winter blues and inspiring tunes

It feels like day 1,093 that I am yet again sitting at home...
I have gone from social butterfly to 90yr old grandma in a matter of weeks.
How did this happen?
Oh yea, WINTER!!!
I was totally ready to embrace winter this year, but I didn't realize it would effect my relationships with friends and boyfriend. It has. My craft life has bloomed, but social life and career is dying. I am trying to stay positive about the good things in my life, and excited about the new friendships I am building. I just don't want to lose the old by bringing in some new....
So, I am in search for an inspirational song to lift my frozen spirit.
I searched "inspirational music" and this is what Google gave me:

Eye of the Tiger – Survivor
Chariots of Fire – Vangelis
The Final Countdown – Europe
We Are the Champions – Queen
We Will Rock You – Queen
I’ve Got the Power – Snap
It’s My Life – Bon Jovi
Affirmation – Savage Garden
Beautiful Day – U2
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
I Feel Good – James Brown
I Can See Clearly Now – Johnny Nash
Lovely Day – Bill Withers
Walking On Sunshine – Katrina and the Waves
Live Like You Were Dying – Tim McGraw
I Believe I Can Fly – R. Kelly
You Gotta Be - Des’ree
When You Believe – Mariah Carey/ Whitney Houston
Hero – Mariah Carey
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
Bad Day – Daniel Powter
Man In The Mirror – Michael Jackson
I’m Alive – Celine Dione
Tub Thumping – Chumba Wumba
Lose Yourself – Eminem
Remember The Name – Fort Minor
Till I Collapse – Eminem
Return to Innocence – Enigma
O Fortuna – Carmina Burana
My Personal Favourites
Orinoco Flow – Enya
Only Time - Enya
True to Your Heart – 98 degrees & Stevie Wonder
Fly – Celine Dione
Now We Are Free – Lisa Gerard
When You Say Nothing At All – Ronan Keating
New Day – Celine Dione
One Day More – Les Miserables
The Prayer – Celine Dione & Andrea Bocelli
Nessun Dorma – Pavarotti *
Time To Say Goodbye – Sarah Brightman & Andrea Boccelli *

I am still depressed... You suck google search.

No, no. I am just kidding.... But if you have a good song for me, please share! I am looking forward to modifying a few new clothing items tomorrow and will need some inspiring music to get my creative juices flowing, as my mother would say!

struggles behind the chair

This is what I do.

It is one of the only things I consider myself REALLY good at. I get it.

When I was in school, I had instructors telling me that I understood the art of hair design way too well for just starting out. They told me I would be successful...

they were wrong.

I am 3 years in, and tomorrow I plan on cutting down my hours at the salon and looking for a serving/bar tending job.

$117 pay checks in the "busiest month of the year" is not successful in my book.

How did this happen? This was not the plan, not even close. I was going to be making great money and doing what I loved. That's what they told me.

I am a positive person, and I refuse to look at this as defeat!

I am looking at this as just another wall that I will have to tear down. It will take hard work and motivation to not give up. I hope that the people in my life and work place understand the decision that I have to make, because it isn't for lack of passion, but need for financial stability.

I am going to do this, and do it with my all. I will commit 6 months to serving and working 2-3 days at the salon. I will still pursue my clientele and make every effort to build my business. I just need to pay off some debt and store some money in the bank.

I can do this!

Thanks

Craft #1. Dear skin drum.

Thank you mom for all you have taught me.

Without you and your amazing, creative brain I would not be who I am.

I owe it all to you..

wine inspired

Almost a year ago I went to an art show at Shady Creek Winery to see my friend Amanda Heise's art work.
They had the cutest little set up, and behind the bar was a BIG bin full of corks, so I asked the guy if they kept them for something. He of course said no and handed them over!
They have been sitting, un touched for way too long now.
I saw a pair of cork earring in a new book, "p.s. i made this..."





Her earrings were great, but not quite my style. So, with some time and many issues cutting and working with the cork, this is what I came up with:











I am very happy with what I have done, and it only took 4 corks, random beads, fabric, ribbon and chain to make this great new set! :)

Here are some other really great things people are doing with wine corks...

#2 of my top 5

I have a client who likes to refer to me as a "home made chocolate chip cookie"
She says that when her husband asks why she is spending so much on her hair, this is what she tells him:
"When I do my hair at home, or go somewhere cheaper, it always looks fine. Like a store bought cookie. But when Hilary does my hair, it is like a home made, yummy, warm, chocolate chip cookie. No comparison. There is a difference, and I want my chocolate chip cookie!"
Love this. What a compliment.

