- HubPages»
- Arts and Design»
- Crafts & Handiwork
How To Use The Revolutionary Textile Hardener, Paverpol, To Preserve Baby Clothes and Shoes
Nothing says, "This was an important event in my life" better than bronzed personal keepsakes.
For decades people have been trying to hold onto those special moments and own an everlasting reminder of a baby's first steps or a special outfit. This has been frequently done using bronzing, allowing the child's tiny bronzed baby shoes or other item to afford many precious memories.
“When you look at bronzed shoes, you remember what the baby was doing when he wore those shoes. It’s a trophy to babyhood, an opportunity to display something instead of putting it in a drawer," says Bob Kaynes, president and CEO of The American Bronzing Company.
Of course, bronzing baby shoes is a painstaking process, but now there is a simpler method of preserving those precious keepsakes. It's called Paverpol.
Just as it preserves keepsakes for grandmothers and parents alike, Paverpol does so much simpler, but lasting just as long.
Baby Pants Preserved Using Paverpol



What is Paverpol?
Every so often a product is introduced that changes the way things are done. Paverpol is one such product. You can read more about Paverpol here:
How To Create A Garden Sculpture Using Paverpol, the New Essential for every Artists Toolbox
Paverpol is a textile hardener. Textile hardeners are changing the way mixed media and 3-dimensional art are being made. When Paverpol was created it started a mixed media art revolution. Paverpol’s many applications have encouraged many individuals to express themselves in a creative way.
Paverpol can be used on textile, fabrics, paper, leather, moss, tree branches, and will turn these items rock hard.
It can be used on baby clothes and shoes, dry and silk flowers, clay, Styrofoam, paper mache, bark fibers, decorations and much more and it is sealed forever.


Free-standing or Canvas?
The first thing you have to decide before starting the preservation is whether this is going to be a free-standing sculpture or one that's preserved on canvas.
If you are doing a free-standing sculpture you will want to determine if you want a base, and how you want it to be displayed.
If you are creating a sculpture for wall-hanging, you will want something sturdy like canvas board or a piece of hard wood.
I will show you examples of both, so you can decide. The method for each is slightly different.
Choose An Item That You Want To Preserve.


The Process




Building The Sculpture



The Drying Process




The Completed Sculpture

Have you ever preserved baby shoes or clothing?
I recently preserved some of my granddaughter's baby clothes on canvas, as a relief sculpture.
What Else Can You Do With Paverpol?
© 2016 Gina Welds Hulse
Comments
I'm not a crafty person, but I love watching you bring life to ordinary items, Gina. You're very talented.
What's great about Paverpol is it's environmentally friendly and can turn one man's trash into another's treasured art piece.
Thank you Gina most appreciated.
Wow what an interesting hobby to have. How inspiring and what a wonderful way you explained everything by making the photos on every step. Well done. I have never seen a product called Paverpol in Cape Town but now I will look our for it. Thank you!
5