Blogs » RESIN JEWELRY - PRESENTED IN A BETTER LIGHT and my LETTER TO THE EDITOR

RESIN JEWELRY - PRESENTED IN A BETTER LIGHT and my LETTER TO THE EDITOR

  • Dear Tammy,
    As an Enamelist and owner of a global network of over 1200 Enamel Artists and 55 countries, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for writing about "Resin Jewelry" as just that, and not calling it "Cold Enameling". Today's Jewelry Making Daily comes on the heels of a workshop being advertised by Susan Lenart Kazmer as Cold Enameling vs. Hot Enameling,  promoting her  new Cold Enamels. I also would like to thank Tom and Kay Benham for referring to their earrings as a Resin process. It is always wonderful to see new products come out for the crafters and mixed media artists, but not when the labeling is incorrect. As you know, the definition of "enameling" is the process of applying glass with heat to a substrate. Thereby, telling the public that Cold enameling is enameling is mis-using the term, offering bad information, and equating the art of enameling with the use of Resin glues.  It is hard enough for enameling artists to explain their techniques of fusing glass to buyers, without the added stress of also explaining their work is not Resin. We have taken this up with Susan and her PR, with less then positive outcome, but we will persevere in clearing up the label "Cold Enameling". I hope manufacturers can put on their thinking caps and come up with a more reasonable and creative label for resins.
    Best regards,
     
    Trish White
    Grains of Glass Open Studio

    Improve your view: Web
    .January 18, 2013.
    JewelryMakingDaily.com
    How to Make Resin Jewelry: 4 Free Projects, Plus a Bonus Guide to Resin Jewelry-Making Supplies

    When I first discovered resin jewelry-making, I think it appealed to me because it was so much like making snow globes (which I love) in jewelry. I can put anything inside that I want to treasure and preserve, and then wear it like a pretty little reminder. If only there was a way to put shakable glitter inside resin jewelry. . . but I digress!

     

    Adding strength and protection to delicate items like old papers (love letters, swoon!) and dried flowers by encasing them in resin is an added bonus to being able to wear them as meaningful jewelry. I love being able to turn little found objects into wearable art by embedding them in resin. Flowers and leaves, ticket stubs, special notes, seashells and sand, bits of lace or meaningful fabric (from a grandmother's hanky, so sweet)--all of these fragile treasures are ideal candidates for preserving and protecting in resin . . . and then you can enjoy wearing those memories around with you. (Or hang them up for pretty and meaningful home decorations or Christmas ornaments!)

     

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    Danielle Fox's Flower-Burst Ring  
       

    In our new resin jewelry-making eBook, How to Make Resin Jewelry: 4 Free Projects plus a Bonus Guide to Resin Jewelry Supplies, you'll learn to make four great resin jewelry projects--a ring, a cuff bracelet, a pair of earrings, and a pendant. You can make them just as they are or modify them to suit your style; then use the techniques you've learned to make your own handcrafted resin jewelry.

     

    If you've never used resin for jewelry making before, it might feel a little intimidating at first--but working with resin is so easy now, thanks to modern resin jewelry supplies, that there's no need for hesitation. Our new resin jewelry tutorial eBook will show you how to make resin jewelry, but it also features a resin jewelry supply guide that will help you learn the pros and cons of working with various kinds of resin for jewelry. Then you can choose the right resin for your projects.

     

    Flower-Burst Ring by Danielle Fox

    The first project in our free resin jewelry-making eBook is Danielle Fox's Flower-Burst Ring, created by suspending paper and flower embellishments in resin in an ideal premade resin mold: a bezel ring. Collage fans will love this resin jewelry project, and the possibilities for which resin jewelry supplies and mementos you can put in your version of this resin ring are endless! This resin jewelry project is easy enough for beginners and stylish enough for resin jewelry-making pros. Danielle also shares some tips for working with resin in this resin eBook.

     

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      Lisa Blackwell's Urban Relic

    Urban Relic Pendant by Lisa Blackwell

    Lisa Blackwell's Urban Relic pendant also encases a treasured paper memento in resin inside a premade bezel for a personalized resin jewelry design. Featuring paper treasures inside resin not only allows you to show them off every time you wear your resin jewelry, but it also preserves and protects the paper forever inside hard, clear, durable resin.

     

    Resin & Bronze Wire Cuff by Helen I. Driggs

    For the metalsmiths among you, Helen Driggs' resin cuff project combines the metalsmithing skills you love with completely different resin jewelry-making techniques. Helen also shares four tips for creating successful resin jewelry designs and her resin lessons learned for preparing resin jewelry supplies and other materials.

     

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    Resin Earrings by Tom & Kay Benham  
       

    Colorful Resin Earrings by Tom & Kay Benham

    Artisan jewelry meets crafty resin in these sparkling earrings. The resin acts as both design element and adhesive, creating the look of stained glass or plique-à-jour enamel using a much simpler resin process . . . plus it includes glitter! You can solder the simple seam in the outer bezel or use a pre-made component, depending on your skill and interest; the rest of the silver wires are securely embedded in the resin. Brilliant!

     

    The Right Resin by Eleanore Macnish 

    Before you make resin jewelry like these projects or design your own resin masterpieces, read Eleanore Macnish's guide to working with resin and choosing the right resin supplies for your designs. Eleanore outlines the differences between five different types of resin commonly used in resin jewelry making, providing the pros and cons of each resin so you can choose the best one when you make resin jewelry. The handy resin chart will help you quickly and easily see which resin to choose when you begin working with resin. The resin chart covers all the important resin characteristics, including flexibility, cure times, whether it dries clear or yellows, ease of use, doming and self-leveling properties, smoothness, sand-ability, and more.

     

    Learn everything you need to know to work with resin and make handcrafted resin jewelry when you download How to Make Resin Jewelry: 4 Free Projects Plus Bonus Guide to Resin Jewelry Supplies. Whether you're a resin newbie or pro, this handy resin eBook will become your go-to resource for resin tips and resin jewelry ideas. Download your free resin jewelry-making eBook to begin or continue your resin jewelry adventure! (And feel free to share the link with your friends!)

     

    Tammy Jones

    Tammy Jones
    is the editor of
    Jewelry Making Daily.