Help me shellac my matzoh balls

April 22, 2009 1:54 AM

I dumped a substantial portion of matzoh ball soup on a canvas. After it dries I'm going to glue the larger chunks down, and then I need to varnish/shellac/something the canvas. What would work best?

The biggest chunks are the matzoh balls themselves, and some big pieces of carrots and zucchini. Is there something I can spray or paint on that will keep it from smelling so that I can hang it up? This only needs to last for a couple of weeks, so it doesn't have to be long term. Thanks!

posted by andoatnp to media & arts (9 comments total)

Oh, and if it would help anyone answer the question, I can post a picture of the piece.
posted by andoatnp at 1:58 AM on April 22

Dehydrating the veg will help stop them from smelling. Maybe a warm hairdryer?
posted by Solomon at 2:44 AM on April 22

I'd pour salt all over it, leave it for a few days, and then brush it off. I don't know that sealing it would be a good idea—I think that would just trap the moisture inside and accelerate the decomposition.
posted by bricoleur at 2:59 AM on April 22

Give us a picture, it would help w/ recommendations.
posted by bigmusic at 3:46 AM on April 22

Hey, thanks for posting this- I had a project idea involving using some sort of acrylic spray to preserve an art piece involving cookies and icing. My thought was that it such a treatment wouldn't halt decomposition entirely, but it would delay it and preserve the biological matter for as long as possible. Looking forward to hearing any possible solutions.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 3:52 AM on April 22

I'd consider ModPodge.
posted by RichardS at 4:22 AM on April 22

Here is the picture.
posted by andoatnp at 4:22 AM on April 22

I would remove the matzah balls & veggies, prop them up on tooth picks or chop sticks, hit them with 6-8 coats of spray shellac and then re-adhere them. My fast guess is that the shellac will give you lovely balls, but will not adhere well to the wet veggies. Drying them with a paper towel/salt may help.
posted by ladypants at 5:15 AM on April 22

I've preserved flowers in full blossom by covering them in a bowl of standard kitty litter and microwaving it for a few minutes - it keeps the shape perfectly while drying the hell out of it. Perhaps try to do this with a test of veg and matzo balls? And then, shellac.
posted by katiecat at 7:36 AM on April 22