My name is Kat and I have been doing art for as long as I remember. When I was little, it was apparent that I had a creative mind. Even when I was watching TV, I was incapable of sitting still. As I grew older and started going to school, I was always getting in trouble for drawing on my worksheets. I didn't know how to listen to any kind of lecture without doodling to the point where it became an issue. When I was a teenager my artistic capabilities grew immensely. People around me began to notice my art and compliment me on it. I always hoped to be a “real” artist when I grew up, and I knew the time was coming soon.

How I Started my Shop

As an 18th birthday gift to myself, I created an Etsy shop. I had no idea what I was going to sell and tried different things such as, personalized name signs, and paintings. Nothing was selling but I wasn't ready to give up. 

While scrolling through TikTok I discovered the magic medium called epoxy resin. Epoxy resin is a crystal clear liquid that is mixed with hardener and poured into a mold. Over the span of 24 hours, it hardens and becomes a solid mass. What a perfect quarantine project,I thought. I watched hours of resin art videos and then I went to buy my own. I couldn't wait to experiment with a new art medium. I purchased the resin, and two resin molds so I could get to work.

The Struggles of My First Resin Pours

My very first resin pour was supposed to be a rose frozen forever in a crystal cube. However, in my excitement, I hadn't done enough research. I didn't know that the rose had to be dried first. The next day I found the rose rotted and the resin was blotchy and bubbled. I was so disappointed, but ready to try again. 

Have you ever heard of resin poisoning? Neither had I. It had been a few weeks since my first pour and I found myself absolutely addicted to working with resin. I was coming up with ideas, and pouring resin for nearly eight hours a day. One day I woke up hardly able to breathe. I felt as if my lungs were on fire and filled with liquid all at the same time. Assuming the worst, I expected that I had somehow got Covid. After multiple negative Covid tests, I began to research all my symptoms and everything I had eaten or touched in the past few days. Then, I stumbled upon a blog about resin. As it turned out, even though Epoxy Resin has no smell, it's extremely toxic. I needed a special mask to work with resin, and every resin pour had been slowly poisoning me. I was extremely sick for two weeks and did not do another pour until I purchased the right mask.

The Learning Process

It took weeks for me to get the ratio of resin to harder correct, and overall my first few resin projects were ugly. Over the next few months, I spent hours researching ideas and trying them. The amount of these resin ideas that worked was few compared to the ones that didn't. I would keep all the projects I loved and throw away the ones I didn't. By September, I had a whole collection of resin art I loved. That's when I decided to list them on Etsy, and by Christmas I was making sales.

Sourcing Supplies  

I started by purchasing my supplies at in-person arts and craft stores. It didn't take me long to realize it wouldn't work. With the cost of supplies, I would have to charge a lot for my products, which I couldn't do because the supplies were not good quality. It was frustrating so I started Googling online wholesale materials. My purchases were trial and error for a while. Things would show up smaller or bigger than expected. Some items would come in three days and others in two months. However, once I found my supply websites, and tested products, it got easier.

Recent Updates

I have decided to branch out my business from just resin items. My shop now includes more minimalistic jewelry, jewelry displays, and home decor. I now include non-resin items such as necklace holders and ring holders. These items are designed to safely store jewelry when it is not being worn. I also have created a jewelry line of non resin necklaces, rings, and bracelets. Lastly, I have begun to sell home decor. I sell prints of original art pieces I've created, and ornaments during the holiday season. Do not fear, all of my non-resin items are just an add on to the business. I will of course still be creating beautiful resin pieces!