#1 of my top 5

top five clients that is... I have been in the hair world for about five years now, and in a salon for three. I know that I still have a lot to learn and a lot more to look forward to. But as for now, these are my favorite memories and pictures that remind me of them:
#1)Lets start with the bad... Dog Ear Lady. My first and ONLY mistake (so far)

If you are familiar with any hair terms, you know exactly what I mean by "dog ears"... and let me tell ya, what I gave this lady, was worse! She was already in a mood because her usual stylist had decided not to come in that day, and she didn't seem to happy with me either. So, being the professional that I am, I put on a smile and tried to make it work. After about 30mins of her second guessing me and insisting that I had not listened to what she had asked for, she grabbed the comb from my hand... FIRST MISTAKE. She then proceeded to place the comb at the side of her face, above the ear, and tell me this... and I quote, "Can you just cut it here? Can you do that for me, huh, huh? Can ya? I just want you to cut it here, is that so hard to ask?!" So. I cut it. SECOND MISTAKE! Then I matched the other side... THIRD MISTAKE! Well, by now she wants nothing to do with me and is in tears. So, I calmly walk to the back room, get another stylist and tell her to have fun. The client later stormed out of the salon, and I assume is still growing that haircut out to this day. I learned a lot from Dog Ear Lady. #1) IF they seem on edge, they are! #2) Don't EVER give someone your comb #3) If they say "cut it here", and "here" is above their ears, and the length of their hair is past their shoulders... DON'T CUT IT! So, while I am basking in my Bad Hair story, here are some of my favorite Bad hair day pictures:

a friend and I at an 80's throwback party

Head band + no make up + boredom = bad day for all

self explanatory...

if you like it, make it

Thanks Bernard for finding this amazing hat! I will be making one soooon. This is awesome, I found a similar hat on scandinaviangrace.com for $165. This is why I am so grateful that I have the ability to make my own things. As my friend says, "if you like it, make it"

Here are some other things I am looking forward to re-creating...

And my all time favorite project I am dreaming about are these babies.....

i did it!

4 hours later, I have ear muffs!

So proud of myself!

It was much harder than I thought it would be...

Supplies:

Old HeadBand

Black Fleece

Lace

Hot glue gun

Fuzzy white fleece
Sewing Machine

I love em!!!

I do have a bit of an issue of getting them to STAY on my head.

May need mama to take a look with suggestions for the next pair!

Pretty good for using what I had at the house tho...

Nighty Night!

With cold weather comes a new attitude

Hello Snow.
Usually this time of year I complain about the snow, and all it brings. This year I have decided to make a change, but not because my situation has changed... I still only have one client at the salon today and business isn't getting any busier. I still hate the cold feeling of snow slipping into my tennis shoes, and the way my stupid car wont function in this weather.... But, I realize that I can't change any of that. So I am going to use this time for inspiration. I will lock myself up, and not because I have to, but because I want to. I will dream, and create this winter.
When I woke up this morning and looked out my window at the bright, white covered world, these are the things I thought of:

Snow Men!!

I haven't made a snowman in forever.

I will this year!

My scissor Tattoo!

I am so anxious and excited for this new addition!

Knee Socks!

I have SO many pair of knee socks and I love them all!

I think I will start embellishing them!?

Chicago in the Winter!

I LOVE IT!

I have had some amazing memories made there,

and plan to make more this weekend with old and new friends!

Ear Muffs!

I REALLY want to make some ear muffs.

As a rule, I usually hate this winter accessory, but with all of the changes I am making, I think a new pair of handmade ear muffs is just what I need!!

So, there you have it. My winter Inspiration for the day! Now I am off to do laundry and plan out how to create these ear muffs!

keeping it simple

I consider myself "old fashioned", although I feel there is a better word for what I am trying to say. I accept change but don't necessarily enjoy it.

For Example, these are 3 things that most people think of as good change, where I am uncertain.

1) NetFlix. I really miss walking through the aisle at the video store.

2)Kindle, Nook, or any other electronic book. Need I say more?!

3)Online Journaling / Blogging. Journaling is very important to me, but I have rules. And those rules are very against what I am doing right now...

I have had a Journal ever since I can remember. My first Journal was a brightly colored hard cover book from Michaels, with a lock and key of course. As I got older I became very strict on

the kind of Journal I would use. These were my rules:

1)Leather Bound

2)Brown, not Black

3)No lines on the pages

4)Thick paper

I still have every single one of my Journals. I love cracking that Leather bound book and reading about what it was I considered important at the time. I am always surprised, but to get back on track, my point is, I hate Blogs. Although, here I am clicking away and breaking all of my rules. That's ok tho, because I have new rules. I am going to Blog, and Share, and Inspire and be Inspired!!! I only have 2 Rules...

1) I will talk about the mishaps of working in a salon in this Blog.

2) I will talk about my Sewing Projects and what has inspired me in this Blog.

The End.

I want to be apart of this Blogging world and see what the hell it is that has people so excited over Internet journaling... So here I go, keeping it simple. Me and my 2 Rules will fit in just fine in this new and scary world.