Failure is a Friend

[jmfargo]

I think I'm done taking custom orders for latex swords even though I love the feeling of creating something new and exciting. The fact of the matter is that I'm just not good enough. Every time I make latex swords something major goes wrong. Out of five times I've made swords I have had to completely repaint (normally an 8 hour process, roughly) four of them with only hours to go to delivery time. Something goes wrong.

This time is no exception of course. I have what looks like a relatively beautiful sword downstairs, and visually there is no problem with it really. Okay, so I'm feeling a bit of a perfectionist bent and really it could use some touch ups, but that's the kind of thing that the guy who taught me to make these swords called "artist's eye" - you always see touch ups that need to be done that no one else will see. The look to this sword, I'm happy with. However, some bonding process went wrong somewhere, maybe because of the water in the air from the flood we had in our basement, maybe because the god of latex weapon building just likes to screw with me, and now if I were to hit you with it, it would make an awesome lint remover.

It's so sticky that if I touch it to my arm hair it hurts to pull it away. To make it worse, this final layer of sealant isn't just sticky, it's bonded wrong to the latex where with a very small amount of rubbing or pinching it'll move away, bunch up, rip, etcetera. This isn't supposed to happen.

So now I get to go see this guy on the day he's supposed to get his weapon, at the game he needs it for, and tell him simply that it's not done. More than anything, the thought of his disappointment is depressing me big time. I HATE not living up to expectations when I'm getting paid, and this is just horrible.

I'm kind of worried how to break the news to this guy. He's a good guy and will probably just take it in stride, but he's expecting it and needs it today. Yesterday I even told him things were going really well on the project, that everything was going perfect.

I didn't knock on wood. That must be what did it.

Comments

[sarin-girl.livejournal.com]

awwwwww :(

I know the feeling, and yes, it is horrible, I was once asked to photograph a seminar and it was awful, I wasn't prepared, and I had to hand in a bunch of photos I hated and sooo wasn't proud of..

but hey.. it happens.. you feel bad, but then you move on.. but don't give up..

*hugs*

[meopta.livejournal.com]

My bro is offline indefinitely (cash cruch) which sucks - cause he is an artist who knows the ways of latex and could offer useful knowledge where I can only say - I know EXACTLY what you are saying in every part of this - except only second hand because I cannot Art.

[akdidge.livejournal.com]

Well, you could take it with you, and show him exactly why it went wonky. You could then make a joke about it (in the only way that you can and make it funny) about how it can act as a 'weapon catcher' and 'disarm' his opponents, etc. But be honest and just tell him exactly what you told us here. I'm sure he will understand.