inventor

  • |

    Giveaway Day 5 — and an Inadvertent Sob Story

    ByHeather Bailey

    Day05_GiveawayBanner
    Happy
    Monday, everyone. It's my kids' first day of school today and though
    I'm always a bit sad to miss their good company for the day, I'm also
    excited to get a lot done. First on my list is today's HELLO Giveaway.

    If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that I
    invented a nifty little hair accessory called Trash Ties™. Do you
    remember when trash bags used to come with a set of twisty-ties in the
    box? Before trash bags became stretchy and cinchable? I named my
    invention Trash Ties in homage to those old-fashion twisty-ties.

    TrashTiesHairAccessories

    Trash Ties were invented before I started showing my artwork publicly
    and designing fabric, housewares, stationery, etc. Before Heather
    Bailey became Heather Bailey.

    Elijah was a small toddler when I invented Trash Ties. And, in many
    ways, it is my second child. I birthed the patent, fed and nurtured the
    business, and watched it bloom. Dare I admit, this gives me maternal
    stirring even today, many years later. They really are incredible. And
    they are so easy to use with a little practice.

    I intended to create instructional videos for you a long while back when
    I first announced     Trash Ties on my blog, but right as that project was
    getting organized, began a truly horrible experience for me and my
    family. I've never mentioned it here. And I'm only going to in passing
    at this time, but a woman who ingratiated herself into my life under
    the guise of friendship, positioned herself to pose as my company and
    lie to my customers. She strategized with her spouse to steal
    confidential information and proceeded to build a company to sell my
    patented invention as though it was hers. I only knew them for a few
    months. But, stealing from me and my family became this woman's focus
    for years to come.

    They mimicked all of my photography down to the finest details to
    mislead the public, stole language from our brochure, told my customers
    that we were "sister companies," sold to several national chains, and made hundreds of thousands of
    dollars doing so—according to their manufacturer who they stiffed on
    their last $35,000 manufacturing bill. It was not a smalltime thing.

    TrashTiesHairAccessories_Ponytail

    I learned of this nightmare right as we were planning our
    instructional videos. I cried myself to sleep every night for three
    years straight. To steer my mind away from the sting, I focused on my
    other business — fabric design, sewing patterns, housewares, etc. I am
    so incredibly fortunate to have had an alternative at that time. And
    yes, I'm sure this harrowing experience has contributed to my tender
    gratitude for your support of my artwork and business—thus, my mad idea to have a month of giveaways midst my other obligations and deadlines. I am truly grateful for you.

    Trash Ties are still mine. They always have been. I just happened to
    build up another exciting and busy company in the meanwhile, while
    healing. Sketching was my song. Fabric was my restoration.

    We might do videos yet—I'd really love for you to see Trash Ties in
    action. I know that many of you sew, so I'll tell you something I don't
    usually tell a crowd. Doing your hair with Trash Ties is like
    'stitching' your hair up. There is a unique bendable, tempered wire
    inside that holds your hairdo in place. With the small ties, you take
    individual 'stitches.' With the long ties, it's more like 'stitching'
    with a long, flexible, secure 'thread' you can whip-stitch around or
    through your hair.

    TrashTiesHairAccessories_UpDo

    Basically, you just have to cinch them tightly. You don't
    twist them, just wrap them around snugly. As you wrap them, you want to
    make a closed circle, not an open spiral. This way, your hair won't wind
    out. In the end, it looks like there are little ribbons in your hair.
    With neutral Trash Ties, they can blend right in, like above. Yet, you don't have to work to hide them, like you would with
    bobby pins. Let 'em show. They're washable, reuseable and super versatile.

    Okay. So, I didn't intend to tell you that story today—though it is a
    tremendous relief. Thank you for hearing me. In some ways, it feels
    like I'm taking my first deep breath in a long time. And I didn't intend
    to include instructions for use either. Clearly, I'm a little
    disoriented from my kids being back at school. The punchline is, today's
    giveaway is Trash Ties, one set of short ties and one long tie—winner's
    choice of colors. And we have TONS of colors and prints—and you'll be
    glad to know that basic black is now back in stock.

    Day05_TrashTiesGiveaway

    This little product makes me truly happy. For me, it is a gift
    from God—quite literally. For you, it can simply be a breezy and fun
    way to do your hair—an unmatched creative tool for expressing your personal style.

    Comment to enter today's contest. Be sure to include your email address
    so we can contact you if you win. Today's giveaway closes at noon PST on Tuesday 8/6/13.
    I didn't get this post up until the afternoon, so I've extended the deadline this time. Watch for the winner to be announced within a day or two at the bottom
    of the post. 

