WHAT INSPIRES YOUR ARTWORK?  

My love for patterns and nature.

Jewelry & Print FAQ

How to Clean Jewelry Pieces:

Clean your jewelry with a soft, non-abrasive, and lint-free cloth, like an eye-glass cloth. If necessary, you can use a mild, liquid dish soap (diluted to avoid leaving film) with warm water and a soft lint-free cloth, then rinse with clean water and pat dry with a soft cloth.

Avoid using “dip” polish or abrasive jewelry cleaners as these can contain harsh chemicals that are damaging to jewelry over time. Jewelry polishing cloths that have been treated with cleaners or polishing agents should only ever be used on solid sterling silver items.

Will the real flowers or leaves fade?

The real flower and leaf pieces may have some natural fading over time. The fading process varies depending on how much sunlight a piece is exposed to, and the type of flower or leaf it is. It is best to store your real flower resin jewelry away from direct sunlight.

What to Avoid:

Your jewelry is susceptible to damage from the effects of chemicals commonly found in perfume, hair products, cosmetics, cleaning products, and body lotions/oils. To prolong the life of your jewelry, make it a practice to be the last thing you put on.
Chlorine, salt-water, and fresh water can damage precious metals and gemstones by dulling or eroding them over time. Gold and silver are particularly susceptible to damage from chlorine, which can permanently damage or discolor them. Soapy water, when bathing can also leave a thin film, which makes the metal seem dull. Do not leave your jewelry in any high temp places like a car. If it gets warm enough it can make the pieces soft and that could change the shape and damage the piece.

What is epoxy resin?

In short, it is a two-stage liquid plastic compound, Part A and Part B, which is mixed and poured in the correct ratio.
Epoxy resins are manufactured from raw materials that are largely derived from petroleum. Epoxy resin is a compounded polyepoxide, composed of reactive prepolymers and polymers that contain epoxide groups.
Epoxide groups are commonly referred to as epoxy. This is known as a strong adhesive. Epoxy has two components, a base, and a curing or hardening agent. These components are combined in specific ratios. In combination, a chemical reaction takes place. The agents are hardened into an inert solid plastic. During the processing, both the base and the hardener react with each other rather than just one reacting with the other. In this co-reaction, the hardener molecules and the epoxy molecules bond in a fixed ratio. This is why it is so important to have the mix ratio absolutely correct. If it is not correct, the reaction is apt to be incomplete as the excess of either component will remain unreacted. This can change the end product significantly. FYI, epoxy resin requires PPE, so don't forget to glove and wear a face respirator. 

What is 18k Gold-plated brass?

Electroplating is the process of coating one metal or metal object with a thin layer of another metal, typically by applying a direct electric current.  Many pieces are triple electro-plated brass that's nickel-free and leaf-free, to withstand everyday use and keep the longevity of your pieces.


You can watch my process on Instagram and get upcoming website updates @tediousjewelry 


Linocut FAQ

Printmaking Art/ Linocut Prints

Printmaking is considered a fine art technique; there are many different printmaking techniques. Traditional printmaking techniques include relief printing, lithography, intaglio printing, and screen printing. At the moment, I prefer linocut printmaking, which is a type of relief printing technique where I carve my designs away from linoleum. Yes, the same stuff used for flooring. All of my prints are created using this process.

What is a linocut print?

A linocut is a relief print made by carving lines and other textured marks into a lino block, I use battleship gray linoleum. The uncarved areas are inked using a roller (brayer) and then printed. The negative areas removed remain the color of the paper.

What is a limited edition print?

Prints are made in small batches that are numbered and signed to a limited amount. Once that number has been printed the original block is typically destroyed. 

What type of paper do you print on?
Almost all of my paper prints, unless noted otherwise on the listing, are printed on handmade 100% cotton rag paper. In my efforts to support other small businesses, I typically purchase my handmade paper from other makers.

How do you make a linocut print?

First, I start by drawing the image envisioned to carve onto a block of linoleum. Then, the negative spaces surrounding the design are carved from the block. Once all desired areas are removed, ink is rolled onto the uncut surface of the block, paper is then laid on top of the block, and the linoleum topped with paper, is run through my etching press to transfer ink from block to paper to produce a print. When the paper has been removed, the image then appears in reverse.

Print Care

Keep your artwork away from incandescent light and direct sunshine. This will help keep your print from fading. Moisture can collect under the glass in a frame, which can cause water damage to the paper, so it's best to keep it in a dry atmosphere.

You can watch my print process on Instagram @tediouslittlethings

~A little History~

“The Art of printing was born in China during the Han Dynasty (a print on fabric can be dated 220 AD), although some artifacts have been discovered in Egypt dating from the sixth or seventh century BC. “

“Linoleum was invented by Frederick Walton (UK) in the mid-1800s, first patenting the material in 1860. At that time, its main use was that of flooring material, and later in the 1800s as actual wallpaper. By the 1890s artists had started to use it as an artistic medium. Although linoleum is a floor covering that dates to the 1860s, the linocut printing technique was first used by the artist  Die Brücke in Germany between 1905 and 1913. It had been similarly used for wallpaper printing. “

References.

(https://www.plumplumcreations.com/the-history-of-printmaking-part-1/)

(https://www.boardingallrows.com/history-of-lino-printing-and-famous-linocut-artists)