Here it is! The neeeeeew me!
I woke up bright and early this morning and drove about an hour and a half to get my hair cut by Wendy, my boss’s wife. She did such a great job!! Will definitely be going back to her: ) It feels so fabulous and freeeeee! Now I can’t wait to try new styles, fun accessories and hair colors! I love getting hair cuts!
Before:
After:
And!! This is also one of my goals for my 10 Things Before 30 list. Check!! And a Style School goals.
Saturday is a BIG day! After almost 2 years since my last hair cut, I am finally cutting it!
I have been wanting to do this for quite some time. Yes, this is the longest my hair’s ever been. And yes, it does look nice on me. BUT, I need a change badly and with work and such I always keep it tied back and to me, that’s just a waste. Hair is supposed to be free! Not tied back every single day, over and over. It’s also one of my Style School goals^_~
So I’m heading down to South Carolina to get my hair cut by my boss’s wife. I hear she’s great and I think since she kind of knows who I am she can give me a cut that matches my personality. And she’s just super cute!
Also, I’ve finally achieved the right length to be able to donate my hair! This is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’m going with
Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths, since surprisingly Locks of Love is not too favored by the BBB with some of the questionable things they do. Anyways!
How short? Well, not as short as I’ve had it before. In fact, Rob would kill me…it’s actually upsetting him very much that I’m even cutting it. Boys. I’m thinking mid-neck to just above the shoulders with texture and layers.
And we will now pay tribute to my hair and the fun we’ve had. Bonus pics at the end!!
The last cut, May 2008:
Added side bangs:
Growing…
So long…
Most current photo.
And now for some fun!!
Blue!!
Short and blonde
Shorter! and dark brown
Red
WTF Bangs
Nice…but grew out icky. And last time with full bangs.
So stay tuned to see the final results!!
Well, Style School came to a close this week. So sadT_T But then again, I still have SO many projects to do…so it’s not really over over. I think I’ll spend the rest of the time just really focusing on my styles, take my time and spread out the remaining projects.
It’s funny because through out the week I feel like I’ve done nothing, but when I do these wrap ups, I’m amazed how much I’ve done: ) And that’s cool!
Here’s what I’ve done this week:
I was originally going to use my vintage Samonite carryon, but then I found this nice bag at Good Will. (i’m always on the search for the one perfect purse) I embroidered some nerd glasses on it and a heart. A fun way to add a personal touch to a bag. Rob’s mom seemed pretty impressed when I showed her the bag: )
Artist Trading Cards! Ok, I LOVE these! I don’t draw or write very big and so my sketchbooks tend to be filled with a bunch of little drawings, or a lot of empty white space. These little cards are the perfect size for me.
Suzy Fact: I was a trading card dork when I was a tween. I collected a bunch of Disney and other movie cards. When I got older, I collected X-Men and Marvel cards. I have like 5 BIG huge binders at my parents house filled with completed sets and rare cards.
Jewelry wire, another new material that’s fun! I made this S for my car. It’s wrapped with this awesome hand spun yarn I got at Renegade a couple years ago.
I made this pouch out of a belt I got at Good Will. I made it for my camera to keep it safe and cozy: )
Blog posts should come more frequently since I have a lot more free time and *crosses fingers* I should, MUST, finish my blog redo.
Until then! Ja matta!
Did week 5 really just go by?
I was feeling quite unmotivated and sloth like this week. Rob and I were having too much fun watch an anime called Last Exile, so I really didn’t work on as many Style School projects as I would’ve like. Even with a day off of work, I found myself spending the day running errands and busy with other things. This week I vow to get back into it! Rawr!! It’s our last week and I’m ready to rock it!
The projects I did do, as always, turned out great and added a little something extra in boring places.
This is my version of the woodland flower vase. I loved incorporating the branch from our tree, making it a bit special. I plan on interchanging the flowers with different color pom-poms throughout the year. I also plan on finding more milk vases, like the project called for.
Here’s what my mantel looked like for Valentine’s Day: )
I made some fun accessories for my car!
A seatbelt cover! I used a MINI Cooper stencil I had on the bottom and put on some neat pins that I own. I actually love wearing this while in my car: ) Rob thinks it’s silly, but I think it’s too fun and cute.