    Wow, so I really need to go on a run or something. That was a doozy.

    xo—Heather

    For more info on my August giveaway madness, click here.
    We have some seriously amazing prizes planned, including tools,
    equipment, jewelry, toys, Project Life, stationery, fabric from my next
    collection (which I'll introduce this month)—exciting stuff. Please
    share the word. Check back every day.


    Read More “Giveaway Day 5 — and an Inadvertent Sob Story”

  • New ‘Do

    ByHeather Bailey

    I asked Charlotte how she wanted her hair done today.  I fully expected a ponytail request, or pigtails, or braids.  Instead, Miss Salty replied, "Make a hair do that nobody has ever seen before."  Well, en garde!  Challenge accepted.

    AllNewDoTrashTies

    And
    don't get too boggled studying the photo.  I've put together a Hair-Do
    How-To pdf to untwist the mystery.  Click on the image below to
    download the pdf instruction sheet. 

    Trash Ties

    This hairdo reminds me of a celtic knot
    — and is a real cart-stopper I should warn you.  Three different
    people stopped us on our milk-run to the grocery store to ask how
    Charlotte's hair was put together.  I figured a pdf would make the
    explaining much easier.

    If downloadable hairdos work for
    you, let me know and we'll put together some more Trash Ties
    tutorials.  In fact, send us photos of your own Trash Ties hairdo
    creations and perhaps we'll design a pdf to show off your twisted
    ingenuity.

    (Learn more about patented Trash Ties at www.TrashTies.com or visit www.HeatherBaileyStore.com to pick up a set or three.)

  • Wormhole

    ByHeather Bailey

    EarlyTTHBa

    I sorted through old pictures today from before we had digital cameras, from before we had Charlotte.  For hours, on my entryway floor, I flipped through picture after picture of Elijah as a small child, then left to pick him up from school.  When he opened the car door to sit next to me, I swear my peripheral vision blurred into quick streaks of bright colors and I fell forward into one of Wheeler’s ‘wormholes.’  When did my son become a young man, all angular and grouchy?  When did my hair grow long?  And have a full ten years really gone by since I invented Trash Ties?   GoGilbertCoverJan2009

    There’s a great article in this month’s Go Gilbert! magazine outlining my personal history with my children’s hat company, Noggins, the invention of my Trash Ties hair accessories, and later finding my passion for art and surface design.  If you’re in the Gilbert, AZ area, pick up a free copy at a nearby salon, office, or restaurant, or click here to browse through the issue online. 

    Interviewing for this article really took me back to the sweetness and the struggle of my life ten years ago.  To the tiny city apartment we shared in Hollywood where Elijah and I spent all of our time together and often did not get outside for days on end. 

    NewYears2000n3t3
    After living in that apartment for a few months, I began to feel unexplicably uneasy about it and to feel strongly that we needed to move.  I loved living in Hollywood, but there was something wrong that I couldn’t pinpoint.  Drumming up money for a new apartment fell to me and I had meager resources.  Isaac worked till late into the night and took with him our only car.  I had toddler Elijah with me at all times and the internet was pretty useless back then. 

    As time went on, the prompting to get out of that apartment grew steadily stronger.  It was a problem I tried to fix alone, but could not.  It was a difficult, dark time.  One night, after sitting about in a stupor for weeks, I knelt in desperate prayer for help and within half an hour of that prayer, was handed Trash Ties.  It wasn’t a literal handing-over, but spiritually, that’s what it felt like.  Like a gift tied in silk ribbon, with a note saying, “You are loved.  Everything will be okay.”  At 23, that was my first hugely spiritual experience.

    With a little experimentation, Trash Ties were invented in the late evening of January 25th, ten years ago last week.  In the months following, I worked around the clock, squeezing every ounce of hope and will power into patenting Trash Ties and preparing it for market.  It was a raw, tender time, but man am I grateful for the adventures we had back then and for all that we learned!

    TrashTiesContactSheetHBb
    In digging through old photos today and in reading over this new Go Gilbert! article, I realized that I have yet to tell that early story.  The struggles I went through and the help I received along the way are an integral part of my personal journey and I need to keep that history. 

    Yes, Trash Ties enabled us to move from our Hollywood apartment.  It wasn’t till a year after we left that I learned why I had felt so strongly about moving.  It’s a crazy story, involving one horrifically sick little boy.  I’d like to continue telling that story here and there in future posts if you can go easy on me for getting emotional at times.  The reflection does me well.  Some old memories seem like forever ago and some seem like yesterday.  I have learned a lot and I have a lot to be grateful for.