I started working with resin as part of my jewelry design process in 2013. At first I only used it when making my signature chunky charms. Over the years, I’ve had phases where I used resin every day, all day long. You know what? That’s not healthy or recommended. (It’s toxic!) When I first started, I didn’t really know what I was doing, but with a tremendous amount of experimentation, research and a slight obsession, I learned a lot.

Making a business out of my jewelry making hobby didn’t pan out for me exactly as I had hoped. It turned something that felt pure and deeply personal, into something that suddenly involved responsibility, money, and anxiety. I struggled to find balance at pretty much every stage of my jewelry business. I wanted to make something that still felt personal and just for me. I can’t tell you why, or how I discovered this to be the case, but that thing was paperweights.

I collect all the things that I put inside of them and plan the arrangements in advance. Sometimes I make a drawing first, but I didn’t do that this time. I love for them to contain their own little world, a message I can meditate upon when I use them.

I bought these gold pressed paper pigs in Berlin. I bought the opaque colorful stars in Harajuku in Tokyo. I find all my own four leaf clovers, this one is probably from here in Brooklyn.

I wish I could remember where I got this little dollhouse telephone - it’s solid metal! The dogs are porcelain and also intended for a dollhouse….I’ve had them so long I can’t remember where they came from, but I think they may have been a gift from an old colleague.

I found these hourglasses at a flea market and knew immediately that I would make this weight with them. I think I got them at least 2 years ago, so that shows you how long I marinated on it before finally making it happen! The hourglasses work! They take about 2 minutes and 15 seconds.

These days of course I use all of these as my pattern weights while sewing. They become your second set of hands - holding down stacks of cut tissue patterns, holding things in place when you cut. I love rotating through the weights, and getting using ones I haven’t held in a while. Sometimes I will make one as a gift for a friend, but I don’t sell them or offer tutorials. They’re just something I keep for myself, but it’s still fun to share the photos. XO, Martha