Resin Mastery: Exploring iCoat Epoxy

Jeannine Starr shares her remarkable transition from a 23-year leadership career in higher-education fundraising in New York City to becoming a successful flower preservation and resin artist. What began during the pandemic as a hobby making small resin jewelry pieces eventually grew into JSTAR NYC, a storefront business in Manhattan’s Floral District. Working alongside her daughter Annie, Jeannine has created a business where their strengths complement each other—Jeannine focuses on the artistry while Annie manages much of the client-facing side. Their work is deeply personal because they preserve flowers from weddings and other important moments into permanent heir...

This episode of the iCoat podcast takes a fresh look at the enormous opportunity wedding season creates for flower preservation artists. The latest 2026 data from The Knot shows that around 2 million U.S. couples married in 2025, generating more than $100 billion in wedding-related spending. Fall has now become the most popular wedding season, with 35% of couples marrying between September and November, compared with 33% from June through August. October continues to be a standout month, accounting for approximately 16% of weddings in The Knot’s latest study. (The Knot)

Ian and Rachel discuss how preservation artists can take ad...

In this special Independence Day episode of the Resin Mastery podcast, hosts Ian and Rachel come together to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. Centered around the theme "Freedom to Create," the discussion highlights the rich history of American creativity, craftsmanship, and independence. They explore various applications of epoxy resin preservation, such as river tables, custom jewelry, and wedding flower preservation, as a reflection of the unique freedom makers have to build their dreams and pursue their creative passions.

A major highlight of the episode is the official announcement of the winners from the recent "5-10-5...

In this special Mother’s Day-themed episode of Resin Mastery, Rachel and Ian explored the idea of “Pouring Love” through handmade resin gifts that carry personal meaning and intention. Moving beyond simple technique tutorials, the episode focused on why handcrafted pieces matter, especially for mothers and loved ones. They discussed how resin artists can create deeply personalized gifts such as jewelry dishes, ring holders, picture frames, coasters with preserved flowers, soap holders, and candle holders that become lasting keepsakes instead of disposable store-bought presents.

The episode also highlighted practical inspiration and education for the resin commun...

The hosts of the Resin Mastery podcast welcome listeners back and catch up on personal updates, including Rachel's pregnancy and reflections on motherhood ahead of Mother's Day on May 11th. They emphasize creating meaningful, memory-preserving resin gifts for various mothers in one's life, like wives, stepmoms, or out-of-state relatives, rather than generic items like flowers. The episode introduces a new segment, the "Misinformation Minute," where Tim from iCoat debunks the myth of using fans to cure epoxy resin, explaining it cures chemically, not by evaporation, and risks dust contamination or surface ripples.

They brainstorm resin...

The core of the podcast focuses on the seasonal niche of Easter flower preservation. Ian and Rachel detail the process of preparing and drying spring blooms, such as lilies, tulips, and azaleas, to prevent common issues like browning and yellowing. They highlight creative product ideas, including crucifixes, flower paperweights, and ring holders, stressing the importance of high-quality ingredients and a stable environment for successful epoxy pours.

Ian and Rachel discuss strategic growth and professional development for resin artists. They explore the value of training programs and affiliate programs to scale a business, and the conversation...

This episode of the Resin Mastery Podcast explores the inspiring journey of Ebony Whitson, founder of WWP Design & Decor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ebony shares how her business evolved from small resin crafts, like tumblers and coasters, into a thriving floral preservation company. Her work focuses on preserving meaningful flowers from weddings, memorials, and special events inside epoxy resin so families can keep those memories forever. A major highlight of her journey is being selected to pitch her business on the Wisconsin TV show Project Pitch It, a program similar to Shark Tank that gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to present...

In this Resin Mastery episode, Ian and Rachel focus squarely on maximizing epoxy profits by thinking ahead instead of reacting. They discuss the importance of planning for upcoming demand cycles, especially weddings, graduations, and memorial work, and how artists who prepare early can capture more revenue with less stress. The conversation emphasizes treating resin art as a business, not just a craft, and making decisions based on seasonal trends, cash flow, and realistic production capacity.