This is a little pom-pom hanging thing I made for the rearview mirror. Any excuse to make a pom-pom is fine by me! The pin is from a helmet company called Nutcase and it says, “I love my brain”, heh.
Yeah…that’s about it. I did do another project, but it didn’t quite turn out and I’ve got a couple others started or about to get started. So, I should have a lot to share next time!
Besides all the crafts, I have been learning other things from Style School. I’m learning that cute hair accessories are super fun when wearing boring jeans and t-shirts. I’m starting to learn to be a bit more adventurous in my outfits and really think about colors. I’m SO wanting to look and buy more vintage clothes or make some from vintage patterns. I’m learning to take notes and really try to sketch out ideas and color combinations instead of jumping in and finding it doesn’t work. I’m learning to look at things and see more than one use for it.
Also!! Since Leigh Ann and Elsie teach such fun classes, I signed up for their Indie Business class! Selling my crafts is something I’ve always wanted to do and this year I had really planned on doing it! (ok there was that one time i tried selling pins on etsy that totally bombed….) This class couldn’t have come at a more perfect time! And Rob is so supportive of me doing this and taking the class and that’s just awesome!
This year’s Valentine’s Day turned out to be quite lovely^_^ We always keep it low key and simple.
This year we both agreed to make presents for each other, something I was SO excited for.
Rob, being a brilliant painter, painted me my fav. dinosaur a parasaurolophus!
I am just stunned and giddy on how awesome it is!
On the other end, I did a digital drawing for Rob.
Silly inside joke that of course only me and Rob find funny. But I love how it turned out! A reminder that both me and Rob need to do some art more often!
For our dinner, we made our own sushi! This is a first for us, but definitely not the last. It’s pretty easy to make, but getting the rice and nori (seaweed) right it something we can only perfect with practice. It all turned out real yummy! We used Trader Joe’s tempura shrimp, cucumber and avocado for the inside.
For dessert we had mochi, chocolates and chocolate covered strawberries.
Then we spent the rest of the night finishing watching the anime Last Exile. Yes, a very japanese themed Valentine’s Day^_~
My spirits and energy is so high this week! Yay! It feels good to have so normalcy again. I’ve finally went to the antique mall down the road from work. OMG! It’s so big and filled with so much goodness! Me and a coworker vow to spend our lunches there like every week. So far I’ve only bought a vintage Valentine decoration, a ’70s dress pattern and a big pickle jar that came with an assortment of old buttons, needles, thread and pinking shear (something i’ve been dying to get). Not only is this store just awesome, it’s fun knowing that I have a someone to go with and that we can get out of the office and clear our heads together.
I’ve done so many projects this week! It seems every project I do is my new fav. Poms-poms, crocheted headbands, rubber stamps and as of today, button earrings^_^ I’ve also made a crocheted a headband for a coworker. The first of many gifts these projects will end up being.
Here are the projects I’ve done this week:
I’ve finally hung up my inspiration boards. I put up the little shelf in the middle to add interesting space and it a fun place to display some fav. stuff of mine.
Hand carved stamps!! I remember doing this in junior high and I have to say, cutting this stuff is SOOOOO much easier. It’s kind of satisfying cutting and carving into the rubber. My first stamp is my character Newton (who’s name changes all the time:P ) I draw him every where and now I can just stamp him instead. Next is my fav. dinosaur a parasaurolophus.
Mad Men inspired earrings. So cute and so fun and the possibilities are endless! Another accessory that I want to make and wear all the time!
Wooden people of me and Rob! I had hoped it would turn out better, but the acrylic paints I used were super old and things got real gloppy. But! They still turned out pretty rad and gave me and Rob a good laugh. I actually painted shirts that we wear on a regular basis. Mine’s from Threadless and Rob’s is from Kingdom of Loathing, an awesome silly web game. I painted the face on my person totally off centered, but it’s funny because now she look like she’s looking at Rob. Happy accidents!
Here’s my Valentine’s garland. It says, “Rabu Rabu” in Japanese. Rabu is the word love, but since Japanese don’t have L or V sounds they say rabu! I was going to do the actual phrase I love you in Japanese, but I learned that that phrase is a super serious thing to say, like some Japanese people won’t even say it. Of course, they don’t throw around the phrase “I love you” quite like we do. And rabu rabu is something the young kids say to each other and that seems a bit more fun. See, you learned something today!
