It's official: plants boost mental health and make us feel more connected with nature!

Greener front gardens can cut down on stress as much as eight weekly mindfulness sessions, according to new research by the Royal Horticutural Society (RHS). 

With today marking World Mental Health Day, it's a timely reminder of the value of plants and access to nature in our everyday lives.

This month, the RHS, in collaboration with the Universities of Sheffield, Westminster and Virginia, published its findings into a groundbreaking research project, measuring the effects of greener front gardens on people's stress levels. 

During the four year study, 42 residents in a deprived part of Manchester in the UK received a tree, a shrub, a climber, bedding plants, bulbs and sub-shrubs to brighten up their previously bare gardens. 

 Before receiving the plants, less than a quarter of participants had healthy levels of cortisol, the “fight or flight” hormone associated with stress. In just a year, this had increased to over a half. 

The news may not come as much of a surprise to horticulturalists. 

You can teach an old dog new tricks! 

Confession: I was once so rubbish with plants that I managed to kill a supposedly indestructible cactus! I had the reverse of the Midas touch when it came to gardening. Everything I touched turned to manure! 

My notoriety with plants spread like weeds. I was banned from hedge trimming and when anyone gifted me a pot plant, I would secretly cringe, wondering how many days it had left on this earth… 

Notice, however, that I'm talking in the past tense. I was rubbish with plants. Spectacularly so. I felt sorry for any that came into my “care”. I mostly killed them with kindness, freaking out so much about neglecting them (like that poor cactus) to the point where I'd over water them. 

 But over the past couple of years I've definitely improved. And during lockdown I educated myself about plants and have been on a mission to transform my garden gradually, adding wildflowers and bee pollinators.

Slowly, my confidence in my gardening abilities has grown. Blossomed even! I'm still far from green-fingered but I'm no longer the horticultural butcher either! 

It's given me so much joy to see beautiful blooms pop out when I least expect them, sometimes ages after I think they'll emerge! Half the time I've forgotten exactly what I've planted, so it's a total surprise when seedlings pop up! That's half the fun.

So I totally understand how surrounding yourself with greenery can be great for your mental health.

Similarly, immortalising blooms in resin to wear around my wrist, ears or neck, or to enjoy in paperweights and coasters, is so therapeutic. 

Paperweight by Tallulah does the Hula

I'm definitely a summer bunny at heart – so having a piece of English meadow to enjoy year round is definitely great for the soul. Especially as the nights draw in.

Meadow bangle by Tallulah does the Hula

From the rugged Scottish Highlands to the flat Fens: my latest bangle collection celebrates the beautiful Sound of Mull

Fabulous friends give you flowers. But it takes a really special mate to handpick and dry your favourite wildflowers and transport them 500 miles.

Luckily for me, I have that one in a million friend. 

The lovely Helen was happy to oblige during her annual trip to see family in the stunning Sound of Mull in the Scottish Highlands.

The stunning Sound of Mull. Picture by Helen Bennion

She gathered a posy of crocosmia, purple loosestrife, sea campion, red campion, red clover, bird's foot trefoil, sea aster, silverweed, valerian, meadowsweet, heather, ferns and moss from her family's property.

Wildflowers and ferns from the Sound of Mull. Picture by Helen Bennion

The delicate foliage was carefully dried before being transported 500 miles or so, from the rugged West Coast of Scotland to the flat Fens in the East of England.

I am so very grateful to Helen for these exquisite blooms! 

They were an absolute delight to put into a variety of bangles, which are now available in my Etsy shop.

The rugged coastline in Helen's photos and the delicate blooms, ferns and moss that are indigenous to this phenomenal coastline remind me of some of the scenery in New Zealand. Considering the climate and Lord of the Rings-esque landscape, this isn't entirely surprising.

The Sound of Mull. Picture by Helen Bennion.

I haven't been to my other home (New Zealand) in five or so years and I miss it terribly. With little sign of the Covid situation improving anytime soon across the globe (NZ being one of the most impressive countries to control its spread), it doesn't look like a visit is imminent in the near future.

I haven't visited Bonny Scotland in many years either. I have fond memories of spending a week or so with my parents and sister in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Loch Lomond when I was a teenager, staying in a family friend's dilapidated cottage in the middle of nowhere!

My last and very fleeting visit to Scotland (still a while ago) was a highlight from my former career as a club journalist: I was sent to Edinburgh and Glasgow to cover the MTV Dancefloor Awards for Club On magazine! What an incredible night that was (not that I remember much of it!).

One day, I plan to visit the Sound of Mull to experience this imposing landscape for myself. Meanwhile, I can look at my bangles and dream...

totalCAST: a gamechanger in the world of resin!

There's been a lot of buzz about totalCAST, the new casting resin by Eli-Chem resin - but can it live up to the hype?

