How Sue’ Sea Arts was born… 

 

Sue ‘Sea Arts began its journey in August 2020 after a family holiday visiting the rugged coastlines of Cornwall. On a mammoth road trip from Rock to Perranporth, Minack Theatre (just our luck the sea mists rolled in the half hour we were there and couldn't see a metre in front of us) Lands’ End (horrid, what have they done to the place?!) Penzance, Mousehole and onto the Lizard Point. We had the best couple of hours there exploring, scoffing a delicious cream tea and visiting the most fab little craft shop.  In the craft shop was the most stunning chopping board with an ocean scene that had been added to it in the most stunning blues and greens with crashing waves.  I had to have it.  I asked the lady behind the counter about it and she said it was made with Epoxy Resin. Something I had heard of but didn’t know anything about.  

After the most fantastic holiday full of laughter, rain, fun, rain, cream teas, rain and the odd Doom Bar we returned home, and the fun began….

 

I first ordered some Epoxy Resin from ‘Amazon’, not knowing which one to buy, I bought the cheapest kit which came with some glitter and liquid pigments colours.  I dived straight in, not reading the instructions and about to produce my first masterpiece.  After only making a sticky mess which wouldn’t cure properly because I hadn’t measured it out into equal parts, I ordered some more resin as I was determined I could do this.  The second batch came, and I measured it correctly and was hopeful! I added the colour and turned around to reach for the glitter only to tip it all over the floor and my slippers. After clearing up the sticky mess, I carried on and made up some more and proceeded to make a half decent chopping board. Chuffed to bits, I went to stand up to do my motherly duties and realised that my slippers were stuck to the floor!! Humph.

 

After several more attempts and producing some lovely pieces, I decided to join Thanet Virtual High Street and do a couple of craft fairs to see if it would sell…. Then lock down happened due to Covid and the fairs sadly got shut down. The feedback I had received encouraged me to keep making and develop it a little further. We came up with the name of Sue ’Sea Arts and took the small steps to carry it on and do more fairs when the world opened back up again.  2022 soon came round and after several near sell out fairs on Broadstairs seafront, I took the big steps to open a little workshop at Quex Craft Village in Quex Park, Birchington in August.  I was asked by several customers in the first few weeks if I would be doing some resin workshops teaching the tricks so others could learn the art. The Resin Experiences really took off and are proving really popular and great fun for all.  

 

A friend once told me to “Always look for the simple things in life and it will be a happy one” and it's so true, I gave up my career to work and play with resin and it was the best thing that I have done, follow your dreams and passions, for life is too short to waste.