"I can't sell this!” The Great Coaster Bake-Off
About six months ago, I launched a “Coaster Bake-Off.” While it’s easy to make coasters look pretty, I needed to know they could survive in the real world. I started testing four materials—slate, wood, ceramic, and travertine—to find the perfect balance of durability and beauty.
The Making Phase: The Coaster Bake-Off tested ceramic, wood, slate, and travertine.
I wasn’t just testing the base; I was testing the "armor." I’d researched countless products and selected an industrial-strength varnish imported from Europe. It was the gold standard: heat-resistant, water-proof, food-safe, fast-curing, and low VOC. For an artisan coaster, it sounded perfect. But at that price point, I had to be sure.
The Complete Lineup: Finished coasters in ceramic, slate, travertine, and wood varieties, all with a matching bird print. My craft sale survey of these four resulted in a four-way tie.
I brought samples to a craft sale to survey visitors on their favorite medium. There was one of each coaster type, labelled clearly, and all featuring a matching bird print. The result? A four-way tie. So I made sets of four (one of each type) and sent them out into the wild— gifting them to family and friends with instructions to use and abuse them.
The Six-Month Verdict
Fast forward to today, and I have my answers. The varnish lived up to the hype, with one notable exception.
For reasons unknown to the "Bake-Off" lab, the wood coasters just couldn't take the heat. My sister’s wood coaster became sticky over time, and when she tried to wash it, part of the design sluffed right off. My own did the same.
That Face: That's my sister, realizing her wood coaster wasn't surviving the Bake-Off.
While the slate, ceramic, and travertine performed flawlessly, I was left with a stack of wood blanks that I simply couldn't sell as coasters. My commitment to quality meant they were headed for the scrap heap.
The Pivot: From Coffee Table to Filing Cabinet
As someone who finds joy in repurposing materials, I couldn't let that wood go to waste. If they couldn't handle a sweaty coffee mug, what could they do?
I dug through my supply bins and found some magnets. Then came the wood biscuits, buttons, and twine. I layered in my book pages and artisan papers, and the Literary Bloom collection was born.
Redemption in Bloom: The wood blanks find a new life as magnetic art.
Was the first draft perfect? Not quite. My first "Bloom" slid right down the fridge the second I let go! A quick upgrade to four 18mm heavy-duty magnets solved the gravity problem.
Upgraded Magnets: Four 18 mm magnets to keep your bloom where you put it.
Since my day-job cubicle is about 75% metal, I know exactly where my personal test batch is going. It’s the ultimate "Spruce" for a grey filing cabinet.
The Literary Bloom: Where vintage book pages, buttons, and artisan papers meet.
I’m thrilled to turn a "failed experiment" into a signature piece of functional art. These are now live in the shop—perfect for adding a bit of story to your office, kitchen, or workspace.
Would you add a Bloom to your workspace? Let me know where you'd stick these in the comments!