Frequently asked questions

Every design is original and created by Ela, drawn by hand on a tablet from scratch. Nothing is traced from stock images, vector packs, or existing designs. Each piece is rooted in Ottoman and Turkish artistic heritage and exists nowhere else.

That’s intentional. Every line, curve, and circle is drawn by hand, which means you’ll see the natural imperfections that come from a human touch. That’s what separates LushClayCo designs from mass-produced, machine-generated cutters. The imperfection is the point.

Every design is tested by Ela in her own studio before it goes live. She tests on real clay, at her settings, with her hands. More intricate designs require technique to get right. Clay responds differently depending on brand, thickness, humidity, and surface. Ela shares her exact process so you have the best possible starting point, but results can vary based on your setup.

Yes. Custom cutters start with a non-refundable $65 deposit which secures your place in the queue and covers the first hour of design work. After reviewing your brief, you’ll receive a final price estimate before production begins. Your design is completely exclusive and no one else will ever receive or use it. Full commercial rights are included, so no separate Studio Licence is needed for your custom piece. Learn more on the Custom Cutters page.

Penç is a stylised floral motif rooted in Ottoman and Persian decorative art. It typically depicts a flower viewed from above, with petals radiating from a central point. You will find it across centuries of tile work, manuscript borders, and woven textiles. In the LushClayCo collection, Penç forms appear as detailed multi-petal compositions that translate beautifully into clay earrings and pendants.

Çintemani is one of the most recognisable symbols in Ottoman art, appearing on imperial textiles, ceramics, and architectural decoration from as early as the 15th century. It traditionally consists of three circles arranged in a triangular cluster, often paired with two curved lines resembling waves. Its exact origins are debated but it carries deep associations with power, good fortune, and royal patronage. As a cutter design it creates a bold, graphic impression with a distinctly heritage feel.

Hatayi refers to a family of stylised floral and botanical forms that originated in Chinese art and travelled westward along trade routes, becoming central to Ottoman and Persian decorative vocabulary. The name comes from Cathay, the old name for China. Hatayi motifs include highly abstracted flowers, leaves, and buds, often elongated and spiralling. They appear throughout LushClayCo collections as flowing, intricate designs that reward careful clay work.

Rumi is a leaf or feather-like motif that curves and splits at the tip, often used in interlocking arabesque patterns. Despite sharing a name with the famous poet, the motif predates him and refers instead to its origins in Rum, the old Seljuk term for Anatolia. In Ottoman art it is almost always paired with other motifs like Hatayi and Penç, creating the dense, rhythmic compositions that define classical Ottoman illumination. As a cutter it produces an elegant, slightly abstract leaf form.

Palmet is a fan-shaped motif inspired by the palm leaf, used across ancient Greek, Egyptian, and later Ottoman decorative traditions. It typically features symmetrical fronds radiating upward from a central stem. In Ottoman art it often appears at the top of arabesque compositions or as a border element. As a cutter design it creates a clean, symmetrical shape that works beautifully as a standalone earring or as part of a layered piece.

Purchase Only designs are available in the shop to buy as physical cutters. They have no STL file and never will. No one can print them at home. If you want one, you buy it.

Limited Series designs are available in the shop but only in very small quantities, under 10 units. They are numbered and once they’re gone, they’re gone. Studio Licence members get early access to purchase before they go public.

Studio Licence Collection designs are only available to purchase by active Studio Licence members on lushclayco.com. They are not listed publicly and cannot be purchased without a current verified membership. No STL file is ever made available for these designs.

Some designs are available as free STL files on MakerWorld for personal use. Signature Series Patreon members receive one exclusive STL file per month. Studio Licence members receive two exclusive STL files per month. Purchase Only, Limited Series, and Studio Licence Collection designs have no STL file available, ever.

Scarcity is intentional. Certain designs are kept as physical-only to protect the value for makers who sell. If everyone can print it at home, it stops being special.

Condition your clay thoroughly and roll to an even thickness. Ela works at approximately 3mm using a pasta machine at position 1 for most designs, and 2.2mm at position 3 for more intricate work. Press the cutter firmly and evenly. More detailed designs require more patience and technique. Ela shares her full process on the here.

