Sunday, October 23, 2011

Murphy's Law Necklace

This is my "Murphy's Law" Necklace, everything that could go wrong did go wrong... first I popped the back off one of the side tiles when I ran the wire through so I had to glue it back together, then I got glue on the tile so I had to take necklace apart in order to resand and buff the tile, then the hole in the black oval beads was to small for the wire and I couldn't find my bead reamer... I reorganized my studio  last month so things would be easier to find... yeah, right!  took half an hour but I finally found it in my new carousel organizer...  sitting there in plain sight!  The final straw was when I glued my index finger and thumb together with Zap-a-Gap glue... not just one hand but both hands!!  

How, you ask, did I do such a goofy thing?  One hand, sure, we have all done that... but both hands? Okay, see the black wire links with the pink and green beads?  I was concerned the wire wouldn't stay together on the large O rings so I put a tiny drop of glue where the wire ends meet. slid a bead over the glue and held for a few seconds until the glue set up. This went really well until I got to the very last link.  For some reason the glue didn't set so I moved the bead over added a little more glue slid the bead back waited 10 seconds or so, tried the bead and it still moved  so once again I moved the bead over added a tad more glue put the bead back and decided to hold it until the bead stayed in place.... I was watching one of my new favorite shows "Person of Interest"  so I settled back in my chair and held the wire in place until the next commercial. Several minutes later the commercial came on, I tested the bead with my middle finger and it was secure. I put the necklace down.... uh oh.. it was then I  realized my fingers were also secure...very secure!   Yip, the glue had run down the wire seeped between my fingers and thumbs and there I sat  with my hands looking like kissing rabbit shadow puppets.  

Now, I am here by myself so I try to come up with something that will unstick me.  I'm thinking finger nail polish remover... I don't polish my nails anymore but I'm fairly sure I have an old bottle somewhere, if I can just remember where I put it.  Okay I want you to hold your index fingers and thumbs together and go rustle through your cabinets and drawers.... see, not so easy! 

  Couldn't find the polish remover so I tried Dawn soap... works for almost everything, right?... does not work for Zap a Gap,  tried alcohol, didn't work either... I keep trying to pull my fingers apart and finally the right hand gives way... free at last... but the left hand in another story,  lots more glue and it is starting to hurt from so much pulling and tugging, I didn't know skin could stretch that far.

  I try all my cleaning supplies, Windex, Mr Clean, Kaboom.... anything I can find.... For a second or two I consider trying to cut it apart with a tissue blade but I'm left handed and not to steady with my right hand. I picture my trying to explain to the ER tech why I sliced off my finger tip.... and his/her head shaking and the "poor old thing" look in his/her eyes.  So I scrapped that plan.

 I could have called Heather but it was almost 10 o'clock...she is probably in her pj's. So as a least ditch effort I hold my hand under running hot water, hot as I can stand,  and continue to tug and pull and wiggle and tug some more... at last, the finger and thumb  pop apart.  What a relief!! My thumb is okay but my finger is sore, feels kinda bruised.  

Next day I did a little research.  Seems there is a "debonder" for super glues, found at most craft stores or finger nail polish with acetone works.... or the hot water method I stumbled on works fairly well.  Needless to say I made a trip to the store for nail polish remover, less painful than the water treatment.  I will  get the debond stuff next time I go to Michaels.  I am now prepared if the mishap should occur again... just in case I forget... I  put the nail polish remover on the back shelf in the clay room. 

Here is the necklace.... not sure it is worth the trouble.

Click on the photos for a closer look. 


from another angle.



I also made a Mixed Media bracelet with yellow and black tiles.  I don't make many bracelet, I rarely wear them, but daughter Patty does.  I used 18 gauge wire for the frame, 28 gauge wire with seed beads for the weaving.  


The wire can be adjusted to fit any size wrist and is sturdy enough to hold it's shape, I would like to add  a closure of some type just haven't come up with one as yet... any suggestions?




That's it for today, I'm on to my next adventure.  

Thanks for stopping by. 

8 comments:

  1. Thank you for the laugh this morning. I thought I was the only one who ever glued my fingers together. I keep one of those little containers of nail polish removers with the sponge in that you just stick your fingers in because one time I glued so bad I couldn't get the bottle open or put it on cotton.

    Your necklace is beautiful and the bracelet is gorgeous. I love your wire work.

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  2. Thanks Bonnie, good to know I am not the only one with "sticky" fingers!!

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  3. I'm so glad that your cool head prevailed and the hot water worked and freed your talented fingers. The necklace was definitely worth the trouble! Lovely and striking bracelet, too.

    After much searching I FINALLY found a source of 100% Acetone that I keep close at hand because I use a lot of Zap-A-Gap. ("Studio 35" Polish Remover 16 oz for around $2). The beauty of having this 100% pure acetone stuff around goes further than a Rx for glue removal. I found out by accident it's terrific for cleaning up of raw TLS and Kato Sauce, and even works pretty well for cleaning up the cured TLS/KS as well.

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  4. I've done the exact same thing, gluing beads over the openings in jump rings. A sticky mess for sure and usually involves at least one digit glued to a bead, LOL.
    Love the necklace, your wire work is superb as always and the tiles are beautiful.
    Col

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  5. I enjoyed your post, and thank you for the laugh. After all the things that went wrong, the end result is beautiful!! I love the necklace and the tiles are so pretty! As always, your wire work is awesome!! Great work!!

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  6. Thanks Anita, I use a lot of Zap-A-Gap too, I will be more careful in the future. Thanks for sharing the acetone info.

    Thank you Col. I always worry about the larger jump rings coming open, the beads seemed a good solution. I've glued my fingers before just not this bad, (and not both hands!) I am such a goof!!

    Thanks Trina, I appreciate the kind words.

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  7. I'm late in seeing this but it's no less funny today! Poor BJ!! I admit that I'm quietly cracking up, especially at the idea of testing how difficult looking through drawers and cabinets would be with my fingers and thumbs stuck together! LOL!! Hope your finger feels better by now. Thanks for the laugh, you have no idea how desperately I needed one tonight. :)

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  8. Glad it gave you giggle Jackie. My thumbs are fine now but my index fingers are still a little sore, they were really stuck tight... I have a whole new respect for Zap-A-Gap glue!

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