A Special Day at Echo Artworks!

 

Echo Artworks, inc.  626 N. Callow Ave.  Bremerton, WA  98312  360.405.4341

 

 

Saturday I spent hours in bead dreamland!  Most people go out of town over a three day weekend.  We usually stick close to home!  So I took a drive to my local bead store to visit with Beth Shea and Pixie!  There is so much to see in the store.  You will find a lot of pictures here that just give you a glimpse of all there is to see.  ENJOY!

 

 

Steampunk Necklaces! In Just Steampunk Vol. 3

I had four Steampunk Pendants published in "Just Steampunk Vol. 3" I love dabbling in jewelry.  Sometimes I alter what is found and other times I create something entirely new.

  

Not long ago at Echo ArtWorks in Bremerton WA I found these amazing charms: a telescope, divers helmet, magnifying glass and compass. I knew they would make great Steampunk pendants.  

Pictured above on page 17 of "Just Steamupunk Vol. 3" 

Telescope on swivel, with gears and butterfly.

Divers Helmet on swivel with gears, fish and sea star.

Magnifying glass on swivel with gear and old clock key.

Compass on swivel with gears. 

Get your copy of Just Steampunk at Create and Craft

Echo Artworks New Product and Ideas for Gift Giving!

From now until the end of the year, Echo Artworks has $2.00 specials throughout the shop.  Be sure to stop by soon for the best selection of glass, stone and pearl strands for just $2.00!!!  They also have $2.00 finished jewelry specials-great to stuff those stockings!

 I love all the colors at Echo Artworks 

 Walls are covered with stings of beads!

WHAT AWESOME KEYS... I had to buy one... I am using it on one of my tags for the Viva Las Vegastamps! Blog Hop starting December 1st!!!

Making Molds for Resin

Last weekend a group of us spent the day with Beth Shea at Echo Artworks.  We learned to make molds from modeling compound, then use them to pour resin. 

Beth started the demo by showing us molds she had created the week before.  LOOK at all the frozen charlottes!!!!   I LOVE THEM!!!!!

We were asked to bring items with us to make molds from.  My little collection included chess pieces, the case from an old pocket watch and pen nibs.

First, we worked the mold compound using equal parts of the putty until it was blended.  You knew it was blended when it was a smooth purple color.

We then pressed our items into the mixed mold compound.  Being sure not to press too hard - that would create a very thin mold or holes in the mold. There isn’t much time, once the mold compound is mixed it starts getting hard within minutes.  When working with mold compound be sure you are prepared to  use it immediately.  It is not forgiving, you cannot reconstitute it. 

Once the new mold has set for about 20-30 minutes you can remove the item from it.  The mold takes about 48 hours to cure. 

We were very impatient so we poured a 2-part resin into our new molds immediately.  Beth warned us that new resin poured would have bubbles since the molds didn’t have time to cure. 

After we played with the flat molds Beth showed us how to make a three dimensional mold.  Using a frozen charlotte, wrap the mold compound around the figure leaving a small hole open at the feet.  Make made a small notch in the compound to mark where the seam should be to remove the frozen charlotte. In this case it is in the back of the charlotte. 

Once the mold has had time to harden cut open the mold carefully with a knife. Slowly cut the seam a little at a time until cutting through to the frozen charlotte.  

Remove the frozen charlotte.

To use the mold wrap it tightly with painters tape to keep the seam closed.  Pour resin in the small hole and let it set for 24 hours. 

Left over resin painted on old dictionary pages makes wonderful background paper for other art projects! 

Or to adhere paper to Dominos...

To finish off the day Beth showed us a second type of resin that is colored.  

THANK YOU BETH FOR A WONDERFUL DAY!!!!