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Want to learn more about epoxy resin arts but don't know where to start? Join artist Lauren MacLeod for an personal session (Up to 2 people) in the Mermaid Trash studio where you will be lead through an introduction into epoxy resins based off of Laurens ebook "The Ultimate Beginners Resin Guide" You will then practice mixing resin and pouring a small project of your choice like as a trinket dish, jewelry or coaster or cutting board.

Need Help with a certain project or perhaps there is a particular technique that you would like to master? Join artist Lauren MacLeod for an personal session (Up to 2 people) in the Mermaid Trash studio where you will be lead through a project of your choosing. Students must already have a working knowledge of epoxy resin arts. Materials may be brought by you (such as a canvas, wood panel, live edge slab, piece of furniture, mirror, frame, etc) that you would like to work on, or you can purchase project materials from Mermaid Trash upon discussion of what you would like to accomplish. (Pigments will be provided, wood panel up to 10x10, and up to 24 ounces of epoxy resin) Once you book your session, please email mermaidlauren@mermaidtrash.com to discuss your session and goals. Depending on your project, you may require multiple sessions. Session will go as follows: Meet and Greet Tour of Studio Space 10min Project Goals Discussion 20min Gathering Materials and Prepping Project 30 min Pour Time 30 min Follow up sessions will consist of only pour time (See listing for follow up sessions)

Finish a project previously started in a beginners or advanced session. Schedule 1 hour of pour time or finish work with guidance from artist Lauren MacLeod. This is NOT an instructional session. Lauren will be available for consulting during your time, but will not over see your project time. Pigments and studio tools will be provided for your use and up to 16 ounces of resin.

The other night on IG live, I poured both my foam and lace white side by side to give you all a closer look at each pigment side by side, my process, and answer some important questions! Please feel free to drop your questions below if you have any! Happy pouring and use code savethesea to receive 10% off your next purchase on the Mermaid Trash website.