TotalCAST resin

Even before its official release, there's been a lot of excitement in the resin world about a new resin that promises to be clearer and safer than its competitors. With so much hype, I was very excited to be one of about 25 global testers before totalCAST is officially released. Could it really deliver on its promises?

As most resin artists know, our passion is a bit of a dark art. Or rather, while making beautiful creations is definitely an art form, getting the resin to behave is most definitely a science!

Eli-Chem have certainly got the science right with totalCAST. Mixing up my first test batch, I was immediately struck by the lack of odour and apparent fumes.

I have been assured that totalCAST is BPA-free - that means that unlike some other resins, it doesn't contain bisphenol A, an industrial chemical which has been linked to possible side effects on babies and children. totalCAST is also free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

As a mother to two young children, I do sometimes worry about toxic fumes from my resin-ing - so this does give me some peace of mind.

Unlike other 1:1 ratio resins, totalCAST mixes very easily and its low viscosity makes it easy to pour into moulds. Even the hardener is incredibly clear - no nasty yellowing here!

Bangle by Tallulah does the Hula, made with totalCAST.

Another thing that makes totalCAST a pleasure to work with is the lack of bubbles compared to most other resins, thanks to a diluent that expels air and drives it to the surface to pop!

After endless wrangling with heat guns and barbecue lighters, this is a pleasant surprise. It's almost too easy! (Shhh, don't tell anyone else!)

And because it's relatively quick and hassle free to mix up, its perfect for layering resin projects.

As a busy mum, I don't normally have the luxury of being able to stagger my resin mixing throughout the day - but totalCAST is so fast to prepare that it opens up a whole range of options.

The only downside is that it takes a tiny bit longer to fully cure than other resins I've used.

We're talking hours here, not days, and the gloriously clear result makes it well worth the wait! It also mixes up beautifully with tints, such as Eli-Chem's Resi-Tint acrylic pigments. I imagine it would also work well with alcohol inks although I haven't tested it yet.

Bangle by Tallulah does the Hula, made with totalCAST and Resi-Tint acrylic pigments.

Verdict: In short, I LOVE totalCAST! 

 I would go so far as to say that this may well revolutionise the world of resin.

Once you've tasted ambrosia, you will never settle for second best!

totalCAST will soon be available to buy globally.

Bangles by Tallulah does the Hula, made with TotalCAST.

Waste not, want not - pyschedelic stripes!

Love funky resin bangles? Hate waste? Here's an awesome way to use up your leftover resin for maximum effect. These psychedelic stripes put the fun back into funky!

 What you need:

- Two part epoxy resin
- Bangle moulds
- Resi-Tint Acrylic Inks

Method:

1. Mix up a batch of two-part epoxy resin to use in any other resin project. For this task I used Mastercast 1-2-1 resin by Chem Resins.

 

2. When you have finished your masterpiece, instead of chucking away your leftover resin, transfer it into a psychedelic stripe by mixing in a few drops of Resi-Tint Acrylic Ink.

 Easy does it - one or two drops are all you need for a vibrant, beautiful colour!

3. Pour a thin layer of tinted resin into a bangle mould. For this project I used a combination of moulds made by Resin8 and myself. You can get totally different effects using thin or chunky moulds.

4. Ensure that you have a thin layer of your first colour poured into the mould. Carefully remove spills along the sides using baby wipes.

5. Once your first colour has cured, you are ready to pour another thin layer of tinted resin. The layers don't necessarily have to be of equal height, depending on what effect you are going for.

6. Continue pouring layers of tinted resin onto cured resin until you have filled up your mould.

7. The end result? Some fantastic bangles. I think of these as "bonus bangles" because they are made out of leftover resin that may otherwise have been thrown away. Perfecto!

You can check out my Facebook page here or take a peek at my Etsy shop here.

Colour your resin!

Who says resin has to be clear?  From psychedelic stripes to subtle hues, there are many ways to add colour to your resin collections. You can even sing (or paint) a resin rainbow, should you wish to do so!

I was recently asked to test out four of Chem Resin's new Resi-Tint Acrylic Inks - a series of vibrant colours specially designed to be used with resin. Eli-Chem Resins have produced these acrylic pigments to be used for paintings and sculptures - but they can just as easily be used to add some va-va-voom to resin jewellery.

In the past I've used alcohol ink to tint my resin creations so was interested to see how Resi-Tint stacked up in comparison. I tried out Turquoise, Emerald, Flame Red and Scarlet.

Resi-Tint pigment versus alcohol ink

The first difference between Resi-Tint and alcohol ink is that a little bit of Resi-Tint goes a very long way! Eli-Chem recommend mixing up one part of Resi-Tint to 1000 parts of resin.

I certainly found that one or two drops is all you need to colour about 300ml of mixed up epoxy resin - so go easy on how much you pour into your resin!

Luckily the pots come with handy droppers so it's easy to mix up the amount you require.

