Cathy Harm has been hooked on polymer clay since 2000 when she learned that no kiln was needed to fire polymer clay, that was all she needed to hear to explore and develop a love for this limitless medium. Designing and creating Millefiori (meaning 1000 flowers) polymer clay canes has been a love since she discovered the clay. After all these years she still thinks it almost magical to take solid colored clay, manipulate it in her hands and create cane designs. A wonderful surprise was the reception her work received in just a few short years worldwide. 

The Venetian Millefiori technique is to combine lengths of colored glass into a design and stretching that hot glass into “rods” retaining the design all throughout. They then cut slices from the rod and used those to create wonderful designs. The fascination and challenge of using that ancient art form to create “canes” with polymer clay instead of glass “rods” was irresistible. Her first cane was a simple flower which she promptly placed slices around a pen, baked it in her home oven and was very proud and pleased with the results. She still uses that pen today.

Mid 1800’s Millefiori paperweights have been an inspiration to her and became her passion to apply to her clay work. Feeling that such a wide variety of subjects and color would present endless possibilities of expression using her own creativity and originality. With pride she is self taught and enjoys seeking new ideas, a variety of applications and intriguing designs for her polymer clay cane work. Cathy and her husband Ray (who is a nationally known wildlife artist) have lived happily married for over 30 years. While she stays busy with her canework, Ray sells his limited edition lithographs online.