Sue, In answer to your question of where I learned about this technique: I first saw it on Splitcoast - as a Wednedsday tutorial. While in SCS you can click on the "resources" button (top menu located in the same place as the "gallery" button). Then do a search for encaustic. The tutorial is great.
I found the supplies and tons of tutorials at this website: http://www.encausticreations.com/ . I started out with the two beginners specials, card stock and a dvd. The dvd is great but all the videos that you see online are great too.