Try adjusting your clay thickness, conditioning more thoroughly, or chilling your clay slightly before cutting. More detailed designs require more care. Every cutter is personally inspected by Ela before it leaves the studio. If you believe there is a genuine issue after trying these steps, contact us and we’ll look into it together.

STL files are provided as-is. LushClayCo is not responsible for print outcomes as results vary depending on your printer model, filament, and settings. Check your printer documentation or community forums for calibration guidance.

A cut cutter slices cleanly through the clay to produce a shape. An emboss cutter presses a raised design into the surface of the clay without cutting through it, creating a texture or pattern on top. A deboss cutter does the opposite, pressing a recessed impression into the surface. Each requires a different clay thickness and pressure to get the best result.

A full back means the entire base of the cutter is solid rather than open. When you press down into clay, a full back distributes pressure evenly across the whole shape. This is especially important for designs with fine detail, as it ensures every part of the cutting edge makes consistent contact with the clay. The result is a cleaner, more complete impression with less risk of the cutter tipping or the clay tearing. A full back does take longer to print, but the difference in cut quality is worth it for more intricate work.

Frames and simpler shapes work on edge contact alone. Because the design has no intricate interior detail, consistent pressure across a solid base is not necessary. The cutting edge of a frame cutter is straightforward enough that an open back performs just as well, prints faster, and uses less material. For complex, high-detail cutters, a full back is the better choice. For frames and basics, it would simply add weight and print time without improving the result.

Ela primarily tests with Premo and Sculpey III. Most professional polymer clay brands will work well. Softer clays like Fimo Soft are more forgiving for intricate designs. Firmer clays like Kato may require slightly thinner slabs. Whatever brand you use, thorough conditioning is the most important factor.

Always follow the instructions on your specific clay packaging as temperatures vary by brand. Most polymer clays bake between 110°C and 130°C. Use an oven thermometer as domestic ovens are often inaccurate. Overbaking can scorch the clay and underbaking leaves it brittle.

Work on a smooth glass or ceramic tile surface. A light dusting of cornstarch on the clay before cutting helps prevent sticking. Press firmly and evenly, then lift the cutter straight up without twisting. Chilling the clay slightly before cutting can also help with very detailed designs.

Only with an active Studio Licence membership on Patreon at $24.99 per month. Without it, LushClayCo cutters are for personal use only.

Your commercial rights expire immediately at the time your Patreon access ends. There is no grace period. Any active sales listings must be removed upon cancellation. This applies even if you still have physical cutters or STL files in your possession.

No. Free STL files are for personal use only. A Studio Licence is required for any commercial use regardless of where the file came from.

No. Sharing, gifting, selling, or destashing STL files received through any tier is strictly prohibited. Each file is licensed to the individual member only.

Signature Series is the $14.99 per month Patreon tier. Members receive one exclusive STL file per month not available on MakerWorld, a 5% discount on orders of $100 or more on lushclayco.com, and the ability to suggest themes. Designs are for personal use only. Commercial rights require the Studio Licence tier.

Studio Licence is the $24.99 per month Patreon tier. Members receive two exclusive STL files per month exclusive to this tier, commercial rights to sell finished clay pieces, early access to new collections and Limited Series before they go public, access to Studio Licence Collection designs on lushclayco.com, and a 10% discount on orders of $100 or more.

Each cutter is printed to order. Allow 3 to 5 business days for processing, plus shipping time. Domestic US orders typically arrive within 5 to 8 business days after dispatch. International orders take 10 to 21 business days. Customs fees may apply for international orders.

Yes. Free standard domestic shipping on orders over $75.

Because each cutter is made to order, we do not accept returns for change of mind. If your order arrives damaged or incorrect, please contact your delivery carrier directly to file a claim and keep all original packaging as they may require it. If you need help identifying the right contact, get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Check your tracking information first. If your order appears delayed or stuck, contact your delivery carrier directly as they will have the most up to date information on your parcel’s whereabouts.

Inner Circle is the $4.99 per month support tier. It does not include STL files or commercial rights. It’s for people who want to support Ela’s work and her cat rescue efforts. Their genuine appreciation for that is enough.

Log in to your lushclayco.com account using the same email as your Patreon account. The site verifies your membership status automatically. Studio Licence Collection designs will become visible and purchasable once your membership is confirmed.

Discount codes are only valid for active members. If your membership lapses, the discount expires along with your other member benefits.