29.5 ml of Resi-Tint should last a very long time - which makes a bottle (retailing at £9.90 - or about $15) pretty economical if you're planning to do a lot of tinting and colouring! The colours are vibrant and tend to come out more opaque than alcohol ink (unless you mix up an enormous batch of resin)!

Here is a rose petal bangle I made, using turquoise Resi-Tint, Alamould bangle mould and Mastercast 1-2-1 two part epoxy resin.

Verdict

All in all I was very pleased with the different effects I was able to achieve using Resi-Tint. Although it's hard to obtain a very subtle hue unless you mix up a huge batch, it is a very versatile pigment - offering an enormous range of effects. The only limit is your imagination!

Flower bangle using clear resin poured in together with turquoise and flame red Resi-Tint pigments.

Made using emerald Resi-tint and resin mixed into a silicone leaf mould.

Bangle featuring pieces of quail egg shell and sequins with scarlet Resi-Tint.

Click here for a resin tutorial showing you how to make this funky psychedelic stripe bangle using Resi-Tint!

You can check out my Facebook page here or take a peek at my Etsy shop here.

New resin gun tested!

Are bubbles causing troubles with your resin work? Fed up with pieces that never properly cure? A revolutionary new resin gun system has got me all fired up! 

If you've ever worked with resin, you've probably been there. You've carefully measured out your two part epoxy resin, mixing up the resin with the hardener. You've dutifully followed the instructions, mixing up the parts with a lollipop stick. And then disaster! Pesky bubbles rise to the surface! Or you spill a glob of resin all over your beautiful bezel! Or perhaps you've messed up your ratios somehow and ended up with a tacky mess that never fully cures. If so, the resin gun system may be for you!

I was thrilled when leading UK resin manufacturer Eli-Chem Resins recently asked me to test drive their brand new MasterCast 1-2-1 resin gun system. Could it really live up to its expectations?

Method

1. Unclip the hinged bracket at the front of the resin gun and tilt it forward.

2. Insert the plunger into the gun handle by pressing up on the metal release bracket at the back and sliding the plunger through the slot. Ensure the hole of the plunger faces backwards and the grooved side is facing down. Push the plunger all the way through.

3. Insert the dual-barreled cartridge into the retaining bracket and snap it down across the top of the gun so it locks with a click.

4. Remove the cartridge cap and fit the mixing nozzle to the front of the cartridge. Once it locks securely into space, it's time to get creative!

 5. Slowly squeeze the trigger to release the resin. The first bit of liquid may have bubbles in it, so you may wish to discard it. The rest is ready to use! Working in a well ventilated space and preferably wearing gloves, slowly squeeze the trigger to dispense the resin. Here I've used it to dome some bezels I've prepared earlier.

6. When you have finished your project, replace the cap on the cartridge for future use. Make sure you dispose of used nozzles and cartridges safely.

 

The verdict

A small cartridge of MasterCast 1-2-1 resin goes a fairly long way! It may not look like much but one of those little cartridges was enough to dome 30 bezels, gloss the top of a pre-sanded bangle, fill up six small moulds and start the first layer of a large, thin bangle mould! Not bad!

The thin nozzle was ideal for getting into small spaces and because it was all so tidy, there were no spills or wasted resin. After wrestling with cocktail sticks, lollipop sticks and toothpicks, this was a bit of a revelation.

The kit was surprisingly easy to put together - even for a relative technophobe like me! Once assembled, it was so simple and quick to use that I instantly fell in love with this system.

Starter kits retail at £25 (about $38) each and include a reusable resin gun, two pre-filled cartridges and six mixing nozzles. Replacement cartridges cost £8 each (about $12) while mixing nozzles cost 30p (about 46 cents). As long as the nozzle is replaced on the cartridge, it should last for two years.

Pros: great for beginners, artists working on small projects and very precise work where you want to get into small spaces. There is almost zero waste and quality is guaranteed every time. An absolute beginner could pick it up and use it in almost no time at all! This is also a great solution if you're wishing to test out Eli-Chem's MasterCast 1-2-1 resin without committing to buying big containers of resin.

Cons: The cost may make it restrictive for experienced artists wishing to work on big projects.

Overall: A fantastic bit of kit that may well revolutionize resin!

Less than 24 hours on, here are some of my creations using the Eli-Chem resin gun!

To find out more about Eli-Chem products click here.

For more of my creations check out my Facebook page! Do pop by and say g'day :)

Who wants to win limited edition designer jewellery?!

Love beautiful, bold, bespoke jewellery?

To celebrate Tallulah does the Hula’s first birthday, I’m giving away some limited edition designer jewellery on my Facebook page!

One lucky person will win this indigo blue necklace, featuring handmade beads and hematite gemstones.

One runner-up will win a pair of pretty earrings featuring handmade leaf beads and glass pearls.

The competition closes at 5pm on Monday 1 December 2014.

For more information click here!

GOOD LUCK!