Throwback Thursday: resin earrings

On By CarynIn Craft

In May of 2013 I was experimenting with circuits and epoxy resin. I made a set of earrings with components striped from a cell phone, epoxy, and sterling silver wire.

Photo description: hand-made, clear epoxy and sterling silver earrings with embedded upcycled phone components

This project did not stand the test of time. The epoxy yellowed and the silver tarnished. I thought I used “non-yellowing” epoxy, but I don’t have a record of the brand or type. I’ve drifted away from epoxy except as an adhesive for this reason.

Photo description: same earrings 12 years later

I have to say that I’m not entirely displeased with the aging of these earrings. The yellow and oxide have a more steampunk look than the newly made earrings. The epoxy is still solid, not cracked or degrading or sticky. I still wear the earrings.

Rose top fiber page

On By CarynIn Craft
Photo description: rose top card from Hearthside Fibers top left, single spun, two ply, and cable ply yarns top right, unspun fiber middle left, twined swatch middle right, crochet cables swatch bottom left, knitted cables swatch bottom right

The Rose Top fiber sample was nice to spin, and working up the swatch projects was satisfying. Even though this fiber is produced in a similar way to Tencel, only using rose stems and leaves rather than wood pulp, I found this easier to handle.

Egyptian cotton fiber page

On By CarynIn Craft
Photo description: scrap book page with an Egyptian cotton card from Hearthside Fibers upper left, single spun and chain ply yarn upper right, unspun fiber middle left, twined weaving swatch middle right, knit moss stitch swatch bottom left, crochet lace round bottom right

I spun this Egyptian cotton sample on an Ashford Traveller spinning wheel fitted with a high speed whorl. Egyptian cotton has a longer staple length so is less inclined to form pills. It was nice to spin and worked up into the swatches well.

I enjoy spinning cotton, but is definitely a sitting activity, either on a wheel, or with a tahkli spindle. I also avoid wearing black, as the small fibers accumulate everywhere.

Tencel top fiber page

On By CarynIn Craft
Photo description: scrap book page with a Tencel Top card from Hearthside Fibers upper left, single spun and chain plied samples upper right, unspun fiber middle left, plain weave swatch middle right, stockinette knit swatch lower left, and crocheted lace round lower right

The next completed fiber study page is for Tencel. Tencel is made from wood pulp and the combed fiber is shiny and silky looking, but it is not easy to draft consistently. I want to like it because it is made from waste product, but it fought me when I was spinning. Maybe it would be better if it were blended with something. Blending fibers is another whole rabbit hole.

Despite the difficulties spinning, my swatches are more rectangular and less skewed than with other fibers. I block most of my swatches, but the Tencel really benefitted from being wet and reshaped.

Mint top fiber page

On By CarynIn Craft
Photo description: scrap book page with card from Hearthside Fiber in the upper left, single spun and chain plied yarn in the upper right, unspun fiber middle left, twined swatch middle, tatted swatch middle right, knitted swatch bottom left, and crocheted swatch bottom right

I think this was my bottle neck for assembling my fiber pages. I had several sets ready for assembly but this one wasn’t ready because the tatted swatch took a long time. I think next time I tat for the book it will be a ribbon rather than a rectangle. Or a small doily. Choices.

My favorite piece on this page is the crochet, because I used an orange peel stitch that alternates between single and double crochet and gives a beautiful texture.

The fiber is cellulose infused with peppermint, according to the description. It is supposed to feel cooler. I do not feel it. It was easy to spin thin, gives a nice drape in the knitting and crochet, is possible to tat with (but has more halo than pearlized cotton), but is not noticeably “cool”, any more than cotton can feel cool.

I might purchase this fiber if I had a light summer shirt I wanted to make, but I would be more inclined to purchase cotton or linen.