 In this test I'm using the brass seal I just purchased and the sample wax that came with it from www.waxseals.com. To keep things simple, I'll say they offer two types of wax. Flexible and Breakable. Flexible is a modern version so that your seal will not crack under postal machine stomping before it gets to its intended party. NOTE: "It is an expected practice that your seal be INSIDE your mailing envelope..." NOT exposed on the outside. Here is a sample of the Breakable Wax:
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 I've received my brass Seal! Yeeeears ago I ordered from this same company. Back then I purchased their 'peel-and-stick' seals. They are not wax but a sort or resin. More on that in a later post. The company is www.waxseals.com. My order included, the Brass Seal, Wood handle (permanent), Sample Flexible wax (all 3 sticks are the same, you get to choose what color when you order. This free sample offer may not always be available), One sample of my design on their 'peel-and-stick' seals, Instructions, and their business card. All in a Black velvet pouch. "This company gives many options on just about everything." I chose to order a permanent handle. They offer removable....
 I have become fanatical about Sealing Wax and Seal Stamps. Locally I’m not finding much outside of an Initial letter or Fluer de lis stamp (which I love). But I’m all about verity in my work and that seems to be spilling over into the esthetic of my letters. So no surprise here that I’ve begun making my own stamps too. There is no ONE way to make them. Researching online, you'll find a variety of methods and materials. But in the spirit of repurposing (yet another passion), I usually ask myself “What do I have around here that I can use?” before making a store run. (I can not tell you how thrilling it is to use what I’ve got, regardless of the project I’m working on.) Between my Studio and ‘lil Workshop you’d be amazed what I can come up with. I’ve managed to make about 4 stamps so far by using materials I have along with one trip to Hobby Lobby for some pendants. "So here is the big thing about what makes the grade for a good potential stamp..." This is just my opinion, but a stamp should be engraved into instead of embossed outward. Does that make sense? I’ll explain.
 A wax stick acquired from a known arts & crafts store seems very flammable. When using the wick method it scorches my paper. I stopped dropping wax on this one so you would see the burned paper. I HAVE on occasion just kept making the seal and smudged the wax over it to cover up the burns. Not ideal though.
Here is a demo of what usually happens when I use the wick from this wax:  From BBC's "Sense and Sensibility" 2008 (Jane Austen). Climatic scene in the third act. A FINAL letter sealed in the dawn hours.... Ok, so I’m loving wax more than I should. I’d go to a support meeting or something but I’m too busy CREATING. Today’s locally sold commercial wax seems to have flexing additives making it more pliable, and will flex under the strain of postal machines, allowing it to arrive at its intended destination in one piece. Unlike the old standard, which was/is more brittle in nature and may arrive cracked/broken. Truth be told, Sealing Wax was just about the first security system. Sealing a letter while an awaiting messengered-horseman stood at the entry wasn’t uncommon. That sort of transit begged for such measures of security. That’s how you knew that your letter had been tampered with. The integrity of the seal spoke words of its own. (In rolls the cello music...) Ok, so I’m loving wax more than I should. "I’d go to a support meeting or something but I’m too busy CREATING." Today’s locally sold commercial wax seems to have flexing additives.
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Hello, I’m Nina, the maven behind the
IQS blog. I’m all about creativity (ya think?). I work in several disciplines. So it's no surprise that the Art of Letter Writing would come knocking on my door. Smitten! However, I did not want to simply add MailArt as a discipline to my website. Thus it became the IQS Blog within my site. And that is why there are TWO navigation menus. *Here’s a Tip: stick with the BLOG Menu in this Column. The main site menu will lead you astray into dark places where you will be screaming for help and no one will hear you. 
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