Monday, June 9, 2014

THE EVOLUTION OF AN IDEA

This post has been 10 months in the making.  After each passing month, I didn't think I would ever get to this point where I felt satisfied with the finished product.  After a lot of trial and error, I was just about to give up, but then I finally stumbled upon a way to make the product that was reproducible and held up well.  Today I wanted to share how some ideas can take a long time to develop, but with some patience and perseverance, you can crack that code.

I've shared pictures of my beaded headbands before on the blog (here and here), but have wanted to wait until I finally had some listed on my Etsy site to go through what a long and arduous process it has been. 


It all started as I was walking around Anthropologie last August.  I fell in love with their beaded headbands, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay the hefty price tag and couldn't find any that were in the colors I wanted.

So I did what a lot of people do and said, "Hey!  I can make that myself!"  Things always seem so easy before you actually try to make it.  My mom and I constantly laugh at ourselves when I try to "save money" by making something ourselves and then just end up spending more money or fail to actually recreate the product.

So here it is--the evolution of an idea.

Attempt #1: My first attempt turned out fairly well, but only if you were looking at it from a distance.  Up close, you could see the patches of felt I had to glue over sections of the headband when I accidentally snipped the string around the edge of the band.  It was an ok first try, but not something I would ever feel good about giving someone else.


Attempt #2:  The headband above took weeks to create, so I figured there had to be an easier way.  This time, I just wrapped embroidery thread around a base.  It went a lot faster, but unsurprisingly, it started unraveling the minute I put it on.
not very sturdy or pretty to look at


Attempt #3:  After the debacle with Attempt #2, I decided I would be ok if I just glued more often as I went. This headband turned out a bit sturdier, but the backside was a huge mess of glue spots and it did start unraveling over time.



Attempt #4:  I was pretty proud of this headband at the time.  Looking back on it now, though, the ribbon I used as the base puckered too much and didn't look very tailored.  It still wasn't quite right.



Attempt #5:  Finally, success!  After settling on a base fabric, I still went through early versions of my final product.  Luckily this was the perfect activity to be doing while watching Mad Men episodes on Netflix in the dead of winter.


I know we often don't want to share our failed attempts or the not so great pictures, but I think it's important to know that not everything works out the first time.  Sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error.  If it's something important to you, though, then it's worth it to keep going and figure out a way to create the vision you have in your mind.  I'm not saying these headbands are perfect by any means, but I do love wearing them and feel good about the product I've created.

So I guess I wrote all of this to lead up to the announcement that I've been anxiously waiting to tell you--new hand beaded headbands are now listed in my shop!  Check them out here!


What is something you've had to work on for a while to get a finished product you like?  Any failed DIY attempts?

19 comments:

  1. The last one did turn out really nice! It's frustrating when initial attempts don't work out as well as we'd hoped...

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    1. You're so right, Rachel, and thank you!! Hope you're having a great night!

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  2. These are beautiful, Kari! Good for you for sticking with it. I think patience is something I need to work on - I have an unfinished baby quilt in the basement calling my name but it requires re-doing a border I spent 4 hours on already.

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    1. Thank you so much, Kate:) I don't blame you about not going back to redo the border. That sounds so labor intensive! You can do it, though:) Hope you're having a great night!

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  3. You are so talented and oh so patient! I can't wait to check out your Etsy shop! :)

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    1. Thanks so much, Jess! I appreciate it:) Hope you're having a great night!

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  4. These turned out great!! You are so talented!
    www.amemoryofus.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you so much, Darcy!! I really appreciate it! Hope you're having a great night:)

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  5. Kari, I really admire your perseverance! Great job! They're beautiful! A lot of love and patience goes into those headbands!

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    1. Thanks so much, Jessica! Hope you're having a great night!

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  6. These are so beautiful! You are very talented!

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    1. Thank you, Jenna:) I really appreciate it. Hope you're having a great night!

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  7. They're so lovely! It's definitely worth taking the time to get something right. I appreciate that you're sharing the whole process, not just the "look I made this and it's perfect!" ;)

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    1. Thanks so much, Alicia! It's good to keep it "real":) Hope you're having a great night!

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  8. I love these Kari! I remember when you made your first one. It's so great you stuck with it and now have a product you're product you're proud to sell. I am thinking of buying one! I love all three but am trying to decide between the first two. It will be so cool to own something made by you! I can't wait to decide and place my order!

    As far as your question, my headdresses have all been trial and error projects. Some have gone so bad I've almost cried but with each one I make I see progress. I look back at the first one I ever made and my newest one now and I have indeed come a long way. I had the same experience with makeup. I remember the first times I tried applying eyeshadow and it was quite a mess haha, but now I can not only apply it well on myself but on others too. When you first start something new it's easy to get overwhelmed and give up but when we stick with it and keep trying we always surprise ourselves. :)

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  9. These are amazing!! I love them! I know that my teen daughter would love them but I do too!! Congrats!! Susan

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  10. They're fantastic, clever you, and well done for persisting, and trying different things until you got it perfect. I'm not very good at keeping going. Sometimes I have a temper tantrum if things don't work the first time. I see exactly the same trait in my middle boy. I need to learn some patience and persistence I think. You've shown me the value of it. I love the headbands, I know they'll be popular. CJ xx

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  11. Congrats on this, babe! You nailed it! I do not have this sort of patience- you're a soldier for sticking through to the end. Love the end products!

    -Ashley
    http://lestylorouge.com

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  12. Oh my gosh, how cute! Love the styles - you're so talented!! :)

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