Being an artist is often times one of the most rewarding, yet stressful life experiences you can have. With the current consumer climate, the shift from hobbyist to maker can be daunting when you consider all the hats needed for successfully scaling your business. From content creator, to video editor, and public relations, it’s no surprise many businesses start off strong, only to fall due to unrefined foundations. In this blog post, you’ll learn a few guidelines of what it takes to develop the foundational understanding when starting the journey from worried hobbyist towards successful entrepreneur. 1. Keep Your Brand On Target Branding is the number one aspect of your business that can make or break your stride towards excellence. It takes time and effort to find and develop your voice, but this step is crucial when beginning the journey towards being a profitable product. Also, no one ever said your brand needs to be boring! Showcase your best work and show behind the scenes. Your brand should always represent both your work and your voice. Play to your strengths and don’t be afraid to take a chance. Failure is never the fall, it’s the decision to remain lying down after the decent. 2. Find Software and Platforms You Like and Stick With Them Marketing takes time and effort. It’s no surprise that those who do well, are those who stuck with it. Much like horseback riding, it’s not the years you’ve been around it, it’s the time spent in the saddle that makes the difference. With all the apps available at the touch of a button, it’s always wise to expect a learning curve. This is not a race, and remember to always do your best. Practice makes perfect, so take the time to learn your software to ensure you can move efficiently & with ease. Favorite Editing Apps: Canva (for marketing materials), InShot (for basic video editing and reels creation), Apple/Droid Screen Record (for music capture), Airbrush (for selfie editing), and Adobe Lightroom (for photo editing) 3. Be Authentic Don’t be afraid to show who you are. Be honest and don’t shy away from the weird, quirky, and unique parts of your true self. According to the official Instagram business blog, 90% of Instagram users follow a business, so why not yours? Your followers love your work because they connect to it. Determine what parts of your process you’re comfortable with sharing, and don’t worry about the rest. Write to your audience in your own voice. 4. Stay Up To Date With the competitive nature of social media, there’s always some new kind of bait n’ switch ready to grab the users attention. Watch for trends and then meditate on how to transpose them to work with your brand. You don’t need to dance, but maybe you have the perfect behind the scene shot to showcase trending music? Have a favorite thing you wear in studio? Make your own artist fashion expose. The possibilities are endless, but do what feels good to you. Play along, but pave your own lane. Also, pay attention to emotional shifts. With the world where it is, it’s no surprise many of us have coinciding weeks. If you notice a lot of trends have a melancholy feel, try posting sound advice you once received, or maybe a quote that always uplifts you. Controlling the narrative around your brand in response to collective stimuli is a major secret of how to engage your audience without making them uncomfortable. Favorite Trend Locators: Google Trends (for searching popular keywords), TikTok (to catch trends before they hit Insta), Sprout Social & Later Blogs (to stay up to date) 5. Don’t Be Afraid To Pivot Change is inevitable and your style will always naturally shift and evolve. Concentrate on where you’re going and don’t judge your past. According to Yelp, over half a million people started a new business venture during the pandemic. Does that mean you should stop? Absolutely not! Ride the wave of support and link up with others in your community who are of the entrepreneurial mindset. Together, we move forward. So go where your passion pulls you. 6. Continuous Growth Is Better Than Quick Fixes and Hacks Whatever you do, don’t buy followers. Not only can this cause your account to be banned on almost every platform, you’re also paying for useless vanity metrics. Vanity metrics do not equal sales. Ever. Engagement and conscious community building and involvement is the most lucrative way to spend your time. Sure, run ads if you have the financial ability to, but it’s not a requirement. Many people find success by simply spending an hour a day engaging with their curated audiences. Also, use what you have. If you only have so much time to spend, spend it on what you can. Only have an hour? Schedule what you can and spend the rest conversing. Too emotionally drained? No worries, we’ve all been there. Set the intention to seek out trends instead of mindless scrolling. Remember to invest in yourself, and do your best to choose when to over extend. The age-old rule of 80/20 still says it best. 80% of the time you shoot for the moon, 20% of the time, you spend among the stars. 7. Schedule & Delegate One of the hardest learning curves you will ever find when working for yourself is time management and delegation. In the amount of time and emotional energy you have spent procrastinating over the thing you hate most, you’ve now wasted 5 billable hours, with nothing to show. Contrary to popular belief, many people who procrastinate are not weak or lazy, they’re actually secret perfectionists who are simply afraid of failure before they even start. When you have the ability, pay people for what you hate. Have a teenager at home? Great! Have them do trend watch for you. Need content ideas? Do a poll in your stories. Being an entrepreneur is not about the money. Having the money buys the freedom so many of us strive for. Don’t shy away from your unique weakness. These processes will often times turn into some of your greatest strengths. The first step is acknowledging and moving forward without judgment. I may be bad at laundry, but I’m amazing at color palettes. Rely on your community. They are here to support you. Favorite Time Saving Tools: Trello (for organization & planning – ps. don't forget to look at the templates!), Facebook Creator Studio (now available for scheduling Facebook & Instagram posts), Later (for analytics, scheduling, and more), Fiverr & Upwork (for contracting out those pesky jobs you hate) In closing... Remember to stay true, persevere, and know you’ve got this. The world is your oyster, and I promise you can do it! In 5 years, you'll simply be 5 years older and upset you didn’t start now. Your art is beautiful, now is the time to show it to the world. ------------ About the author - Jupiter Jones - Digital Marketing & PR Consultant w/Boutique Brands Inc Jupiter has been a part of the Mermaid Trash family for an extended period of time. As one of Lauren's closest friends, she has been a valuable asset to the Mermaid Trash brand. From social strategy to email marketing, and more, Jupiter loves to play behind the scenes helping to make sure marketing and growth moves at a rapid, yet comfortable pace. Read her bio below: "Coming from an eclectic background of technology and real world experiences, I have spent over a decade curating, refining, and adapting not only my skillset but also my reality to ensure balance and compassion are always observed. I highly enjoy taking on obstacles and using both data and intuition to gravitate and execute projects to their most favorable outcome. To me growth is continuous and methodical and must be observed as a moving target. I have experience in a multitude of subjects ranging in social media, web development, and other online marketing practices. On a personal level I have come from a somewhat untraditional background that would include not only living on the road working renaissance fairs but also making every single AirTran truffle ever served on the airline. Through life experiences, I live to tell a story." Article exclusively written for and posted on Mermaid Trash - 08/2021

Here's my favorite way to prep my bigger canvases for pouring resin on top of, and to get rid of/or prevent sagging canvas! It's perfect when you have some resin laying around that has ambered or you just don't wanna use for other projects. Check out the video below to watch me! In the video, this particular canvas also came loose from its spline and I would have had to remove it completely to re-stretch it. If I had supported it from underneath with a piece of cardboard etc, because it's so big and the canvas loose, the weight of the resin would have probably made indentions where the edges of the cardboard ended under the canvas. A lot of times with canvas that has sagged, or smaller canvas... you can spray the back of it with water and use your heat gun to dry and tighten it up. It may still need support when pouring resin over it, but the resin shouldn't pool into the center. However, with this particular canvas since it came loose, I added some staples to keep it in place. I attempted to tighten it with water and heat but was unsuccessful. The trick here is to make sure the resin goes under the stretcher bars and the bigger that canvas the thicker the resin has to be. In the below video, the 24x36 canvas ended up getting 2- 24 ounces (48 ounces) to stabilize it. Happy pouring! Any questions, ask below!

