Why Invest In An Accessory Course When You Can Learn For Free On YouTube?
I get it. I thought the same when I was finishing the handle on my brooch bouquet.
I Googled what to do, watched a video on YouTube and read a step-by-step article.
Then repeated each of those steps…
…several times!
But it didn’t help, because the handle of my bouquet was nothing like the one shown in the video or the article, so nothing I saw or read made any sense.
I ended up wasting more time searching online, more money on materials trying to get it right and, possibly the worst thing, I lost all my confidence in what I’d created.
YouTube has a wealth of how-to videos which are incredibly helpful, but when it comes to making a bridal hair accessory, why might taking a course be better option?
Hi! I’m Sarah…
A bridal accessory designer and educator helping you to create beautiful headpieces.
YouTube can teach you general skills. I’ll help you learn the specifics to create details you admire.
You could easily learn how to make a basic hair vine by following a YouTube tutorial, and I encourage you to give it a go, as you may find it works well for you.
But, the truth is, many of the people I’ve worked with have done just that, invested in tools and materials and fallen short when the instructions weren’t very clear.
If you’d like to learn to create more intricate details, you need a personalised plan that puts everything in place to help you succeed, and helps you to make exactly what you want.
I tried recording videos of myself making accessories but it didn’t feel right to me. Instead, I felt anyone investing in a course should be able to create something really unique and special, and not have a one-size-fits-all approach.
Your course takes place live so you have help every step of the way, and we go at your pace. No need to pause a video while you work out how to do something - I’ll be there to go over it as many times as you need.
Making accessories can look easy in videos, which, when we attempt to replicate what we’ve seen and it doesn’t look anything like it, makes us question our ability.
And that’s the last thing we want if we’re creating things for our own weddings or to sell.
A delicate gold bridal hair comb in progress. You can make something similar here!
Investing in new skills brings a sense of pride and confidence in yourself.
There’s something about investing in something that’s going to help you learn new skills or bring you joy, isn’t there? It holds more value.
You commit to it more and you’re less likely to give up.
When something’s offered for free, we don’t put as much faith in it or we feel ok giving up if we don’t succeed first time, which isn’t going to help you fulfil your DIY dream.
I saw it all the time in the adult education sector. Students who had courses fully funded tended to not complete their course or stopped attending part way through. It’s easier to give something up if there’s no investment.
And if you’re building a business around what you’re learning, you want to hit the ground running!
It takes time to find the right video to show you how to make what you want
Like I said above, I spent hours stressing over the handle of my brooch bouquet. It would have been a better use of my time to find someone to either do it for me or finish it with me (this is why I only offer brooch bouquet courses in person!).
With my courses though, the design you learn to make is created from the details you admire. In other words, I ask you to describe or send me images of the kind of things you like and I look for common themes to create a unique design for you.
My client, Stacy, sent me images of combs, with varying celestial details and interesting shapes, so I created a design that would enable her to use those elements.
That’s the beauty of it - you’re not copying or recreating someone else’s design; this is yours, and with the skills you learn, you’ll be well on your way to adapting your design to create more pieces.
Each design is created especially for you, based on details you’d love to create yourself.
It’s not clear how much you’ll need to invest in materials when you try something out on YouTube
How much wire will you actually use? Where do you get the beads? What about those odd-shaped crystals - what are they even called?
It’s normal to need to redo things when you watch a tutorial online. It takes one tangle or broken wire and you’re starting back at square one and feeling disheartened.
I’ve been there myself! It’s a natural part of the creative process, when you start experimenting with your new skills.
If your wire breaks for any reason during your course, I’ll be able to help you fix it without redoing the whole piece. That way, you’ll be prepared for if it ever happens again!
Courses tend to give a clear list abut what you need or come with a kit. I offer both options - a list with suggestions of where to get materials or a kit complete with tools, beading mat and a few extra beads in case they roll off your mat as we’re working!
The real reason you’re paying for a course? Because you get more
YouTube can get you so far, but a course gives you more depth.
Live courses, like mine, give you the opportunity to ask questions, further your knowledge and gain more advanced skills.
If you’re looking to start a business, I’ll share tips on how to photograph your work, where to find nice packaging, ways to start selling your work and even how to get started with your own website!
And if you’re a bride, during your course I’ll teach you ways to adapt your design to create pieces for your bridesmaids, how to use your skills to make jewellery and give you some tips for presenting your work as gifts or in photos.
If you’re undecided whether one of my courses would be a good fit for you, get in touch and I’ll be happy to offer advice or answer any questions - no pushy sale, this has to be right for you!
And if you’re ready to dive in, the hardest part is choosing which one to start with! Find all the details here and if you choose to book a second or third course at a later date, you’ll get an exclusive discount on those!