Most of my classes are "hands on" but I usually have a handout with an outline of what we did in the class along with recipes, tips, references etc. I have...
Winter RUM has been officially cancelled due to the weather. According to those in the know a large portion of Decatur is without power, there is 2 inches of...
Decatur, Illinois... seems that Illinois got hit really hard by this storm. Indiana (right next door) got maybe a trace of snow, and no ice that I know of. ...
Thank you Simon. Along these same lines I am teaching a class this spring on Heraldry for Scribes at the Bellewood Symposium for Scribal/Heraldy/Dance Arts in...
A good priced book being offered at David Brown Company (sometimes referred to as Oxbow Books)... this is an excellent book, I have a copy of it on my shelves...
It was supposed to be at Garfield School on Meadow Terrace. According to the autocrat, a goodly portion of Decatur is without power. I hope that they're all...
A few weeks ago, I posted a question about the identity of Salet Oyle in a sealing wax recipe (with the conclusion that salet oyle was olive oil). I thought...
Very good. You don't say you were using for molds and matrix. What were you using for a mold release agent? Coating the mold and/or matrix with oil (salet...
Hi Motley, Thanks for the suggestion on the oil coat. I'm still used to the modern notion of pouring molten wax into the mold...... it just sets up and...
How about washing the oil off afterwards with a little soapy (or detergent) water? A quick gentle washing and blot dry with a soft lint free cloth shouldn't...
Hello folks, I'm sending out a cry for help. I've finally decided to start trying gilding, rather than use Schmeinke gold. About a month ago, I purchased some...
Robert: Are you puffing to rehydrate the Instacoll before dropping the leaf on it?? That might be a part of your problem... you still have to treat it like...
I did try puffing to rehydrate the Instacoll, but perhaps I don't have enough moisture in my breath? I was trying for the flat surface, mirror finish that I've...
Yes you do apply, let dry for 30 minutes plus. After it is dry, blow on it with your own breathe - this adds moisture and makes the instacoll sticky Apply gold...
Robert, Stand back and take a time out. ;) You sound like me the first time I tried the stuff. I haven't had lots of luck with it but I'm still trying to...
Ah, if you are trying for a flat gilding, then don't try to put the gold down in too large a space at a time... work in small patches, say about 1/2" to 1"...
Greetings from Keterlin: I went through this in July with a friend. First things first as we found out. Her Instacoll was different from mine in that it was...
OH Ack!!! Thank you so much Keterlin!!! THAT is the problem...I've been fussing with this stuff all weekend, not knowing that there's supposed to be a second...
Dear Scribies,
to quote from the article below
/"Glazing, the superimposition of layers of transparent or translucent mixtures of pigment with oil, allowed...
Hi Robert! I know we have discussed this a little off-list last month, and the offer to show you how I apply mine still stands, if you would like to get...
That is most interesting about the John Neal Instacoll being only one part of two... I never noticed it before (and mine says the same thing), and never had...
I am just curious, Instacoll is a modern acrylic gesso isn't it? Why do people use it? Is it better than period gessos? I use a gesso mix of gum arabic, water...
I just received my copy of this in the mail Friday and it is beyond my best expectations. Each chapter is done up by century (i.e. first chapter is bunch of...
Bridget, I think the lure of Instacoll is its shininess with minimum effort. It really doesn't need to be burnished with a stone burnisher, a piece of silk it...
