Maybe I'm missing what you're trying to say, but the image on one side of a cane slice should be a mirror image of the other.

Two words: Skinner blends.

I'm so glad you asked this because my local hardware stores all carry Minwax but the nearest store with Varathane is a hundred miles away. I did finally get some Varathane (and one can will last me for a loooooong time), but I'd love to know if the Minwax water-based finish is equally compatible with polymer clay.

feminine_earth, traditional polymer clay may not be the right medium for someone with with chemical sensitivities and a poorly ventilated house. There are air-dry clays that might be a good alternative, though.

[glass]

Diane, your sculpting page has lots of advice on painted and caned eyes, but that's exactly what I'm trying to get away from (though using canes to back the glass "lens" is a possibility for creating the complex iris colors). And a lot of the links on both pages are broken.

I've already looked into buying eyes, and the 2-mm eye "blanks" sold by glasseyes.com would meet my needs, but I was hoping to find an alternative for less than two bucks a pair plus the cost of shipping them from Wales. Tohickon Glass Eyes has 3-mm clear blanks for $0.50 a pair - that's still pretty pricey as well as too large for some of what I'm doing, but it's a start. If anybody stumbles onto tiny little glass "lenses" somewhere else, please let me know.

Exactly - so-called "cabochon-cut" rhinestones. Not necessarily a true hemisphere (half sphere) but with a rounded rather than faceted dome. Glass or crystal because they'd be baked in place, and preferably colorless and unfoiled so that I can paint the backs with pupils and irises. Any ideas?

[without]

I want to do add more realistic-looking eyes to my figures than I can manage using either PC alone or by inserting solid-color glass or gemstone beads. Does anyone know where I can find flat-backed glass "rhinestones" without faceting?

That's a great idea, Kaeibou - thanks.

Thank you, MissAmy.

Thanks for the suggestions, lucylost. That gives me a starting place.