"Winter Wonder" mosaic by Juanita Canzoneri Last year we brought home an antique dresser set. My husband asked if I could make dresser pulls to replace the many broken ones that had been replaces with newer pulls.
Not having resin casting in my skillset, I put him off, hoping he would get interested enough in it to take it on himself. Well, that has changed.
A couple of months ago the coordinator for the Holiday Market at my co-op asked if I could come up with some sort of winter-themed mosaic piece I could make and sell during the market. I hit upon the idea of crocheting snowflakes from cotton thread. But how to incorporate them.
I had 3 ideas in mind: translucent polymer clay, gel medium or pour medium, or resin. And the experiments began.
The translucent polymer clay burnt and never cured clear enough.
The gel/pour medium idea was too flat and too plastic feeling. Just didn't make me happy.
The resin--that took several permutations, but it eventually met my expectation.
Not having resin casting in my skillset, I put him off, hoping he would get interested enough in it to take it on himself. Well, that has changed.
A couple of months ago the coordinator for the Holiday Market at my co-op asked if I could come up with some sort of winter-themed mosaic piece I could make and sell during the market. I hit upon the idea of crocheting snowflakes from cotton thread. But how to incorporate them.
I had 3 ideas in mind: translucent polymer clay, gel medium or pour medium, or resin. And the experiments began.
The translucent polymer clay burnt and never cured clear enough.
The gel/pour medium idea was too flat and too plastic feeling. Just didn't make me happy.
The resin--that took several permutations, but it eventually met my expectation.
Blocking crochet snowflakes
I crocheted snowflakes with a very fine white cotton crochet thread and a very small hook. They were dampened and blocked to give them a more precise shape.
I found that I also had to color them with watered-down gesso so that they would stay white once the resin permeated the fibers.
I found that I also had to color them with watered-down gesso so that they would stay white once the resin permeated the fibers.
Resin blocking snowflakes
When I had a bunch I could begin the resin process. First I put a blob of clear resin on a wax paper-covered board.
Resin blocking snowflakes
The flake went on the blob and more resin was worked into the fiber and interstices. Then this layer was set aside to cure.
If I incorporated beads in a snowflake, that happens in this first resin layer.
If I incorporated beads in a snowflake, that happens in this first resin layer.
Top doming snowflakes with resin
Once the first resin layer was cured, the second layer of resin was applied to dome the top of the piece.
Once that layer was cured a third layer of resin is applied to the back of the flake to dome that. This third layer can be colored to enhance the overall look of standalone ornaments.
Once that layer was cured a third layer of resin is applied to the back of the flake to dome that. This third layer can be colored to enhance the overall look of standalone ornaments.
Crochet snowflake in resin by Juanita Canzoneri
Crochet snowflake in resin by Juanita Canzoneri
But the back doming is very important if you're incorporating the snowflake into mosaic work. It helps to level the surface of the flake with the surface of the mosaic glass.
"Winter Wonder" mosaic by Juanita Canzoneri
So, now I've also cast aspen leaves in resin and will be working with butterfly wings soon with an eye toward incorporating them in work for a friend's shop.
But I've started learning how to make reusable molds for cast resin. The drawer pulls still need to be replaced.
More to come.
But I've started learning how to make reusable molds for cast resin. The drawer pulls still need to be replaced.
More to come.
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