Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
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This week we visit the studio of Gaea Cannaday of Gaea Handmade.
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Are you geared up for summer? I melt at the thought of long hot days. I am a fall/winter girl all the way! In attempt to trick my mind and body into submission I have made a list of things that our family looks forward to in summer…
Iced coffee
Summer vacation
Time with my kiddos
Lunch everyday on the patio
Bright colors
Water mellon
Water park
Flowers
Clear blue skies
Staying up late (more than we should)
Waking up late (occasionally)
Sweet tea
Frisbee in the park
Summer reading
Mid week movies
Creating new work
Beach days (not so much the sand)
Trying new crafting techniques with the kids
and
Looking forward to the fall
As I am looking for the good in the season, I pulled out my resin kit that has been sitting patiently in a studio drawer for, ahem, years. Yes, I said years. At least two. I don’t know if it was the fear of failing or not wanting to make a mess or my lack of knowledge that kept me from creating and experiencing this lovely medium. I also pulled out the acrylic paints, some wax paper, a few powdered colors from Pearl Ex, and various papers. Putting the fear of ending up with two clear coated hands aside I pulled out the Lima Studios resin kit, (their site has a lovely video of this technique as well!) some of my newly soldered copper frames and got busy! Here are the photographs to prove it!
Thank you for holding my hand on this epic journey!
Tell us about a project or technique that you may need your hand held on! A name will be drawn from the comments to win 3 copper frames from www.gaea.etsy.com!
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Wearing many hats, Gaea lives in Ojai, California. You can see her work here… www.gaea.cc or here… www.gaea.etsy.com and here… gaeabeads.blogspot.com
Kathy Lindemer
June 29, 2013 at 12:11 pmI have purchased a Ranger melting pot, ute, mold kit. I have Pearlx. I am trying to figure out where to go from here. I would make a mold, however, I would like to add a wire so that I could make earrings. I have no idea what kind of wire to use and if I should make room in the mold for the wire. I read something that led me to think I can add the wire when I add the ute. I also think I might be able to drill a hole but I'm not sure. Help!
Divya N
June 29, 2013 at 1:33 pmI am just about to start metal smithing and silver work and I would love if someone helped me with it. I also have a suggestion regarding your resin project. Use a clear OHP sheet as the base, then keep the frame and pour the resin in. Half way through the resin's drying time, move it from its original position and let dry completely. There will be no mess and no trimming the sides. As the piece will come beautifully of the sheets
Alice
June 29, 2013 at 1:38 pmI'm so glad you finally used the resin kit. Your pieces are so beautiful and I love the color! I have had a bottle of resin for about three years and it sits unopened. I'm not even sure if it will be any good. Also, I took an online soldering class three years ago and have not done anything soldering since. I'm the kind of person who need someone to hold my hand when trying a new technique, which is something I would really like to change.
KayzKreationz
June 29, 2013 at 1:42 pmI've never tried resin at all, so I know if I win this I'd probably need someone to hold my hand on it. But I'd so love to try. Looks like a lot of fun.
Kristina
June 29, 2013 at 3:09 pmThose pieces are so neat looking! I would need my hand held on soldering techniques I think. I have some sheet metal and some glass that I would like to solder, but have no idea what kind of solder I would need or what others things are necessary.
Angi
June 29, 2013 at 3:23 pmBeautiful frames! I would have to say Resin also. I have had my kit for over a year and only used it once. Definitely need to get out there and play! Thanks!
Angi Mullis [email protected]
Urbanscapes...
June 29, 2013 at 3:39 pmMaking copper bezels 🙂
And how i would love to win one those resin components !
Kaushambi
stregajewellry
June 29, 2013 at 4:05 pmThose are just gorgeous! Resin is one of the medium that I have not experimented with but you make this look simple. This summer, I've determined to make polymer clay bead caps and toggles. I've been unable to work since last September and have no budget for beads, especially art beads so I want to make my own. I keep procrastinating but you have inspired me to try my polymer components.
Erin S
June 29, 2013 at 7:39 pmI too have 2 year old resin that has me in a cold sweat. Want to try it, but afraid to ruin bezels. Making copper frames seems like a great solution for a first attempt.
Ann Schroeder
June 30, 2013 at 1:31 amThanks for this tutorial. I might try resin…someday. I recently ordered some metal components and rivets. Videos showing what to do make it look easy, but I see some bent metal in my future. I'll just keep practicing!
Kristen
June 30, 2013 at 11:06 amIt's the learning curve that keeps me from moving forward sometimes. I have a patina kit that I'm determined to use this summer. Your first try with resin came out beautifully, good job!
Fickle Moon Beads
June 30, 2013 at 2:16 pmI'd love some help with balling copper wire for headpins and earwires. I know how to do it but I'm not confident about how to do it safely indoors. I have a torch that works fine on silver and is safe but the copper just won't budge. I really don't want to start sneaking oxygen tanks past the neighbours just to get the heat high enough!
Alicia Coats
June 30, 2013 at 4:15 pmI'd like to start learning how to use a saw to cut out my own metal shapes & how to solder. I'm a bit nervous to work with a torch!!
SueBeads
June 30, 2013 at 5:41 pmOh resin for sure, and I also want to try bead weaving but I'm afraid to start something I won't have time to finish!
Monique (A Half-Baked Notion)
June 30, 2013 at 7:36 pmMy next goal is to learn metal etching, Gaea, and luckily I am reading about lots of others are experimenting with and sharing their learning curves!
Mischelle
June 30, 2013 at 7:44 pmWhere to begin??? There are soo many different types of mediums that I have yet to try. Polymer clay, resin, even hammering metal.. lol
Jò
June 30, 2013 at 7:54 pmI'd love to try resin and etching.
thanks for the great tutorial
Purple Fish Studio
July 1, 2013 at 11:28 pmRecently, I purchased a few colors of "Iced Enamels" thinking I would coat some great vintage filigree beads with the enamels….but, I have watched videos on how to use them..and..they suggest coating the pieces with resin, which I have not worked with, and now I feel a little stuck.
Gaea
July 3, 2013 at 11:58 pmWow! I am so glad I am not alone! I see a few other techniques that would be fun to try! Etching is another big hand holding project for me!
Shaiha
July 4, 2013 at 9:35 pmI have picked myself up a torch set up for soldiering and I would love to have someone hold my hand the first time. I love fire and I have read all the books but still.