques that I want to try and perfect! It is very therapeutic working with the clay, even when the end result may not be what you originally envision in your mind. This DVD is terrific to go back and watch when trying those different techniques, something that can't be done with a live class. For the small price of $29.95, this DVD will have a permanent home in your library. After mastering the more simple canes, you can move forward into the intermediate or advanced techniques. I think anyone who has worked with polymer clay would learn something from this DVD, regardless of their experience level. Judy shares so much knowledge with the viewer over the 2+ hours that you could watch it many times and pick up some new piece of information. Thanks for providing such a comprehesive caning tutorial PageSage, great work! I can't wait to go play with more clay!





Review by Chris

I must confess that I have never been a polymer clay person. It’s not because I don’t like it, it’s just that I have not had the occasion to do more than very basic projects without any good instruction. My reaction to learning that I would be reviewing a polymer clay DVD was two-fold. First, I thought, “Oh no! I’m no good with clay.” But then my second, more rational reaction was, “Great, now maybe I can learn how to do it right!”

PageSage’s latest release in their educational DVD line is Millefiori Story: Creating Polymer Clay Canes featuring Judy Belcher. As is the case with all of the PageSage DVD’s that I have seen, the quality of the packaging is outstanding. I know there is an old saying about not judging a book by its cover, but when I see the PageSage DVD’s, their covers are always a wonderful representation of the gems that will be found inside. The DVD comes packaged in a heavy duty plastic DVD case. I know I’ll be viewing it a lot and I’m glad the package will stand up to a lot of opening and closing! The front cover features a gorgeous tessellated cane bracelet and the back a fun bangle bracelet of brightly colored pieces of clay fruit. The inside spread includes a color example of a project from each of the chapters in the DVD. These outstanding examples lured me in right away. I could not wait to get started viewing the DVD and creating with clay!

The quality of production in this DVD is excellent. The camera angles allow easy viewing of the projects, Judy’s voice is clear and she speaks slowly enough to allow the viewer to follow along with the project. The projects themselves are outstanding. They are displayed clearly and are certainly eye-candy for the clay enthusiast.

This DVD is all about making “canes” of polymer clay, from which you then proceed to create other objects. A cane is a combination of different colors, shades and shapes of clay, joined together to create a larger, more intricate design. These canes serve as the foundation for creating beautiful and interesting clay projects. This is just what I have needed to learn in order to progress in my clay undertakings!

The DVD starts out with a basic chapter on the tools, supplies and terminology of working with polymer clay. This very informative chapter is a great place for the novice clay artist to begin. The second chapter instructs the viewer in the construction of simple canes. Simple canes can then become more complicated canes and incorporate blending of colors to produce even more variety. Once you have mastered the basics of the cane, you can then proceed to create an amazing variety of beautiful clay projects.

The DVD progresses through several more chapters, each one tackling a more complicated caning technique. The progression of the DVD from simple to more complex allows even a novice (like me) to understand the process and achieve success. Every chapter includes at least one project with detailed step-by-step instructions and then offers a variety of variations in the gallery. If you see something you like in the gallery, you can click on the image and the DVD will take you to the chapter that describes how to create that particular technique.

I watched the entire DVD from start to finish before attempting to tackle even a basic cane. Then I went back to the beginning to work along with Judy to create a project. For my first project I made three different types of cane: checkerboard, stripe and jelly roll. By following Judy’s clear step-by-step instructions, I was able to be fairly successful. I did learn that the checkerboard is harder than it looks but I’m OK with my irregular squares. I think it looks more “handmade” this way!

I used my canes to create a sheet of clay, supplemented with some plain brown clay, to cover an old metal band-aid box. After I had the box completely covered, I pressed it onto a rubber stamp to give the entire surface additional texture. I then baked it according to package directions.

Covered tool caddy
Products used: Inspired by Millefiori Story DVD by PageSage
Polymer clay (Sculpey III)
Clay roller (Van Aken Kato, solid acrylic rod)
Clay knife
Non-stick craft mat (Ranger)
Pasta machine
Parchment paper

One of the techniques that makes clay projects so beautiful is blending colors together. Using two different colors in a blend yields a rainbow of color from the dark shade to the light. One technique used to achieve this is called a Skinner Blend. I created a sheet of skinner blend with the clay colors from my first project and used it to cover the wooden handle of this old awl that I use in my crafting. On this piece, you can see clearly the shading that occurs when you blend colors.

