I posted this tutorial on Patreon on September 25th 2023. It is the October 2023 issue of Cane Builder. To find it you will have to scroll down to last year. This is one of my favorite canes ever. If you’ve followed me for a very long time, you will remember the fractal canes I made long before I even wrote Cane Builder. Now I’m interested in fractal ideas in nature. I think ferns are a little like this. The pattern can be repeated and repeated. I may have gone a little overboard with these, but I think they are so much fun!

Here is the important lesson I learned with these: You can make an intricate cane if you keep it one solid color! I would recommend a very light color against dark or a dark color against light. Intricate canes made with multiple colors loose their effectiveness when they are reduced. I had all but given up on such detailed canes. I truly did not expect this cane to work! This cane is larger than others, but if you stop at one of the earlier stages as I explain in the video and pdf, you can have a beautiful and effective tiny fern. I dream of making Queen Ann’s Lace which is also intricate, solid color and has a fractal-like quality to it. So many ideas, so little time!!! lol.

Of course these canes require the ability to make very thin slices. My premo fern have been sitting around for almost a year now, and they are delightful to shave off. I’ll be the fist to admit that is definitely the most difficult part. It’s worth a try though! Layered greenery makes a beautiful slab with or without flowers.

To see my current bracelets and raw canes for sale visit my Etsy shop Polymer Bead Workshop. I often close my shop when I’m out of town, but if you stick around you can find some treasures that may never be in stock again. I’m not the only one who sells canes though, and there are other artists out there selling unbaked fern canes if you want to try adding them to your project.