Last week at my University course, was the resin jewellery setting.  I left with mixed feelings.  I had looked forward to practicing it and had dozens of ideas of what I wanted to do.  So much so that I'd spent my week earlier making silver settings and creating images to be set inside these settings. 

My overriding feeling was that it was an awful lot of 'fuss' and mess and time to create something beautiful.  Initially the settings need to be clean, gloves worn and images sprayed with hairspray (and dried) and then using expoxy glue stuck to the setting.  The resin and hardener need to be mixed and stirred adequately and air bubbles avoided.  Then the mixture has to be poured.  It's such a sticky mixture that I seemed to get it everywhere and as the scales weren't working properly it was pure guesswork whether I'd mixed them accurately.

Clearly when I arrived to see my items (which had to be left to dry for 24 hours) - I hadn't guessed correctly as only one of mine had set!  Maybe this is something that I will try again in my studio - one day, but for now I've decided it's not for me.

On a positive note, I have fallen in love with the process of what can be achieved with hand dyed anodised aluminium and mixing it with the silver.  Although there are elements which are frustrating because of not being able to solder components together, I have been developing my new range.  The heart earrings above are an example of a pair of earrings which will be launched soon.  These ones I have kept for myself - and am currently wearing.... as I decided that they went with my top, but there will be plenty more to choose from - including pendants, stud earrings and charms - so keep watching this space and the 'what's new' section of my website as the range will be launched before the end of April.

I'd be interested to hear comments on how other people have found working with resin.

Lesley x