Covered handle
Inspired by Millefiori Story DVD by PageSage
Polymer clay (Sculpey III)
Clay roller (Van Aken Kato, solid acrylic rod)
Clay knife
Non-stick craft mat (Ranger)
Pasta machine
Parchment paper

The one constant thing about all the PageSage DVD’s that I have watched is that they make a craft possible even for the least experienced person, yet challenge the more experienced crafter with optional projects of greater difficulty. The quality of their DVD's is excellent. The photography is crisp and clear; the instructors are succinct, clear in their presentation and deliberate in their delivery; the projects are inspirational; there are examples galore. That is a formula for success. Millefiori Story is no exception. Judy Belcher is passionate about what she does. She has invested time and energy in her own craft and the development of her skills. She shares her passion freely and enthusiastically with her audience. Her projects are gorgeous and she makes the viewer believe that creating beautiful pieces is possible for everyone. When the teacher believes in you, how can you fail? This is yet another PageSage DVD that receives two thumbs up from me!





Review by Renee

Several years ago, I worked an alternative work schedule which allowed me to work longer days for eight days, resulting in a precious day off once every two weeks. I would rush to get all my housework and grocery shopping done on the weekends so that I could spend the entire day watching craft shows on the home channel. One of my favorites was always the Carol Duvall show. Often, the show featured experts of polymer clay art showing how to make beautiful pieces of artwork from polymer clay. I watched and watched and always wanted to make these lovely projects. I purchased some air dried clay and used it to satisfy my desire to work with clay, but never got brave enough to actually try the polymer variety. That is until now.

PageSage has released a new polymer clay video called the “Millefiori Story” which shows viewers how to use polymer clay to create lovely clay canes using the time honored glass technique of Millefiori. The video lasts approximately two hours and begins with the basics of working with polymer clay. Following the basics, the video shows viewers how to create simple canes and stripes and illustrates these techniques with several projects. Other techniques and projects feature such techniques as mica shifts, skinner blends, sculpting fruit and creating faces. In all, there are twenty six different projects featured on the video, with an additional nineteen variations shown in the techniques.

Initially, I watched the video from start to finish, just as I had watched Carol Duvall’s show on many occasions. My initial viewing found the DVD to be very entertaining. The clay techniques are taught by Judy Belcher, a clay artist who is also the president of the National Clay Artist Guild. I found Ms. Belcher to be a wonderful teacher, both entertaining and extremely informative. Ms. Belcher worked at a very deliberate speed, allowing the viewer time to fully understand every step that she sought to teach. Once I decided which techniques I wanted to try, I re-watched those portions of the DVD prior to working with the clay. This was a real advantage of working with a DVD.

For use with this review, I received eighteen shades of the three ounce bars of Kato Polyclay. I also received a clear acrylic roller, also by Kato Polyclay. In addition, I received a package of Jacquard Pinata Color Alcohol Inks containing seven colors of ink, a bottle of extender and a bottle of the clean up solution. The alcohol inks were used by the video for an advanced technique of dyeing clay to custom colors. These items were in addition to the PageSage video.

For my first project, I decided to use the tropical colors of polymer clay to make the jelly roll cane shown in the basics section of the video. This is a technique that I have watched for years on the craft shows, so I was really curious to see whether I could pull it off. I selected two different clays from the tropical clay colors to create a brightly colored cane. I did not own a pasta machine to condition my clay, so I simply used the acrylic roller also provided for the review. I was very surprised to see that in very little time, I was able to achieve a soft, supple clay to work with using such simple tools. After an initial false start with rolling my jelly roll, I was able to get a roll that looked very much like the one on the video. I cut a number of thick slices from this cane and used a paper piercer to create beads for a bracelet for my niece.

