Urban Alchemy
by bronxelf
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These are random moments in the life of an indecent designer and the city she loves.
To read my grudging babblings about design, click the button.
And can we really measure
If we think we're any better
than that skyline that goes on and on
forever, on and on...."
- Less Than Jake: Is This Thing On?
Everybody in this world wants the same damned thing-
just not at the same time.
-Chris Orbach: Jane
I could be condemned to hell for every sin but littering."
- Soul Coughing: Idiot Kings
I am a female, carbon based lifeform.
I am a New York City Native.
I am a Design Professional.
I take photographs.
I also sculpt, paint, create mosaics, and play with weapons.
And sometimes, I even dance about Architecture.
What I see, is what you get.
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back to the drawing board.
You see the part in the foreground that looks like black paper? Apparently the egg hadn't been in the bleach long enough, so there was still some membrane left in the egg. THAT is what got dyed on the inside, not the shell itself. Eventually, after all the wet/dry cycles the membrane began to delaminate on its own. which is fine, but how to get it out?
I would have killed for a can of compressed air.
For almost an hour of shaking and blowing and pulling tiny bits out of the holes, I had just that little bit left.
And then it slipped out of my hand and shattered. I'll blow out another two as soon as Im back from the store. Im out of vinegar for the dye.
Im less upset about this than you'd think, because at least now I know HOW this has to be done. Next one should be fine if it makes it through carving.
beth says:
Oh dear I thought you had it sorted. I'm sorry I feel at least some fo your frustration - what happened this time? it looks like it melted.
silar31 says:
:(. Was just about to comment on the previous post that I hoped this one made it all the way. :(
onceupon says:
Oh, ARGH. I'd say at least this one made it this far but I know it has to be super frustrating.
wombat527 says:
I wonder if you can't reinforce them from the inside with some kind of lacquer? Or is that going against the purpose of the entire project?
bronxelf says:
Wombat- what you're suggesting won't work. You can't get dye through lacquer.
If you paint the eggs, the paint is a coating. When you drill through it, that coating tears and leaves ragged holes that peel.
If you dye the eggs first you have another problem- the dyeing process weakens the integrity of the shell. The moment you carve, you lose.
The only way to do this is carve and dye before sealing.
wombat527 says:
What I was thinking was along the lines of hollowing it out and then putting an enamel or lacquer in through a hole so it only coats the insides. I get your point of it preventing the shell taking the dye, though perhaps a clear lacquer would show the dye from the outside as it penetrated the shell and showed through?
You are by far the expert in this process. I am just brainstorming.
bronxelf says:
In *THIS* case it's the INSIDE of the egg I need black.
I've tried to coat the inside with things before, several times. It doesn't coat evenly and there's dripping and a complete mess.
Viv says:
Let's hope the learning curve is complete and luck is with you! Just goesbeyond any patience limits I understand!
Puddlepuff says:
So you need the inside black? And the outside?
You could just dip it in waterbased paint, water it down a lot and just dip it in. But then the outside will get black as well.
I wonder what the chicken is thinking about your hobby :)
bronxelf says:
Im going to paint over the outside anyway. The problem with using a paint is it doesn't coat evenly. Dye gives more even coverage. Tried paint already. :(
bronxelf says:
i actually tried marker too, believe it or not.
I think I need to strain my bleach. I think it's supersaturated.
Geodyne says:
Good that you understand how it works, but even so: I'm wincing for you. It was starting to look truly awesome!