What do you do with items that didn't come out as expected?

[MountainGoth]

I have a couple of bags worth of items that didn't quite come out as planned. While servicable, they just don't have the look I was going for. I'm sure I must not be the only one like this.

What do you do with your seconds?

I was thinking of starting a shop for charity with just these items. Any other ideas?

Thanks

[JustJaynes]

Are they seconds because you don't like them or are they flawed? They may be perfect for someone else.

[MountainGoth]

Some of both.

[LaurasLastDitch]

Perhaps list them as a large lot?

[ElainaLouiseStudios]

I have a small container I put my not quite right pieces in and then when I'm designing other pieces and I'm stuck I look in there for inspiration. I'll take something apart and add something else. Sometimes I'll challenge myself to pick a piece out of the container that has potential and see if I can make it into something WOW! If not if goes back in the container for another day.

[Former_Member]

Sometimes I'll remake, but often it's just a question of taste. There was one particular item that I was planning on throwing in the bin, not even prepared to take it to a charity shop. Had lunch...and discovered it'd been bought. The buyer was over the moon....

[Former_Member]

Set it aside for a later day and time, they might be useful

Once I was designing buttons but I forgot to punch holes in them. It was too late when I realized it, so I set them aside, disappointed.
Weeks later I picked them up again and thought they'd be the perfect size for earrings, and now they're a big hit!

or you can repurpose them into wash cloths or something useful for your home
You never know, maybe one day you'll make something new and this not quite right piece will be more than perfect for it and you'll have a new line of products!

[Former_Member]

I give them to my kids as they are usually genetically handicaped knitted animals ;-)))

/I am not sure if it's good for my kids..../ ;-)))

[ItsSewSusan]

I sell doll clothes. I was getting a big stack of "not quite there" items, too. Usually they are my sample run. The first of a pattern, which I decide to tweak.

I have decided to take 10% of my sales to buy dolls for little girls who might not otherwise get a doll for Christmas. I will add a wardrobe from my seconds to go with the doll. Hopefully, between my customers and my seconds, we will brighten a few faces this Christmas.

Maybe you could seek out a charity that would love to gift your items to the less fortunate.

Susan
It's Sew Susan

[Former_Member]

Donate is what I do with mine. I can't leave my mistakes around, they depress me. lol

[CDChilds]

In my case since I'm a glass artist I can take the undesirable creation and smash it. Then I can reuse the glass in a pot melt or casting. I never throw any thing away.

[Former_Member]

@asia, genetically handicapped....lol thats funny.

[ModernCottageMarket]

CD Childs...I like the smashing idea..Mine are usually quilts, usually I have to just put it away for a while, then when feeling spunky I take it out rip out stitches, rip off borders, and make some tweeks and can usually rescue it...if not it goes deeper in the pile...never to be found again..:)

[Former_Member]

I give them to family and friends.... then later I wonder why they think some of my stuff isn't quite as professional as it could be... hehehe

But in all seriousness, I can't keep them around because they take up valuable space, I can't sell them, so.... family and friends gifts.

[TheSalvagedEdge]

I have a drawerful that I tweak later. I also have a bin at craft shows of not perfects that I sell for next to nothing, People actually love "getting a deal". And most people who buy them are people who may no have bought something at full price so it's a win win for me.

[saburkitty]

I only get one chance. So I don't know.

But things like fabric and beads can be reworked to a point :)

[Former_Member]

you could list them as 'Pay it Forward' items () or offer them to one of the many etsy groups that have an etsy shop that sells for charity. they post it and if it sells you just mail it.

[Former_Member]

Sometimes I do hold on to mistakes for a little while, you never know what your brain will come up with!

[JillsTreasureChest]

Sometimes I reglaze things, sometimes I smash them, sometimes I give them away.

[Former_Member]

I think opening a section in your shop for trade, swap or charity is a great idea! I might do the same now!

[Former_Member]

I’ve opened a Section of my Shop for the items I have had a hard time selling and have turned it into:
Trade, Swap or Charity
http://www.etsy.com/shop/starrstores?section_id=10352336
Please check it out! Happy to trade, swap or donate any item in this section!
Blessings!

[KukiBrand]

Hello! I sooo understand! And it is very hard when the budget is tight...the best I agree with most people is to keep aside and when the time is right deconstruct and redo. If this is not possible (for example a hand painted t-shirt) I keep the piece to experiment on. Ah sadness! But it happens to everyone! Thans for sharing ^_^

[glassbead]

Donating is good. I often have seconds that I sell only in person- that way I can tell folks what is 'wrong' with them. They usually think I'm wacky, but appreciate the discounted price!
And every once in a while I cull and send some off to Beads of Courage, usually with a few more that I've made just for them.