Title: Jelly Roll Bracelet
Products used: Video (PageSage “Millefiori Story”)
Polymer Clay (Van Aken Kato Polyclay)
Polymer Clay Roller (Van Aken Kato Clay Roller)
Beading Cord Elastic (Stretch Tite)

Since I had quite a bit of leftover jelly roll cane remaining, I selected a coordinating third color of clay that I conditioned and rolled flat to make a clay cover for a Book of Blessings mini album, a project inspired by the journal cover from the video. I used much thinner cuts from the cane to make a flower to decorate my album. I also used the roller to smooth the jelly roll cuts into the clay just as was illustrated on the video. I was very pleased with the baked cover of my mini album.

Title: Book of Blessings Mini Album with Clay Cover
Products used: Video (PageSage "Millefiori Story")
Polymer Clay (Van Aken Kato polkyclay)
Polymer Clay Roller (Van Aken Kato Clay Roller)
Cardstock (Kraft)
Ring (Office Suppy)

If you have ever watched the craft shows and thought “I would really like to learn how to do that” when watching a Millefiori demonstration, you should definitely check out this video by PageSage. It is simple to follow, does not require a lot of tools and is just plan fun. The projects look like they were very difficult to make. However, the techniques presented on the video are really easy to do. Best of all, the projects come out looking like they were made by a Pro. What more can you ask for?





Review by Lynn Anne

There is a lady in our area who makes a nice business out of selling scrapbook embellishments made from polymer clay. Pieces range from cut-out shapes made from pretty patterns to the clay equivalent of paper piecings, random little gems like hair dryers and such, and she's always a popular booth at local events. Her items are cute, and when I see them I think...if I had a little more time, I could do that, too.

When I first saw the cover of PageSage's latest polymer clay instructional DVD, on the other hand, my reaction was more like a stunned silence. The pieces visible on the cover are the tiniest, most intricate geometrical patterns ever - now these I wouldn't think I could do in a gazillion years. I would expect to see them in a higher priced art gallery instead of at a local crop! But I own a good majority of PageSage's DVD's thus far, and I know that so far the projects inside have been totally within my reach (once demonstrated thoroughly by the host or hostess), so I held out hope that Judy Belcher would be able to really show me how it's done in Millefiori Story.

Opening the DVD case treated me to a view of each of the projects tackled throughout the DVD, including any special tools or findings needed to complete each. Every one has a few special ingredients needed, but some are already papercrafting staples - such as chalk, baby wipes, and various kinds of ink. Since my primary art is papercrafting, I did notice that none of the projects is shown used on a papercraft - many are jewelry items, with a couple of home décor pieces as well - but I can already see applications as buttons, charms and embellishments for cards and pages even as I'm drooling over all three of the bracelet patterns.

Millefiori - or 'cane work' - is a claying technique that involves rolling clay into long snakes, or 'canes,' and then taking slices of the patterns created to form whatever pieces you need. Many of the pieces look geometrical, but I was fascinated to see that even faces can be created using this technique.

The DVD follows what has come to be the standard PageSage format: one sample project is taught in each Project segment, each introducing a particular Millefiori technique. Included here are Simple Canes, Shifting Time (working with special mica-infused clays), Extruding Light (working with translucent clays), Skinner Squared (a neat coloring/blending technique), Shake it Up (altering salt shakers with clay!), Charming Fruit (making some of the cutest charms I've ever seen), Tesselations (my favorite - impossible looking teeny tiny geometric patterns that are actually doable by a novice!), Clay Quilts, and Face Your Fears (those faces!) At the end of each project segment, Belcher shows a handful of projects that were made using the same technique. After all of the project segments, however, is a Gallery of projects that includes dozens more, each clearly labeled with which segment teaches how to do the technique used, and a link to click on to bring you right back to that segment if you wish. "Extras" includes tips from projects, canes from projects and a some lighthearted 'bloopers' caught on camera during filming, as well as production and resources credits for the DVD.

Some of the techniques I used as-is. The project from Simple Canes, a clay-covered journal, is one I know I'll try next time I have an altered book to create. But for now I played around making 'jelly rolls' and 'checkerboards' to use as embellishments, adding holes to some to make buttons. I accidentally made a striped cane with verrrry narrow stripes, but when I played with it more I found that when I made a sheet out of it, it looked a little like a wood grain. I baked the pieces as is and threw them in my embellishment drawer, only to pull one back out when I found myself in need of a Thanksgiving card with no appropriate stamps or papers for the job...one scrap became the body of a makeshift Mayflower.

