Jewelry Articles

PODCAST ON CRAFT: Magazine

September 20th, 2008 by Peggy

We love CRAFT: Magazine!  We love it for its hip edge and for its incredibly easy yet detailed instructions for lots of different types of projects for all the DIYers and crafters out there.  If you have not ever read CRAFT: you can get it at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, most craft and hobby stores, or in your mailbox via subscription!   CRAFT:  also has a great on-line magazine http://www.craftzine.comchocked full of resources, podcasts, blogs and project ideas and instructions.


Becky Stern, one of their regular contributors recently posted a Podcast on resin casting using Knead-a-Mold, our safe and easy to use molding silicone.  The project is a great place to start to learn how to do a very simple mold before you venture out into more complicated territory.

For more information about Knead-a-Mold, read our past gallery/news posts or visit the How To section on our website.  Questions?  Feel free to email us:  info [Email address: info #AT# townsendatelier.com - replace #AT# with @ ]

Casting With Townsend Casting Resin

January 15th, 2008 by Peggy

castingresin_imagestripweb.jpg

Townsend Casting resins are two-part liquid urethane casting system designed for use by sculptors, wood carvers, pattern makers, taxidermists, hobbyists, proto-typers, model makers, special effects professionals, doll makers, jewelers, restorers, to name a few.

Here are a few examples of pieces made with Townsend Casting Resin.

cessnaweb.jpeg

Study of a Female Centaur, by Cessna Decosimo, Chattanooga, TN

A mold was made from the artist’s original piece which was sculpted from clay. To achieve the beautiful bronze patina, the interior of the mold was dusted with bronze powder before the casting resin was poured into it. Once cured and de-molded, the surface was buffed with steel wool and patinaed with our Sculpt Nouveau solvent dyes.

cessnadetailweb1.jpeg

Detail of Study of a Female Centaur

lizard.jpeg

On the left is the original sculpture of a lizard made from stone. A mold was made of it with Knead-a-Mold. Then, Townsend Casting Resin was poured into the mold. The lizard on the right is the resin cast. The white resin lizard could now be painted, patinaed or left as is. To create a bronze surface, bronze powder could have been dusted into the mold prior to pouring in the resin. Visit our “how to” section on our website to read more.

medallionweb.jpeg

Casting resin was poured into a silicone mold taken from an architectural ornament.

reinshead2.jpeg

Bronze powder was dusted into a silicone mold, casting resin was then poured into the mold. When de-molded, the bronze bonds to the exterior of the resin and can be buffed or patinaed.

moldbackweb.jpeg

Back of the resin piece showing bronze powder on exterior.

reliefweb.jpeg

This resin casting was poured into a silicone mold taken from an architectural terra cotta relief. The casting resin was poured into the mold which was dusted with gold-colored powder to give it a luminous surface.

To view all of our products, click here.

Using Silicone Molds with Clay: Charity Elise Hofert

December 27th, 2007 by Peggy

Charity Elise Hofert is an artist and designer living and working in Atlanta, GA. She creates a variety of handmade, decorative, and functional pieces for the home and garden.
The intricately detailed seashells and starfish bordering her aqua blue platter are made out of earthenware clay that have been glazed and fired. To make the seashells, Charity Elise made a mold from real seashells and a starfish with Knead-a-Mold. The Knead-a-Mold picked up the subtlest of textures–allowing the details to not be lost during the firing process. The result is an exact replica of the original objects on the finished piece.

il_430xn_15883467.jpg

il_430xn_15883416.jpg

oreo.jpg

These yummy Oreo pendants were made by making a mold with Knead-a-Mold onto a real cookie and then pressing white earthenware clay into the cured mold. The fired earthenware cookies were carefully painted with brown glazesand then varnished.

il_430xn_13935453.jpg

This starfish pendant was made with white earthenware clay pressed into a mold made from a real starfish with Knead-a-Mold. The starfish is glazed in a lovely, soft orange which was partially wiped away to reveal the beautiful texture of the starfish. It was then glazed in a clear gloss glaze, affixed to a sterling silver bail and hung from a black elastic cord. “I grew up on the coast of Maine and am missing the ocean living here in Atlanta, and so i have started making some pieces that remind me of my salty roots!”


The pendants and earrings below are made from white stoneware clay that were pressed into a Knead-a-Mold mold that were taken from vintage cabochons and other interesting objects.

bwpendant.jpg

il_430xn16203183.jpg

il_430xn16107719.jpg

il_430xn16104086.jpg

To view more of Charity’s work visit:
www.charityelise.com
www.charityelise.etsy.com
To view all of Townsend Atelier products click here