Here's to the Failed Attempts

Some say that failed is too strong of a word. 

That there is no such thing but rather every experience is a chance to learn.

I agree with that.

But I still like to use the word. It doesn't bother me. I keep failures as reminders. Especially ones that took HOURS to complete.

It occurred to me that I am always "showing off" the things I like. "The successes" if you will.

So this post is dedicated to the failed attempts. 

And my hours of learning I can file away in my craft crowded brain.

First up.... my failed attempts at photography.

This is one of the first things I made (no doubt copied from a polymer clay artist I saw in a book), photographed and listed on etsy in 2006.

All you saw in the etsy thumbnail was a section of the ruler, which btw, is not okay to use because it has the making memories trademark on it. 

Who knew?

These are from when I stamped onto polymer clay discs. Not only did I learn that people do not like brown on bright lemon yellow but I also learned that after wearing an epoxied hair pretty twice, they fell apart.

Bendable clay cures to a flexible state but turns sticky under varnish.

Awww,  :(  They are so cool.

Cheap plated whimsy.

The Shame. Oh! The unbearable shame.

And here is a bit from when I was soldering bezels onto hammered clasps. Great idea, but when I went to fill with resin, they turned so dark it was like looking into a portal to Hades.. 

This is what happens when I try to teach myself resin instead of investing in a workshop or tutorial. 

Wasted supplies.

 

Now this next one wasted over 30 handmade beads and buttons. Simply because I did not realize I would have to seal the clay (which is a porous surface, duhhhh) before applying the metal coating.

They all bubbled and peeled when I applied the lacquer.

At least my photos are better, right?

There are so many more, but these were the ones I kept photos of.

What learning experience have you had?