Make 50: Week 3

It’s been a bit quiet on my blog recently for several reasons. Firstly, I’ve been slaving away on my book, working on background things such as getting it registered so that bookshops can order it when it is released, there have been quite a lot of custom orders, I’ve been geocaching and also making enough jewellery out of recycled materials for the “Make Do and Mend” exhibition last weekend:

So I’m back on the Make 50 challenge, and this week it is something I made for this event, made from a recycled book. Just going to list it on Etsy, Folksy and my site today!

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Create Your Own Resin Jewellery – the book

I’ve started on my book over the last few days and aim to offer it for sale on 1st March 2009 in e-book form, followed shortly by a limited number of paperback books in a compact 6×9″ size.  There will be 12 projects to follow and approximately 80 full colour pages. The e-book will be for sale at £7.99 and the book £12.99 plus p&p. I am starting to offer this as a preorder item, and for a limited time only (until the 15th February) I will be offering the book to preorderers for a special price of £5 for the e-book and £10 for the paperback.

To preorder, click here
Here’s what the book includes!

Contents
Foreword by Cindy Carter from Resin Obsession
Introduction
Resin: The Basics
A description of the properties of polyester and epoxy resins, equipment needed and a guide to mixing resin successfully.

PROJECTS
1) Abalone shell necklaces
Using shells as bezels, embedding starfish, faux pearls and other co-ordinating elements with clear resin.
2) Bottle cap keyrings and magnets
How to print and coat paper for embedding into bottle caps as a ready made bezel.
3) Recycled fabric pendants
Single layer embedding into a ready made mould. Introducing sanding and drilling techniques.
4) Metal leaf jewellery effects
Adding fragments of gold, silver and copper leaf to create precious autumnal jewellery.
5) Swirled dye earrings and bracelets
Introduces transparent and opaque pigments, mix ratios and filling pre-made moulds with part mixed dye.
6) Decal pendants
Create perfectly clear pendants featuring decal transfers.
7) Layering with glitter
Making pieces with three layers for a 3-dimensional effect.
8 ) Making your own moulds
Introducing RTV Silicone and Vinamould, how to use each material, and when to choose one over the other. Shows you how to make a basic band ring mould and stud earring mould.
9) Introducing gelcoat as a glue
Making stud earrings and adhering the posts with gelcoat resin.
10) The ice resin technique
How and when to manipulate part cured resin, and create freeform imitation ice pieces without a mould.
11) Embedding Swarovski stones and gemstones
Selecting the correct drill bit, and affixing stones and Austrian crystal into cured pieces.
12) Plique-a-jour bracelet
Filling hollow objects to create a window effect. This project specifically shows how to fill a cross section of deer antler to create an unusual charm for a bracelet.

Troubleshooting
How to solve commonly faced problems, such as tacky surfaces and cleaning spillages.
Where to buy?

Competition and Poll!

This is a really important post for me. I’m going to make it a sticky for a while so I can get as many votes as possible…

I have written a proposal for a resin jewellery book, which would reveal the secret behind my ice jewellery as well as 9 other projects for the beginner to intermediate resin crafter. Unfortunately, the publishers in this country don’t think there is a market for it. I need you to change that! This competition is mainly for the UK readers, but US ones are welcome to participate (I think it’s only fair).

The prize is one of my ice rings (pictured), and to enter, all you need to do is leave an honest comment to this post.

The two questions I would like you to answer are: Would you buy a resin jewellery craft book? and Where do you live? If you would like to leave further comment on what you would expect from the book, price, whether you would also accept it in e-book form, etc that would be great. The winner will be picked at random on October 25th 2008.

Thank you for your help!

Please vote for me!

I am currently in third place at time of writing in the 1st September Etsy Jewellery Challenge. Please follow this link to vote for your favourite piece, I hope you will choose my Coffee De Brasil pendant!

http://etsychallenge.blogspot.com/2008/09/91-jewelry-challenge.html

I received positive feedback on my book proposal yesterday, which is very encouraging as I’ve not had anything negative said. With any luck “Create Your Own Resin Jewellery” by Kerry Wilkinson will become a reality in about a year’s time! I’m very excited!