Mermaid Trash Mission My name is Lauren MacLeod and I was born and raised in Broward county, FL. I've spent my whole life on the beach, and have a profound love of the sea. I have grown to witness the changes caused by pollution and want to transition the way we view and handle Ocean waste, and promote Ocean conservation around the world! I create unique Ocean inspired art and jewelry from recycled plastics collected on cleanups as well as reclaimed woods and other items. I also use Mermaid Trash to promote the education of art and environmentalism within my local community and on social media. It is my hope to change the way people think about plastic pollution by using the proceeds to fund more initiatives and Ocean cleanups. Every purchase from Mermaid Trash is a way to give back to the Ocean we all love so much, and that does so much for us. We only have this one planet to live on, so preserving its beauty and function for next generations is the ultimate goal. Monthly Donations Mermaid Trash donates every month! I now donate monthly to 2 Ocean conservation groups and support various initiatives throughout the year like, Strawless Summer, loggerhead turtle watch, and many more! ​ Every month, proceeds from Mermaid Trash go 4Ocean and the Ocean conservancy organization. Healthy oceans are critical for life on this planet. They provide the food we eat, the oxygen we breathe and their continued health depends on us. We only have this one planet, and I want to help change the way we view and handle Ocean waste by giving it value and contributing to the worldwide removal of trash from our seas and coastlines. Im committed to making a change, and hope you will join me on this journey! TODAY Help fund our next beach cleanup CONTRIBUTE MORE Contact Me! Send Thanks! Message sent.

Jewelry We only have one planet! Mermaid Trash jewelry is made from resin combined with recycled plastics collected on cleanups. By purchasing a piece of Mermaid Trash you will actively help to remove waste from our Ocean and coastlines! Wear it as a symbol of your commitment to reducing Ocean pollution. Sort by Quick View 3D Flower Hair Clip Regular Price $30.00 Sale Price $25.50 Quick View Cosmos Pendant Out of stock Quick View Cosmos Pendant Regular Price $25.00 Sale Price $21.25 Quick View Cosmos Pendant Regular Price $25.00 Sale Price $21.25 Quick View Mermaid tail keychain Regular Price $15.00 Sale Price $12.75 Quick View Mermaid tail keychain Regular Price $15.00 Sale Price $12.75 Quick View Monstera Leaf & Frog Earrings Regular Price $40.00 Sale Price $34.00 Quick View Mermaid Scale Earrings Regular Price $40.00 Sale Price $34.00 Quick View Mermaid Scale Earrings Regular Price $40.00 Sale Price $34.00 Quick View Nautilus Necklace Regular Price $22.00 Sale Price $18.70 Quick View Starfish Necklace Regular Price $18.00 Sale Price $15.30 Quick View Druzy geode slice Necklace Regular Price $16.00 Sale Price $13.60 Quick View Druzy geode slice Necklace Regular Price $16.00 Sale Price $13.60 Quick View Seahorse Necklace Regular Price $18.00 Sale Price $15.30 Quick View Mermaid Tail Necklace Regular Price $22.00 Sale Price $18.70 Quick View Mermaid Tail Necklace Regular Price $22.00 Sale Price $18.70 Quick View Mermaid Tail Necklace Regular Price $22.00 Sale Price $18.70 Quick View Silver Crystal Ocean Necklace Regular Price $40.00 Sale Price $34.00 Quick View Mermaid bracelet Regular Price $15.00 Sale Price $12.75 Quick View Celtic Key Ocean Necklace Regular Price $35.00 Sale Price $29.75 Quick View Heart Key Ocean Necklace Regular Price $35.00 Sale Price $29.75

Holiday Shop Limited edition artworks & resin art supplies for the Holiday season by artist Lauren MacLeod Sort by Quick View Christmas Stocking- Mermaids Price $28.00 Quick View Christmas Stocking- Mermaid Trash Shells Price $28.00 Quick View Scalloped Sea Shell Ornament- Tropical Regular Price $34.00 Sale Price $28.90 Quick View Scallop Seashell Ornament/Trinket Dish Kit Regular Price $26.00 Sale Price $22.10 Quick View Scalloped Sea Shell Ornament Regular Price $34.00 Sale Price $28.90 Quick View Sherpa Fleece Blanket Regular Price $60.00 Sale Price $51.00 Quick View Sea Shell Logo Socks Price $14.00 Quick View Sherpa Fleece Blanket Regular Price $60.00 Sale Price $51.00 Quick View Ceramic Heart Mini Trinket Dish Regular Price $30.00 Sale Price $25.50 Quick View Island Mini 4x4 #16 Regular Price $80.00 Sale Price $68.00 Quick View Olive Wood Serving Board Regular Price $125.00 Sale Price $106.25 Quick View Olive Wood Serving Board Regular Price $125.00 Sale Price $106.25 Quick View Island Mini 4x4 #15 Regular Price $80.00 Sale Price $68.00 Quick View Island Mini 4x4 #14 Regular Price $80.00 Sale Price $68.00 Quick View Olive Wood Serving Board Regular Price $125.00 Sale Price $106.25 Quick View Olive Wood Serving Board Regular Price $125.00 Sale Price $106.25 Quick View Island Mini 4x4 #13 Regular Price $80.00 Sale Price $68.00 Quick View Olive Wood Serving Board Regular Price $125.00 Sale Price $106.25 Quick View Olive Wood Serving Board Regular Price $125.00 Sale Price $106.25 Quick View Island Mini 6x6 #12 Regular Price $100.00 Sale Price $85.00 Load More