They then explore product diversification as a profit driver, highlighting the growing demand for memory preservation pieces like wedding bouquets...

This episode of the Resin Mastery Podcast explores why ICO Epoxy stands apart, praised for its crystal clarity, ease of mixing, low bubble release, and professional-grade results. Hosts highlight the unmatched quality of iCoat products and the deep expertise behind them, particularly Tim’s role as a trusted resource for resin artists. The conversation opens with seasonal context, reminding listeners that winter doesn’t slow down demand, especially for wedding bouquet preservation and custom resin projects.

The core of the episode focuses on how epoxy behaves in cold weather and why winter conditions often cause prob...

The episode is a year-end wrap-up of the Resin Mastery podcast hosted by Rachel and Ian, reflecting on its growth, global reach, and impact over its first year. They celebrate how the podcast has helped people learn resin techniques, start new income streams, and grow existing businesses, with some episodes reaching tens of thousands of views worldwide. A major highlight of the year was the launch of iCoat Epoxy’s AI agent, trained on expert Tim’s decades of hands-on resin knowledge. The AI provides reliable, experience-based answers, ranging from curing techniques and product selection to food safety and ship...

The episode centers on Christmas resin crafting, with Ian sharing a wide range of festive project ideas, from fast-curing resin techniques to embedding natural elements like pine sprigs and dried oranges in ornaments. He and Rachel emphasize creativity and personalization, suggesting interactive content such as polls, viewer submissions, and even mystery box challenges to keep the audience engaged. They highlight the appeal of meaningful, customized resin pieces that can become special keepsakes during the holiday season.

Ian and Rachel explore the practicality of making ornaments with resin molds, noting the durability of resin compared to...

Valerie Dado, a dedicated resin artist and recent third-place winner in the iCoat Epoxy competition, shared her creative journey on the Resin Mastery Podcast after winning five gallons of premium epoxy. Starting out in Michigan with simple decorative trays and knick-knacks, she transitioned into floral preservation, making custom pieces such as blocks, jewelry dishes, and crosses that captured sentimental value for her clients. Her leap into resin artistry was inspired during pregnancy, spending a year learning about techniques and epoxy safety before launching into craft parties, continuous practice, and eventually developing her own signature style, one that values detailed...

If your name is on the list, Call 602-258-1114 to claim your prize!!!

In this special episode of Resin Mastery, hosts Ian and Rachel celebrate the culmination of the iCoat HV Ultra Epoxy Giveaway Competition, which drew hundreds of participants from across the artisan community. The contest offered generous prizes, gallons of free epoxy to multiple winners, and was open to both customers and newcomers who registered through social media or the website. The hosts reflected on the excitement of launching Ultra, a new high-performance epoxy, and the creative potential it brings to artists working in...

The Resin Mastery Podcast opens with hosts reflecting on recent iCoat events, including their big company competition, the release of their Ultra resin product, and recovery from a recent building fire. They extend condolences to a family affected by the incident, showing compassion before introducing the episode’s main topic: eco-friendly epoxy. The hosts express how sustainability is becoming increasingly important to both consumers and manufacturers, discussing the moral and environmental responsibilities of companies in ensuring safe, ethical material sourcing. They highlight the global shift toward greener products, emphasizing iCoat’s commitment to sustainable practices and its LEED Platinum cert...

The Resin Mastery podcast is buzzing with excitement as it celebrates multiple milestones, including a significant iCoat competition, years of operation, the release of “HV Ultra,” the Phoenix rising from the ashes, and Rachel’s upcoming wedding, which is just eight days away. The episode focuses on the ongoing competition, offering participants a chance to win substantial prizes while promoting their own businesses through social media engagement. The hosts, Rachel and Ian, emphasize the community-building aspect of the contest, encouraging listeners to participate actively and share their work to grow their reach and connect with others in the industry.

