Project gecko has started!

It's going slowly, but it's going. I've seen on facebook several people doing '100 day challenges' relating to clay. One person made a clay bowl every day for 100 days, another did little squares of various surface techniques. So, not to be outdone, I'm also going to do one, but slightly differently. Instead of putting myself under the pressure of doing something every day for 100 days, (slightly unrealistic given that I'm still recovering from surgery, and once I've recovered I work full time), I'm going to do 100 canes and vaneers, mostly canes. This feels far more achievable, and still a challenge. I've done the first 10, and will aim to write a blog every time I've done another ten. 
So, here goes the first 10.
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The first is a leaf cane or two. Everyone has to have a leaf cane, I love making them, and they just go so well in almost any design. I've done two, as shown. The second is a petal cane, again, a very useful one to have.

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​Cane three is a flower cane incorporating both the leaf cane and the petal cane. I've decided to make 1" squares of all the canes, so when I've finished I'll have a nice record of the canes made in the challenge.

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This one I got from a quilt design. I have had a lot of time to nose around Pinterest, and find inspiration for canes, and quilter boards are a brilliant source for cane ideas. I love the way this simple square cane can make a 3D effect. These canes are very roughly put together, when I use them to cover the gecko I shall take more care! But at the moment I'm just creating them.

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Cane number 5 was designed to make a sort of feather effect once several slices were put together. I've overlapped them in the 1" square, but on the gecko I shall cut them to shape to make them lie flat. However, this is one I think I'll be making again for a chicken!

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This one is designed to make a longer strip, perhaps to separate larger blocks of canes. I'm annoyed that the edges of the straight parts seem to bend at each end, but will probably be able to cut those parts off!
Six canes down, four to go.

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I found this diagram somewhere on the Internet and thought it would make a great cane. 
I'm sure if I spent more time on it, it would, but I rushed it, and although I can use the cane, it didn't exactly work out as planned. 
The trouble for me at the moment is that I have a limited time I can sit at the clay table, and I'm sooooo wanting to make the canes, that I'm rushing them, hence the complicated ones not working out.
I'll have another go at this one before the next blog and see if I can get it right. I think if I can do it, it will be a great border cane. Below is attempt number one. Please ignore the incredibly grubby look of the cane!

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This one was just a bit of fun. After the complicated one not working out as planned, I thought I'd just make a pretty right-angled triangle with blends I had left over, and double it up to make a square (the cane in the middle). The two squares either side of the small cane is how it turns out when several slices are put together. I was really happy with this one, which took about a tenth of the time of the previous one!

Cane number 9 is a little fish.
Once again, it's looking very grubby, but you can see the effect.
Doesn't help that I have three cats who think the clay table is where they come for fuss!
This again will be a border cane, but I was quite happy with how it came out.

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...This last cane I have mixed feelings about. It's another one that is rather complicated, and has huge potential, but I just didn't take enough time over it. However, I quite often make canes quickly, and then decide whether I'm going to do them again and spend more time on them, and I'm definitely going to re-do this one, keeping the same colours. So, next blog this one will be returning, hopefully better. 

I saw a horsebox today, and thought "that bottom swirl would make a nice cane".................
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.On a final note, the gecko body has been make, awaiting it's cane and vaneer covering. I think I'll cover it with clay and cure it before adding the cane slices onto the cured clay. Here is Gertie the gecko, waiting for her coloured coat. I've just noticed that one of the cats was about to get in on the photo! See you soon for the next stage of operation gecko.