Making my own molds

There’s something about making my own molds that I absolutely love. Maybe it’s because every piece feels a little more mine when I’ve figured out the mold, mixed the concrete, poured it, waited…and then crossed my fingers for the big reveal. 😂

But making your own molds is definitely a learning process.

Sometimes they work out beautifully. The mold pulls away, the piece comes out just like you pictured it, and you’re standing there feeling pretty proud of yourself.

And sometimes…the bird loses his tail. 😂🐦

Those little bird molds have taught me that removing a handmade concrete piece takes PATIENCE. You can’t get too excited and start tugging and pulling—especially around those tiny tails, wings, feet, and other delicate areas. Concrete may look tough, but when it’s freshly made, those little details can snap before you know it.

I’m learning to carefully work the mold away a little at a time and give my pieces plenty of time before trying to free them. And even then, sometimes a mold idea just doesn’t work the way I thought it would.

But that’s part of creating.

You try it.
You learn from it.
You change something.
And you try again.

And I have to say, this Mississippi heat is my kind of weather for creating. ☀️ I love being outside in the warmth, getting my hands messy with concrete, experimenting with molds, and seeing what I can come up with next.

Some days I end up with a beautiful little bird.

Other days…I end up holding a bird in one hand and his tail in the other. 😂

Either way, I learned something—and around here, even the broken pieces are part of the story.

Welcome to the messy, imperfect, creative world of LadeanArt. 🤍

Have you ever tried making your own mold? And would y’all like to see a tutorial on how I make some of mine?