We spoke with the smiling easygoing Denisa Vášová from Nature ID, who creates not only beautiful resin jewelry but also blocks and cubes with embedded flowers.
Denisa, please introduce yourself to us.
My name is Denisa Vášová and I make jewelry from real flowers that I embed in resin. Recently, I have also started making larger decorations such as coasters, blocks, and cubes with embedded wedding flowers.
Denisa Vášová | https://eshop.natureid.cz/
When did you first encounter epoxy resin and why did you decide to try it yourself?
I first came across a resin product in 2015 and immediately thought it was beautiful and wanted to try it. Before discovering resin, whenever I received a flower, I tried to preserve it by pressing or drying. Resin could give it a completely new dimension.
What were the beginnings of creating like? Did you encounter any obstacles that you had to overcome?
Of course, like most beginners, I bought the cheapest and worst resin. It smelled, had a terrible mixing ratio, and of course, it hardened quickly. At that time, there were no guides, just a mixing ratio on the bottle, and I had to figure out how to work with it myself. Now there is an incredible selection, and for every product, you need a different resin, which is available, and there are guides everywhere. It was not like that before, just one or two foreign resins without a single word on how to work with them. But that did not deter me, and I started learning how to do it.
And casting was not the only thing I had to figure out. I also had to learn about molds and how to sand and polish the products. And also how to deal with bubbles.
Resin jewelry | https://eshop.natureid.cz/
Do you remember your first product? How did it turn out?
The first was probably a ball with flowers. It was absolutely terrible – lumpy, spotty, and with completely inappropriate types of flowers. One of the first pieces I still have is a necklace with shells from Sardinia, and I have been wearing it for years. Yes, it's not perfect, but I just love it.
So you have been working with resin for almost 8 years, and blocks with wedding bouquets are a hot new item for you now?
I started making blocks and cubes about two years ago. I was asked by a bride if I could possibly embed her bouquet. It is very popular in America, where it is often included in the wedding budget to preserve the bouquet in resin. So I agreed to give it a try. I really like the idea of preserving a memory, especially since I love flowers. I originally studied horticulture, but never pursued it. So I’m glad that I now work with flowers and that my education wasn't entirely in vain. 😊
Not only wedding bouquets are preserved, but also funeral bouquets, for example. Recently, I preserved a flower given to a grandmother by her grandson, which was a very nice order.
Resin cube | https://eshop.natureid.cz/
At the request of customers, you embed various flowers. Do you also embed other keepsakes?
Yes, I have now received more of them. For example, I have children’s hair, dog whiskers, or rabbit fur to embed. These are very emotional orders.
Was resin initially your hobby, or did you go into creating with a vision of selling products?
As I was creating, my products started to accumulate. And when I went to a market in Plzeň with friends who have a fashion accessories e-shop, I took them with me. And it ended up being so successful that more of my jewelry was sold than their accessories. So I thought, aha, maybe this could work! I initially intended it as a side income and said that if it crossed some imaginary line, I would quit my job. But it took a very long time. Then it happened that I got fed up at work, quit, and since 2017, making and selling resin products has been my livelihood.
Which product did not turn out well and which one are you most proud of?
There are definitely many failed ones. I was most disappointed that I didn’t manage to embed a dried bumblebee properly. It was found under the window and I was given it to embed. But I glued it to the mold badly, and it floated up while the resin was hardening. That was disappointing.
And so far, I am most proud of the preserved wedding bouquet from last September. The bride wanted it embedded in a hexagon, and I was completely amazed at how beautiful it was. And it weighed almost two kilos.
Wedding bouquet in resin | https://eshop.natureid.cz/
Where can customers find your products?
They can find me on my e-shop https://eshop.natureid.cz/ and I also offer my products in eight different stores in four cities, where customers can touch and view the products before purchasing. These stores are listed on my website.
I don't go to markets much anymore; I have a small child, and it's more complicated to organize. But if luck allows, I would like to appear at the Design Market in the summer.
What is it like to run a business with a child? I can imagine it is quite an adventure.
It is an adventure; I had to combine motherhood and business. There simply was no one to pass it off to. I work a lot in the evenings. After putting my daughter to sleep, I don’t watch TV but work. During pregnancy, I didn’t do much casting for safety reasons, but I even managed orders from the maternity hospital!
What advice would you give to beginner resin creators?
Have patience with curing and don’t touch it, or you’ll stick to it. 😊 Don’t impatiently demold it before it’s ready, so you don’t ruin your products. The waiting is worth it.
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