I infrequently mix business with my personal opinions on politics, but at some point I think that one should have the courage to show their true colors. In my case, I am not a fan of DJT or his policies. I also feel that the current brand of right-wing Christian fundamentalists does anything but promote the teachings of Jesus Christ.  This was brought to the forefront with the canonization of Charley Kirk after his horrific assassination.  
   It rankled me when he stated that "empathy" was a "made-up" or "new-age" term. So, after his unfortunate demise, I decided to create a t-shirt with the definition of empathy.  I'm not in the business of making t-shirts, so I decided to also create a set of coasters or window hangers that offer the definitions of empathy, as well as some other "Lib" classified terms.  I don't expect everyone to like, or even appreciate them, but you may find them educational.  If you wish to order a set, or any individual items, please reach out to me at [email protected]. I will be happy to accommodate you, and you may even select your own color combinations. You can also have them made into window or wall hangers (with a gold or silver chain) at no extra charge.

Often, participating in craft shows means arriving an hour or two beforehand to set up (pop-ups, tables, putting out the inventory) and leaving later due to the time it takes to break down everything that you, so carefully, arranged and put together. Today's event was no different, but I am starting to reflect about the folks that I meet and my interactions with them.  The set-up and tear-down time gives me that time to consider how I present my goods, and what my little temporary store looks like to the public.  

Many of my interactions with customers involve sharing the process for creating resin pieces. Many do not realize that the material is a two-part plastic that is in liquid form. After mixing both parts together, the mixture cures and hardens into the product that they see at the market. I imbed many items into my pieces to create the jewelry and other items. I had three specific questions today, of which there were two that I could not immediately answer (I had forgotten the names of the products they asked about.)  I told these folks that I would answer their questions and give product names on these pages.

1. The first question was if I used a pressure chamber to avoid bubbles. I presently do not, as the resin product that I use works very well for me and I rarely have unwanted bubbles. The product that I use is Puduo Resin, which I purchase from Amazon or Temu. I buy it by the gallon, as I go through it pretty quickly. If you mix it well, and keep the liquid warm, it will perform very well without bubbles.
2. Another person asked what I use to take off the sharp edges on my pieces.  When this occurs, I usually use a Deburring Tool to take those edges off. It takes a bit of practice, so try it on some pieces that are not as critical. You can take a chunk out of your lovely creation, which is definitely frustrating. Also, change the blades often if you are using it frequently. This works best on pieces that have been unmolded within a day or two. If you wait longer, you may have to use a rotary tool with a sanding tip to take down the edges. The deburring tool is much less hassle. 
3. Finally, a customer asked about the liquid that I use inside my Mystical Skulls to keep the dice from sinking. Inside the cavity that holds the dice, I use vegetable glycerin. This keeps the heavier dice (such as D-20) from sinking when you turn the skull over. It can also be used for some cool effects if you add mica powder.

If you have any other questions about using resin, Please don't hesitate to ask using the comment section below, or reaching out through the "Contact" page. I'll be happy to guide you through any issues that I can help with. For now, it's going to be one of those "Early Nights." Even though it is only 8 pm, I'm off to my comfy bed....
​