Don't you just love tutorials to stimulate your creativity?
My pal, Dawn, has a good one going right now. But I have a confession to make.
My BFF, Beth, came over for craft day after purchasing Dawn's tutorial and was making wings while I worked on other things. I kept watching her and was intrigued. I thought I'd whip up a pair myself.
No, I didn't purchase the tutorial.
I kind of glanced at what Beth was doing and "winged" it myself.
Well, I learned a lesson. The reason you PAY for a tutorial is because the person who wrote it, already worked out all of the kinks and came up with the best way to make the project. She includes tips and tricks that she has learned along the way.
Mine were a mess. I didn't follow the steps and when I got them put together, they were a floppy, sad, droopy pile of wrongness.
I ended up having to redo them and go through a lot more steps (in the wrong order) to figure out how to fix them so that they didn't look like they were made of wilted lettuce.
My plan was to do something inspired by Dawn, but not by copying her. I used different materials and my own patterns. And I wasn't even thinking that it might not be the polite thing to do.
If I was smart, I'd have paid the $5 and did it correctly the first time.
Not only did I make them wrong, I started to feel bad, like I had been stealing from a freind. She did all the work to create the art, and the instructions. I sell tutorials myself, so I would be sad if I saw a friend's blog filled with projects she had taken from my offerings.
I didn't mean to be dishonest, I was just tempted by how pretty Beth's turned out and started to make some myself. But, its a tough art world out there and we should support each other, not take advantage.
So, I've paid for the class now and feel much better. $5 isn't much to spend to ease my conscience and do right by a friend.
That said, I want to say that if you purchase one of my online classes, I don't mind if you make projects with a friend. I would hope that you wouldn't pass the codes on to others, I do want to sell the tutorials. But it is reasonable to expect that you might share with your pal if you guys are working together. I wouldn't be upset.
Still, I felt like I owed Dawn the five bucks and I was happy to send it to her. I'll be making more of these pretty sets of wings, but I'll be doing the framework HER way, to save some time in making them sturdy! I can still add my own flair and design style to her pattern. That is the fun part of having a set of instructions to use as guidelines.
This set of angel wings is going to Kim's as a door prize for her Winter Wonderland workshop.
This piece, "Visions of Sugar Plums", is on its way to another friend, Karen, who is hosting a holiday workshop too. I've also included a few packs of old millinery for her to raffle off.
I've got a few packs of flowers added to my Boutique now, these are Nice November Neutrals. But I think they'd be pretty year round, don't you?
And I've been busy adding mini, dyed and glittered trees to my Etsy shop.
This year, I've got some new colors, the previous one is a Peppermint Trio, and this one is Gumdrop.
Of course, I'll always have white!
Here is another new one, Winter Sky Blue.
I've been in front of the computer listing away. Thank you to all who came by and shopped with me! I am going to make more trees, there are still some in the shop, but there will be more coming. Contact me if you have a custom color in mind.
Ps- I will be at my friend, Angie's, open house at her shop, My Father's Daughter- 646 Locust Street Lawrence, KS 66044
I'll be doing a make and take using one of my own tutorials. Its a holiday star, and I will provide all materials if you want to make a glittery ornament and do some shopping.
I love your honesty in sharing this with all of us! Lesson learned and lesson taken… thanks for the reminder! The wings are amazing as well as your project for the give-away! Oh, how I would love to be the lucky winner! The bottle trees are so yummy…. when I get in the Christmas spirit I know where to purchase them!
Karla thanks for sharing ….. I took one look at the angel wings and decide i needed to buy the tutorial too so i can made some…..
Arent they a good idea? And dawn writes very clear, easy to read instructions.
Sent from my iPad
Will you be at Kims Xmas party, Kadee? Wish I was, her todos are the best!
Its a bit early for the bottle brush trees, but I just got another couple hundred to foof up, so there will be plenty to last the season if you want some later.
Sent from my iPad
I love your trees. The tag you made is gorgeous and I am a little upset you live so far away..just kidding. I would love to hang out and learn all kinds of fun things. Just count me there in spirit and I will just have to rely on the tutorials.
Happy Crafting,
Tracie
http://homeofthepurskey.blogspot.com
i love online classes and tutorials. only twice have i been disappointed but i have choices and won’t be going back for more. the turorials have so much information and the instructors/artists are very generous with information and supplies. the classes keep me thinking and inspired.
Oh Karla…you are an angel!!! (No pun intended 🙂 Thank you so very much for buying my little tutorial and for sharing it on your blog!! Of course I knew yours would be absolutely GORGEOUS!! I could never be upset at you…you inspire me!! I just love how your wings look, so layered and beautiful. I’m loving all of your gorgeous brush trees too!!! I need to visit your shop…sending you hugs and love sweet friend, Dawn
Yes, you are an angel! Your Christmas crafts are gorgeous — gosh I am in love with that visions of sugarplums house!!
Karla, I just love you and your blog. You express your feelings and share so generously. Clearly I’m in good company if you’ve had over 2 MILLION visitors. I have learned some great stuff and been quite entertained by tutorials. I’m especially liking video tuts these days. Money well spent. This post is packed with eye candy; delightful “visions of sugarplums”.
Can you tell us the date for the open house and your make-it-take it? thanks-
Your “Visions of Sugar Plums,” angel wings, and little trees are sooo pretty! How sweet of you to be sensitive to your friend Dawn and decide you should pay for the tutorial. This world would be a better place if we would all be as sensitive to others!
karla you are such a dearhearted lady… and im sure we all feel that way about you.. 🙂 …. your wings project reminded me of a sign i saw at a craft show i was at one time.. it said “sure you could make it…but will you ?”
lol if i had to answer. it would be NO… but i loved your try at it.. and also the fact you got the instructions.. im sure dawn would have just laughed … thank you for sharing as always… and love all the colorful trees..
have a wonderful holiday …
big ladybug hugs
lynn
Dawn is a delight and even said it was fine for Beth and I to make some. Maybe because she was so nice, I felt even worse about the $5. I could afford it, she went to a lot of work doing the tutorial, its only fair that I paid her.,
Sent from my iPad
As always, you have so many wonderful pretties! I’ve been in the tree dye-and-paint mode lately, too. They’re so darned cute, how can you not!