Whatcha doin'?

Made some new molds yesterday. I'm really putting the push on to have a good selection of inventory when September hits. I always find myself scrambling when it comes to the fall. In the past, I didn't think about the holidays or having inventory for the holidays until October - way too late for customers. I've been thinking about inventory and the holidays since July.

So, I tell myself - work work work!

This summer was much busier than others and no vacation. Why? TBC (that's The Bean Counter hubby) has been out of work. Good news, last month he found work but it involves a great deal of travel (ugh) - while we're not crazy about that, we will manage.

The Teen spent the summer learning how to drive - with Triple A. I tried to teach him but I couldn't. I remember when I learned how to drive how my father yelled - now I know why. There's alot to be said for a driver's ed teacher who has a set of brakes on their side of the car. I think I could have taught him if I'd had that set of brakes.


So, that's what I've been doin' - whatcha been up to? Leave me a note and let me know if you're doin' any early holiday preparations or maybe you're teaching a teen to drive?

I venture into a mold....

Today is a new adventure for me. I know it's a well trodden path but it's one that I've never taken a venture on. It's mold making.

Yup, except for a complete-failure-mold I made in a fusing class a few years ago, and probably because of the complete-failure-mold, I've never tried to make a mold again. I just figured it went into the same category as clay - Cindy=not very good.

But the allure of creating an Art Noveau style pendant has just been too strong for me. I bought this antique button from the local "Button Lady" who infrequently shows up at the local flea market to sell her treasures.

OMG - don't you LOVE it?!? There's French written on the back of it and I had to have it. I'm pretty sure I paid $25-35 for it, but it's just so beautiful, I had to have it. Nevermind I had no idea what I'd do with it at the time.



So last week, I decided it was time to try my hand once again at mold making. I bought the sculpey mold clay awhile back. It was just the thing I needed. I read the directions and an online tutorial. I collected the materials I needed: work surface (the good part of an old shower curtain spread over my favorite tablecloth), baby powder and corn starch ( you can use either, I ended up using the corn starch), various buttons and the sculpey.

I planned to try out other buttons before my French one but I was so excited, I just went for it. I dusted the French button with cornstarch using a paintbrush and pressed it into the mold.





What do you think? I think it came out very nicely!

I learned a couple of things - the mold making sculpey is alot softer and becomes mush in your warm hands so don't work it too long. Refrigeration is good!

If the molding clay gets too warm and you can't get your button out cleanly, put it in the frig or freezer.

If some of the molding compound is left in your button, put it in the frig then to clean it, take it to your kitchen sink and spray it with your dishwashing sprayer. Maker sure the water is cold. If you don't have a sprayer, you can run it under the faucet but turn up the water so you get a good strong stream of water on it. You could always use a garden hose if you have it too.

I'm glad I finally took the mold path :-) It opens up some new possibilities for my work - glass and metal together!

So have you taken an adventure? Have you tried a well worn path but it's new for you?