When the Weather Decides Your Workflow

The weather has been a little wild lately, hasn’t it? Even down here in Southwest Florida, there was ice on my car. Ice. In Florida. What is happening?!

Unfortunately, the cold has actually affected my projects. In this kind of weather, the water I use for hydrodipping gets too cold, which means the spray paint won’t keep the right consistency. Instead of flowing and adhering properly, it starts to clump — and that’s a hard stop for my usual process.

That said, this unexpected pause has turned into an opportunity. I’ve been using the colder weather to test out some new project ideas.

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but I currently have access to a steady supply of glass baby food jars — at least until my nephew fully transitions to solid foods. They’re too small to be useful for most storage, but I love the look of wind chimes and suncatchers, especially the way they throw prisms of light across walls and floors.

So naturally, I decided to experiment.

The glass will be painted using the same process I use for my other glass pieces, but the final form will be something entirely different. This feels like a fun way to explore movement, sound, and light while still working with materials I already have.

With all of these jars come their lids — and for the longest time, I’d just been collecting them in a box while I waited for the right idea to click. I’ve come up with several possibilities (some from my own chaotic brain, some from internet rabbit holes), but right now I’m focusing on drink coasters.

Lids from salsa, pasta, and pickle jars are actually a great size for holding a mug of hot coffee. I’ve already primed a few sets, but once again, the cold weather has paused progress on the painted designs.

So instead, I’ve shifted focus to the base.

I tested twine as a backing, but it’s too thin — I’d need multiple layers to reach the edge of the lid, and it just doesn’t feel quite right. I recently ordered a small batch of cork coasters to test instead. They’re a little oversized, but I’m hoping I can trim them down to fit cleanly.

Once I settle on a base and the weather warms up, I’ll be able to finish the designs and choose a sealer that can handle heat, moisture, and regular use. I’ve been researching options like automotive spray paint and resin, but I haven’t committed to one yet.

Coasters aren’t the only possibility for these lids. Some other ideas I’m exploring include:

Not all of these will make it past the testing phase, but that’s part of the process.