ANTHROPOLOGIE-INSPIRED BEADED HEADBAND

Outfit Details: Top/Cardigan: Old Navy.  Skirt: TJ Maxx.  Necklace: Target.  Headband: Yours Truly.

I've been oohing and ahhing over the beaded headbands at Anthropologie for the past few months.  I just couldn't bring myself to fork over the $32 for one, though.  Well, a few weeks ago, my mom and I were shopping and found something similar at Ann Taylor Loft.  There was a deal going on for jewelry where you buy one and get the second one 50% off.  So my mom got a bracelet, and I finally got a beaded headband!  Yay for end of summer deals and for moms. 

I love the way mine spices up even a boring t-shirt, so I decided I wanted to try to make one myself in another color.  I mean, how hard could it be?  Pretty darn hard, actually.  

I found a really cute headband online with yellow beads from Anthropologie that has been sold out for a while and thought the design might be something feasible for me to attempt.

Well, after 3 failed attempts and about 15 hours, I finally finished it.  It does not look like the tailored Anthropologie version, but if I squint really hard, there's some resemblance there.  It doesn't really matter that it doesn't look as great as the store bought version, though.  I felt a sense of accomplishment just for finishing it and putting my own spin on it.  Wearing it the next day made me feel like a million bucks.  I had poured my sweat and tears into it, so I wore it proudly.  I've got even bigger plans for the next one.

Below is the Anthropologie headband as well as the one I made.  Mine looks better from a distance.

never mind the piece of string in my hair

I learned a lot through the process, mostly about what not to do that will be helpful on my next attempt.  For example, it's helpful to cut the pattern before you bead the headband.  I tried beading and then cutting out the shape afterwards, only to find that I had snipped a string.  As 2 hours worth of beads started falling off, I just had myself a good cry fest.  Then I slapped on some hot glue and called it a day.  

I don't know why I was so fanatical about making one.  I think it was because my husband thought it would be too hard, and I wouldn't be able to do it.  Challenge accepted.  Do you ever get like that?  Crazy with a one-track mind about completing a certain project?