D.I.Y is usually something we think of when we look at a zine or a really pretty hand-felted wallet; things that are finished. Things that were Done._.Yourself.
A large part of the enjoyment I get out of other peoples' D.I.Y projects, though, is getting to imagine the process of Doing. As in, how the hell did they do that? Even the simplest stitch has to be learned. Someone has to teach us how to un-jam the copier at Kinkos. And in that process, it's inevitable that things don't always work right the first time. Or the second.
Let's say you wanted to start a library. And you wanted that library to have a website. Let's say that you were neither a librarian nor knew the first thing about web design.
You can't just do it yourself. You need to be taught. And you need to be told when you're wrong. And it can take time. A lot of time.
We launched the Chicago Underground Library last year. Along the way, we've been met with a tremendous volunteer force who were willing to commit themselves to an imaginary library, an online archive with nothing to archive, and a couple of people who didn't know their ass from the Library of Congress.
Today, we announced the launch of our own blog, an online submission form that actually works, and a new system of providing e-books that encourages the use of Creative Commons. And that our new background image is a piece of cardboard. It took a long time. But damn, it feels good.
So next time you get frustrated with a DIY project, give yourself a break and go find someone who actually knows what they're doing. It's not a compromise, it's a party.
those are some nice and simple words of wisdom. I make DIY t-shirts..and no one really taught me how to, I kinda just got creative on my own..however..the sewing part I did have to be tought when I was much younger. In the end making something DIY feels so much more of an accomplishment than anything else-so congrats!