Thursday, March 17, 2011

My creative space

A rock, a hot glue gun and a doily. Seemingly tame instruments for crafting you'd think. Unfortunately not...a cautionary note that one blogger was hurt in the making of this story.

This story begins when browsing through the beautiful posts of Kootoyoo and settling on Kirsty's gorgeous light display inspired by this art installation. With inspiration in hand, I scurried off to find what I now refer to as the instruments of torture.
 It started off okay. Wasn't that difficult to find a nice looking rock. I rummaged through my stash of doilies and found the perfect one. How hard could it be to use a hot glue gun?

With doily stretched over the rock, I trimmed off some of the edges to avoid too much overlap on the underside and then plugged in the gun. I whacked in the glue tubes and started pushing out the glue. I hadn't thought of how I was going to keep the doily stretched and in place whilst the glue hardened so thought I'd just use my hands. Bad move. Hot viscous stringy glue stuck to my fingers and burnt the first layer off. I didn't feel it instantly but by the time the pain registered with my brain, I had glue on almost every finger. I ran around like a lunatic trying to find something to take it off but I was completely unprepared and could only wait until it cooled down. By the end of this torturous project, I had blisters all over my fingers and a pretty rock which I have no idea what to do with! 

For more creative spaces with far less pain, head over here.

14 comments:

A Treasured Past said...

Ouch! I know how you feel. I foolishly decided to do some hot gluing while my arm was still in a cast and I had no free fingers, just the one hand to both glue and hold. Bad idea!

Your rock is really pretty, I am sure you will find somewhere amazing to put it :)

Hope your poor fingers heal fast. Tamara x

Lyndel said...

oh sending healing thoughts your way.♥
The rock is lovely, put it on a balcony or outdoor space where you can view it from indoors too.

Sherrin said...

I love the doily-ed rock. Shame about your fingers!! OW!

BOB & MABEL said...

Have a glass of wine love! My answer to any problem.
Your rock rocks!!!

Heidi said...

What a great idea...I may try to make a bowlful...inspired!

Kelly Casanova said...

That must have hurt! Aah, the dangers of crafting - what lengths we're prepared to go to in order to make something pretty!

mel @ loved handmade said...

Looks lovely, it'd make the perfect door stop!

Seaweed and Raine said...

Ouch! Your rock does look lovely... maybe stitching it would be kinder to your hands :)
I think Mel is onto something... great for a bedroom doorstop!

Irene ~ RE~VINTAGED said...

A hot glue gun using hint.... when ever you have to touch the hot glue (mind you not straight from the gun nozzle - too too hot there)give your finger a nice sloppy lick before touching it into place. Creates a barrier that should give you just the time to squish it enough where it needs to be squished Been doing it for years and learnt this tip from a set dresser long ago. Saved my pinkies many a time.

Tania said...

OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! If it's any consolation, I have no less than 73 mini burns - but all up I'm feeling enormous sympathy for you (those little ones already HURT).

And it is a lovely rock.

The Moerks said...

Oh it is gorgeous and fully worth all the pain.

Nelly said...

Been there done that ouch poor you.

Cathie said...

it is an absolutely gorgeously dressed rock and I'm sure the pain will be forgotten.
I don't like hot glue guns either, they always end up in a puddle of hot glue & sticky everything.

that would make a great paper weight, or just sitting on the mantle being admired.

happy grateful Saturday aswell, enjoy the pancakes ♥

LauraLewis said...

I find a great way to hold and set while using a glue gun is a one of those pins with the little bead on top. I push it in sporadically over area and it helps hold, set and does not stick. saves those fingers. but having said that I still always burn myself somehow lol
Laura
xx