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Resin Mastery returns with a unique episode diving into the heart of wedding season, not just through artisans but by interviewing a bride herself—Rachel, who also happens to be a co-host of the show. With her wedding only days away, Rachel shares the whirlwind of excitement, stress, and planning that comes with “bridal brain.” The conversation highlights not only the practical side of registries and gifts but also the deeper purpose of sustaining marriage with memories, community, and faith at the center.

Rachel opens up about her experience setting up a registry, balancing budget constr...

The Resin Mastery Podcast opened with breaking news: a tragic crash in Phoenix where a pickup truck slammed into the iCoat building, caught fire, and killed the driver. This was the third such accident at the same intersection, underscoring its dangers. The fire destroyed thousands of gallons of epoxy and much of the warehouse’s equipment. Despite widespread news coverage and initial devastation, the iCoat team immediately assessed the damage, dealt with security concerns, and sought temporary solutions to keep operations moving. Their resilience ensured only a few days of downtime before they resumed serving customers.

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The Resin Mastery Podcast welcomes listeners to the hectic but rewarding wedding season, highlighting the unique pressures faced by preservation artists working with brides’ floral arrangements. Hosts Ian and Rachel discuss the intense demand this time of year, with a surge in weddings resulting in overlapping projects, tight deadlines, and significant emotional stakes for every piece produced. Artists are encouraged to set clear client expectations, use checklists, implement written schedules, and maintain robust client communication, potentially through tools like Trello, to manage workflow and reduce burnout.

Recognizing the risk of exhaustion, the podcast emphasizes the im...

Labor Day marks a significant transitional period both in work and in life, as many reflect on the past eight months and prepare for the coming busy season. It's a time for rest and renewal—a welcome break to spend with family, appreciate the year's achievements, and plan for what lies ahead. The podcast hosts emphasize the importance of pausing during this long weekend not only to relax but also to gather momentum for the busy final months of the year, which are filled with holidays and opportunities for both personal and professional growth.

The di...

This episode of Resin Mastery opens with Rachel and Ian welcoming listeners and introducing the topic of getting started with epoxy resin using a beginner’s kit. They highlight the biggest hurdle for most people: overcoming the confusion and hesitation that comes with trying something new. Rachel stresses that starting small makes the process approachable, while Ian points out how resin work offers a refreshing, hands-on break from our increasingly digital lives. Both agree that working with resin can be calming, creative, and deeply satisfying—perfect for beginners who want to test the waters without feeling overwhelmed.

In this episode of Resin Mastery, Rachel and Ian dive into the opportunities of selling handmade resin items—such as flower preservation pieces, coasters, jewelry, and other small crafts—at local street fairs, farmers’ markets, flea markets, and community events. They highlight why in-person selling is a great side hustle: low entry costs, flexibility, and the chance to give customers a tangible, premium-feeling product. The conversation emphasizes that fairs offer instant customer feedback, help build brand awareness, and allow makers to stand out in a still-niche market with high perceived value.

The hosts walk listeners throug...

Preserving Memories in Resin: The Art and Heart of Wildflower Preservation - Episode 25

The conversation features Kali and Robert from Wildflower Preservation, a Tennessee-based business specializing in preserving wedding, memorial, and special event flowers using museum-quality iCoat epoxy resin. They discuss their journey from starting as a small hobby to building a thriving handmade business that operates with full transparency and direct client communication. Kali, who initially studied criminal justice, found her passion in flower preservation and quickly grew the company with Robert’s woodworking skills, creating personalized resin-encased floral keepsakes, including custom frames and blocks. They em...

In this episode of the Resin Mastery Podcast, the hosts dive into the theme of preserving flowers from religious events using ICOAT Epoxy. They introduce the idea that many blessed flowers, coming from events like weddings, funerals, baptisms, and religious holidays, are often discarded after ceremonies despite their emotional and spiritual significance. The conversation highlights the lost value in tossing out such flowers and advocates for their preservation as lasting mementos, not just for individuals, but as gifts or keepsakes available in the gift shops of churches, synagogues, and other religious institutions. The discussion broadens to include flowers and...

