How did you get started with pressing flowers and working with resin?
I always liked pressing flowers. I also always liked the idea of delicate things suspended in transparent matters, be it water, ice or air. My old journals are full of pressed flowers but I had no knowledge of real flower resin jewellery till October 2011. One day my husband and I took our baby daughter to a national trust park and I was just browsing in the souvenir shop when I found this gorgeous necklace with a tiny rose embedded in a glass-like setting. I was instantly hooked, and the research hence began. Night after night I learned about what resin jewellery is and how to make them. My first attempt was my wedding day rose, which was a surprising success. The obsession started and I simply cannot stop. My husband bought that necklace for me as our wedding anniversary gift. That was the beginning of everything.
What are some challenges you've encountered and how have you met them?
I have learned through disasters. I have made a piece so full of bubbles you can't see what's inside. I have measured wrongly and didn't used enough hardener so a piece ended up rubbery! I have touched my pieces too early and impatiently and left them permanently damaged with my finger prints. I have even scratched the bottom of a mould and left it unusable.....anything you name it, I have done it wrong. But I have made some pieces that made me smile and think: wow, I can't believe I made this. And it kept me going.
What advice do you have for newbies to this art?
Beginners, please remember to be patient and follow the instructions strictly. If it says on the bottle mix two parts equally then do so, don't add a couple of more drops of hardener just to be sure. Use a brand new measuring cup every time to avoid wasting your time and your precious resin. Invest in good moulds and save lots of time. Be adventurous and try different styles, eventually you will shape your own. And last but not least, be prepared to make mistakes. We all do and we all learn something from them. You will make something better next time!
What are your plans for the future?
I am only an amateur jewellery maker and I don't think my stuff can be called art. I look forward to trying new settings for my jewellery. I started off making resin-only pieces, that is without any metal settings or coloured background. I am experimenting with more colours and styles of settings. I love vintage, Victorian style so that will be my new direction. But I can't say I will stick to one style because I get bored easily! If you look at my shop you will notice there isn't consistency in my designs. I jump from one style to another. I don't know whether this is good or bad, only time will tell!
Thank you very much for the interview. I am very honoured. Good luck with your creations!
June
A tip of the day: (or month, as it may be!) If you have to correct errors with the resin (i.e. bubbles, uneven spots, spills over the edges or on the back, get to them within 24 hours, before the resin has had a chance to fully cure, and they are MUCH easier to correct. For instance, I'm always slightly overfilling settings so some slops over the edges onto the surrounding decorative part, or the back. If I get to it early I can almost always pry it off in one piece with a scalpel. If I wait, the whole thing is usually ruined. The setting gets scratched with everything I try ; concentrated acetone discolors most settings but polish remover isn't strong enough after 24-48 hours to remove drips.
Thank you so much for visiting my blog. I welcome comments, corrections and suggestions. Chris
