Mix the White Granite to Turquoise about 1 part Granite to 2 parts Turquoise.

Roll this mixture into a cylinder that is about 5/8 inches in diameter.  Trim the ends so that the length is about 2-1/2 inches.

Roll out a sheet of Rhino Gray on #1 if you want the matrix to be dominant or #3 if you want it more delicate. Place the cylinder of clay on the sheet of Gray and trim down both edges and the back edge.

Roll the cylinder down the sheet of clay, wrapping it in gray. Roll it over so that the starting edge touches the remaining sheet of gray clay. Roll it back and the clay will have a mark on it telling you EXACTLY where to cut that clay so that the edges will meet perfectly. Cool huh?

So after you have trimmed the clay at the line, you should have the turquoise cylinder wrapped neatly in a sheet of gray with no overlaps on the gray. Are you with me?

Now, using the MSTRC principle (Marie Segal Technique for Reducing Canes), we will reduce this cane. Start by placing the center of the cane between your thumb and forefinger, snuggly up against the junction of those digits. (This is NEVER a flattering photo, but just for you guys...)

Squeeze the cane in the center, causing a “dumb bell" effect.

Now squeeze out to each end, turning the cane with each squeeze. Yeah, it looks kinda like a lumpy mess!

Now use both hand (fingers turned toward each other slightly) to roll the cane in nice long strokes back and form to smooth it and reduce it further (longer and smaller) until it's about 1/2 inch in diameter. Cut it in half and reduce one half to about ¼ inch in diameter.

Cut the reduced cane into pieces about 2 inches long and stack them together roughly – try not to line them up! Use the larger and smaller pieces.

Now with your fingers, force this stack into a rough rectangle and put it lengthwise between the thumb and forefinger of your right hand. Now place the thumb and forefinger of your left hand on the 2 remaining sides and squeeze. You can reduce the cane by squeezing and pulling; maintain that rectangular shape. Reduce it to about ½ inch square.

Roll out a sheet of the remaining Turquoise and use any shape cutter to cut out a volume of clay to roll into a ball. Remember that when you add the cane slices the ball will get bigger, so make the ball about 3/8 in diameter. Make at least a dozen.

Slice the cane as thin as you can (be consistent!), and lay these around the ball with no overlaps. You can use a slice cut in half or ¼ if you need to fill a gap.

Cup your hands and roll the covered ball in your hands REVERSING DIRECTIONS FREQUENTLY (this prevents distortion caused by directional friction). Continue rolling a moment until the seams between the slices disappear. VOILA!

Complete your balls and then pierce them with a needle tool before baking. Or if you prefer, drill them after baking with a Dremel. Bake at 275 in a preheated oven for 20 minutes.

NOTE: I like to bake my round balls in a “bead corral” that I make by putting the largest metal circle cutter I have on an index card and putting the beads in there. If you don't have a large metal cutter, just make a corral out of a strip of cardboard taped together to make a circle.

String the beads on 1mm beading elastic and tie a small off-white ribbon over the elastic knot.

NOTE: NEVER string beads on elastic when they are hot or even warm – it will cause the elastic to shrink!!