Kerry, the founder of Rememberable Resin in Green Bay, Wisconsin, shares her moving journey on Resin Mastery. Her business began after the loss of her mother, inspiring her to preserve the flowers from her mother’s celebration of life using epoxy resin. What started as a deeply personal project soon evolved. Kerry learned about flower preservation by researching artists and experimenting with quality materials like iCoat epoxy resin. As she created keepsakes for friends and family, word spread, fueling her passion and causing the business to rapidly expand from her home’s kitchen island to the point of needing a de...

In the latest episode of Resin Mastery, Rachel shares that she is currently planning her wedding and discusses the importance of preserving wedding flowers as keepsakes. She explains her intention to preserve her bouquet and create small resin pieces, such as ring dishes or tokens, for her bridal party. Both hosts reflect on how wedding flowers hold deep sentimental value, with Ian highlighting the symbolic resilience of roses and how their ability to bloom again mirrors the enduring nature of marriage.

The discussion then shifts to business advice for artisans working with epoxy and preservation...

The episode of "Resin Mastery" features a lively discussion between the host and Rachel, who returns after a brief hiatus. Ian and Rachel cover the challenges and opportunities of promoting a resin art business, with a particular focus on the evolving landscape of social media. Rachel and the host reflect on how platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook have become essential for business growth, particularly as short-form video content has gained immense popularity. They emphasize that mobile-first platforms and engaging, bite-sized videos are now crucial for reaching new audiences and keeping up with shifting consumer attention spans.

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In this episode of "Resin Mastery" it features an in-depth interview with Ryan Walsh of Lumberlust Designs. Ryan, a craftsman specializing in live-edge woodworking, river tables, and resin art, shares his journey from a photography background to becoming a full-time artisan. He describes his initial attraction to the organic forms of live-edge wood, contrasting it with the uniformity of mass-produced furniture. Ryan explains how resin, initially used for filling voids and stabilizing wood, became integral to his creative process, especially as new deep-pour resin products emerged.

Ryan emphasizes the importance of adapting to market changes...

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In this episode of the Resin Mastery Podcast, hosts Rachel and Ian discuss Ian's first experience working with iCoat epoxy, focusing on the challenges and lessons learned from his initial project: creating a photo coaster as a Mother's Day gift. Ian shares that, like many beginners, he underestimated the complexity of the process, assuming it would be as simple as mixing and pouring the resin. However, he quickly realized that small details—such as the quality of the silicone mold, the importance of pouring in stages, and the need for pr...

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The conversation is a detailed and enthusiastic discussion about iCoat Epoxy and its colorant systems, primarily led by Tim from iCoat on the Resin Mastery Podcast. Here’s a summary:

Visit us online for museum-quality Epoxy Resin

The conversation is an interview with Tina Bupp of Bupp Woodworks and Design, a small business based in McHenry, Illinois, specializing in live edge woodworking and flower preservation using epoxy resin. Tina describes how she and her husband started the business, initially making tables and gradually expanding into flower preservation art. Their collaborative process combines her expertise in resin and floral design with her husband's woodworking skills, resulting in unique, customized pieces like tables, trays, and memorial art that have gained popularity both locally and nationally.

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In this episode of the Resin Mastery Podcast, hosts Rachel and Ian discuss the concept of "spring cleaning" for resin artists and business owners, emphasizing that it goes beyond traditional cleaning. They encourage listeners to reassess their business practices, inventory, and marketing strategies as the seasons change. The conversation highlights the importance of evaluating what products and processes are still working, what needs to be updated or eliminated, and how staying aware of market trends and new tools such as AI-powered resources can provide valuable insights for business growth and...