Title: Thanksgiving Card
Products used:
DVD (PageSage "Millefiori Story" with Judy Belcher)
Clay (Van Aken Kato Polyclay Metallics)
Polymer Clay Roller (Van Aken Kato Clay Roller)
Cardstock (Prism)
Gelly Roll Pen (Sakura)
Scroll Stamp (Stamping Studio)
Embossing Powder (JudiKins)
Dryer Sheet
Ad Tech Permanent Glue Runner

I found that I'm not very interested in the mica-light-shifting clays used in the "Shifting Time" clock project, but that's the project that includes one of my favorite parts of this DVD. Judy Belcher makes a mistake! I don't love that in a *mean* way...I mean that in a, "I don't have to be perfect to do this! WOOHOO!" kind of way. I love that PageSage will allow that pesky little air bubble Judy missed stay in the film, instead of re-filming the segment, so that I can not only see what happens when air does get into a project (which was discussed earlier in the DVD), but I am much less intimidated when a pro clayer of 12+ years and President of the National Polymer Clay Guild can goof up occasionally too!

"Extruding Light" is a segment that fascinates me. Belcher creates a night-light-cover with translucent clay, so that light shines right through the clay pattern. THIS one I had to try right away! Instead of a night light, I decided to cover a clear glass candle jar. My pattern is wobbly...but I still love it! Here are the day-and-night versions:

Title: Candle Jar, Day and Night
Products used:
DVD (PageSage "Millefiori Story" with Judy Belcher)
Clay (Van Aken Kato Polyclay, Translucent)
Polymer Clay Roller (Van Aken Kato Clay Roller)
Alcohol Inks (Jacquard Pinata: Sunbright Yellow, Lime Green)
Glass candle jar
Polka dot organza ribbon

The most exciting technique to me is called "Tesselations." This technique involves making a thick cane with all sorts of colors and patterns thrown in, rolling it down until it's absolutely tiny, then cutting and joining the pieces into a symmetrical pattern. Belcher's assertion that the ugliest cane can be made beautiful by turning it into an eye-pleasing symmetrical pattern was music to my ears as well! I understand from the DVD that canes can be created and left for ages before being used, so I didn't feel guilty at all as I created cane after cane that I knew I'd never use up in a month, much less one project. Mine are wobblier and less intricate than hers...but if you saw how ugly they were when I first tried putting together the canes (everything trial and error!), you'd be impressed too.

Title: My Tesselations
Products used:
DVD (PageSage "Millefiori Story" with Judy Belcher)
Clay (Van Aken Kato Polyclay)
Polymer Clay Roller (Van Aken Kato Clay Roller)

The last project shown on the DVD I found fascinating...but also had little desire to try it quite as-is. Belcher shows how to construct a cane that will yield actual artsy-looking *faces* when sliced. But I couldn't take my eyes off of the DVD while this was playing at all. I found the technique used to create the faces actually taught me a lot about the possibility of creating other shapes that run through a whole cane. My first tries were creating little heart embellishments...WHAT fun to play with.

Title: Heart Canes
Products used:
DVD (PageSage "Millefiori Story" with Judy Belcher)
Clay (Van Aken Kato Polyclay)
Polymer Clay Roller (Van Aken Kato Clay Roller)

My projects were nowhere near as 'neat' as Belcher's - novice vs. seasoned pro, of course! But since this class is on DVD, watchable, forwardable, reversible, rewatchable at your convenience and in your own home, you'll be able take this class over and over as needed. Your teacher will be with you from your very first attempts through all of your practice and creating if you need her..and the gallery's always open when you'd like fresh inspiration.

The $29.95 price tag is better than you might pay at a local studio for a class that offers fewer projects, a lesser instructor, and a one-time-only show with NO possibility of middle of the night refreshers. Kudos to PageSage for another well-crafted, top-notch, inspirational instructional program.





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