some fun comments and some FAQ's (on beeswax):

‪neva gagliano said...

can't wait...FONDUE PHOTOS...great party idea, a bunch of us around pots of wax, dipping...
i'll send results!

Neva - can't wait to hear how that went! Wish I coulda been there!

‪Terri Kahrs said...

These are AWE-some, Kimmie! I've got to get try this when I have a bit of time to play. The results are amazing! I can see these paired with fabric for great assemblages! Thanks so much for sharing this great technique. Hugs, Terri xoxo

Terri - that was a great suggestion - something I will do again and again. The lighthouse staircase turned out great just sewn very simply onto a piece of muslin - thank you for the idea!!

‪neva gagliano said...

one question. do you use the little pot of beeswax inside? since it doesn't have pigment in it, it seems like it would be ok...just wondering.

Neva - beeswax is virtually NON-toxic - in fact I wouldn't be surprised if the vapors were actually healthy! Adding pigments is another story though - I guess it depends on what you might use.

‪jgy said...

Great tutorial and great effects!
I wonder what it would be like to dip small objects in Bees-wax too. 
Enjoy!!

jgy - I am definitely on the the same page as you - and have been experimenting with dipping objects in it - there is more to come on that topic :)

‪Chriss Rollins said...

thank you Kimmie,

ok, you say that you melt the wax in 'this thing'

is this thing electric or do you put it in the oven or on the top of the cooker or maybe the microwave... My friend Chriss says that she has a wax pot for manicure of hands and will bring it over next time she come...not sure I can wait that long... so is your crock on the hob to heat the wax... my hob is gas.

Chriss - I'm not positive about what a "hob" is - but my guess is that it's your cute british word for stovetop :) ..... if you heat it on the stovetop - use a double boiler!!! direct heat is dangerous for beeswax, which from what I understand will smoke and catch on fire ?!? .... anyway - I hope you know what I mean by double boiler - maybe there's a cute british word for it that I don't know .... but in the meantime NOT ON THE HOB!! o.k.?

‪layers said...

how interesting to use a pan for a frame.
also interesting how artists develop their own processes--- I melt my wax in small metal cups and tins-- in an electric frying pan-- or a pot sitting on the frying pan with a candy thermometer in the pot.
I got most of my supplies from Goodwill except the wax of course.

layers - great great great idea!!! I know that the incaustic artists use something like an electric frypan with small containers nested inside it ..... and the Goodwill - that's where I get all my vintage bakeware that I use for frames and stuff.

‪sukipoet said...

I love chunks of beeswax like this too and often buy one lb pieces at farmers markets from beekeepers. I didnt know that about putting it in the oven. 

If you freeze the chunk you can then hammer it to break into smaller pieces.

sukipoet - you're right - I tried smashing my block after freezing it - it worked amazingly well - now I have a block of beeswax in the freezer - I hope no one mistakes it for leftovers :)

‪ELK said...

i love this...is bees wax for rookies like me?

ELK - yes - only problem is, you're no rookie, gf :)

‪~*~Patty Szymkowicz said...

there is something oh so magical and wonderful about beeswax ... you've used it brilliantly Kimmie and how you've framed your collage is excellent too!

great tip on popping it in the oven for leveling!!!!

someone gave me a good tip on breaking the wax bricks into smaller chunks ... put your beeswax in the freezer in a plastic bag for several hours, then place it in another sturdy plastic bag and drop it onto a hard surface, smacking it down hard several times...good therapy to get the wild out!
we have a concrete slab and quarry tile floor in our kitchen, it works like a charm 
whatever doesn't break up, pop it back in the freezer and repeat 

I'm scared of knives so I go with the smack it method

Patty - letting the wild out :) .... brilliant! and yes, knives are scary ....