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In this episode, the hosts visit iCoat’s offices to explore the rigorous quality control and production processes behind their epoxy resin products. The focus is on the steps taken to ensure every batch of resin is consistent, reliable, and meets high standards for both performance and safety. The discussion covers sourcing of raw materials, extensive testing protocols, batch retention for traceability, best practices for users, troubleshooting common issues, and the importance of maintaining controlled production environments. It’s no wonder iCoat is the clear industry leader in quality epoxy resi...

Visit us online for museum-quality Epoxy Resin

In the conversation, Rachel and Ian, hosts of the "Resin Mastery" podcast, discuss the growing business opportunities in resin art, particularly using iCoat Epoxy. They reflect on their experiences interviewing successful resin artists—primarily women—who have turned their passion for resin crafts into thriving businesses. The hosts note that the wedding bouquet preservation market, a popular niche, remains far from saturated, offering significant potential for newcomers. They emphasize that many of these entrepreneurs started with minimal investment, leveraging accessible knowledge resources, including AI-powered guidance, and affordable tools and materials to b...

Visit us online for museum-quality Epoxy Resin

The conversation revolves around the integration of AI technology into the epoxy resin industry, as discussed by Rachel and Ian on their podcast, Resin Mastery. They introduce an innovative AI agent developed by iCoat Epoxy that serves as a knowledge base for resin users of all expertise levels. This AI tool can answer questions about resin processes, troubleshoot issues like yellowing or bubbles, and provide solutions in real-time. Unlike traditional online searches, which may provide unreliable or SEO-driven results, this AI is tailored specifically to the epoxy industry, consolidating decades...

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Imported Resin Prices Are About to Spike — Here's Why You're Safe with iCoat

With new government tariffs targeting imported materials, epoxy resin suppliers who rely on overseas manufacturing are facing rising costs and supply instability.

That means delays. That means price hikes. That means trouble — for them.

But not for you!

At iCoat, we manufacture every batch of our premium epoxy resin right here in the USA. Our supply chain is local, our quality is unmatched, and your pric...

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The interview features Ann Niebch, an artist, author, and owner of Mindful Tree Art and Floor Preservation. Ann shares her journey from being a single mom in her twenties to a senior director in corporate America, where she developed women in leadership training programs. Despite her success, she felt a creative void in her life. This led her to yoga, which helped her become more mindful and present, especially in nature. The pandemic served as a catalyst, pushing her to explore her artistic side by painting murals, pressing flowers, and...

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The podcast episode of Resin Mastery focused on essential tools for working with epoxy resin projects. Below is a summary emphasizing the "Tools of the Trade":

Safety Tools

Workspace Preparation

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The podcast, part of the Resin Mastery series, features a conversation about wedding season preparation for flower preservation artists. They explore various sentimental ways couples and wedding parties might want to preserve wedding memories, such as saving bouquets, creating centerpiece mementos, and making personalized gifts like ring holders for bridesmaids and parents.

The hosts discuss the most popular wedding seasons, noting that spring (March through May) and fall (September through November) are the peak wedding months. They explain why winter is less desirable for weddings, citing reasons like...

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Rachael Croxall, founder of Blossom & Rhyme, started her business in Chattanooga, Tennessee, during the pandemic after losing her job at a wedding venue. Leaning on her Christian faith and driven by a passion for preserving memories, she began creating resin jewelry and keepsakes using wedding flowers, initially making small necklaces and eventually expanding to full bouquet preservations. Her business took off after a viral Instagram video got 40 million views, which prompted her to transition from a hobby to a full-time enterprise.

When a frost disrupted one of the...

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Rachel and Ian, hosts of the Resin Mastery Podcast, discuss the versatility and creative potential of epoxy resin in home DIY projects. They explore numerous ways to transform and elevate everyday household items, emphasizing how epoxy can be used to preserve, protect, and personalize objects ranging from wooden gates and charcuterie boards to ceramic soap dishes and mason jars.

The conversation highlights practical and creative applications of epoxy, such as fixing a loose gate clasp, creating food-safe surfaces, protecting wooden utensils, and customizing items like garbage cans. Rachel...