Since things are starting to become normal again, I’ll totally be posting on more of a regular basis^_^ Heck, I might even finish my blog makeover!
Happy February!
Has this week already gone by? Well, this week I will finally see a slow down at work. Meaning more time for Style School! This past week I was pretty beat down and it wasn’t really until the weekend when got to work on most of my projects. And when I had plan on going to the craft stores on Saturday, we got hit with a record breaking snow storm! Although I did quite enjoy the excuse to stay inside with a blanket, Rob, the pets and tv^_~
Here are the projects I completed this week:
I have to say this turned out to be my favorite project! A crocheted headband with buttons. It was super easy to make! I’ve already made like 6 and have been wearing them everyday. I just like it cuz it adds a bit of cute to the blah of t-shirt and jeans, ’specially at my job.
Button collars for pets! I added buttons to a collar I already had for Faith. She hasn’t worn it for a long long time since it was kind of meh and too long, so I just cut it and added these buttons and now it just looks great!
These are my clipboards that will be hung up as an inspiration board. I still have a few things to add and of course I need to hang them up. The board with the black paint is actually a chalkboard! I can’t wait to use it.
Here’s my favorite quote pillow. I had originally thought of a different quote(which I’ll still make into a pillow), but with all the excitement with the revealed iPad, I got all geeky and made an Apple pillow! And what’s more inspirational than, “Think different”? I wish the white fabric I used was a little more sturdier since it’s a little floppy and wonky, it is left over curtain liner:/ Oh well! And I am learning to love the back stitch in embroidery! I was always a split stitch girl, but the back stitch is a bit cleaner.
And that’s all I have for week 3. I think I may post again in a few days since I already just finished another project! I also will try to put up my clip boards. And of course, I’ll try to get this blog fully rolling again.
Oi, this week I had even LESS time than before. Work should be slowing down hopefully this week and I can finally have both my evenings and weekends back.
Here’s the projects I completed this week:
Hanger Photo Holder:
I think this is too cute! Something that can be interchangeable. I went with the neutralness of the browns with just a pop of maroon to give it a little twist and I used matching colors for the frames. The embellishments was first use to hide an ugly part of the frame, but it looked so cute that I added it to the other one.
Studio Toolbelt Apron:
I thought it would be funny to use this fabric from an apron my mother-in-law gave with that has cheesy camping and fishing pictures on it and the colors also go well with the main fabric. I’m actually tempted to bring this to work so I won’t loose my pens or glasses all the time.
Fabric Pom-Pom Necklace:
I worked on this project mostly at work, even though I bet the boys thought I was weird. Whatev, heh. This project turned out all right. It’s kind of hard to make the pom-poms with fabric, but I still attempted it. I may not be crazy about all the projects, but I am a firm believer that you don’t know what you truly like until you’ve tried it! And who know that you might learn in the process? I learned that pom-poms are fun and awesome (when made with yarn)!
Cosmetic Bag:
This is my fav. project so far! I think mostly because I actually sat down and drew out ideas and thought how I really wanted it to look like. I went through lots of sketches. I learned that sketching out an idea rather than thinking about it and then jumping into it helps me out a lot. Also I was super excited to work with wool felt. It’s a neat thing working with actual fiber from an animal. I’m so using this as my travel case from now on: )
I have a few more projects to do before I catch up…but I kind of realized that I was forcing myself to keep up and spend my free time working on my projects and not really spending time with the dogs and Rob (even though Rob is busy doing some freelance) So I took a break this evening and let myself enjoy just sitting and watching a movie (with no crafts in my hands!!) and get caught up whenever it happens. I think I’ll learn most from it that way rather than obsessing about it. I need to slow down and read the posts and take it in. I will also look at my fellow students’ pictures more and comment on them, since people are doing such great things! This week will be SO much better!
This week was the first week of Style School, online craft classes that help you find your own style in crafts, wardrobe, home and life. I have been MORE than excited to start these classes! To learn new projects, meet new people and of course help define my style.
…This week was also the first week of the quarter, which means we are super busy at work and with me now being full time, I have to work 12+ hour days and even working weekends. Needless to say, I have been exhausted and haven’t had the time I’d like to dedicate to Style School, which really bums me out.
But!! I have found that taking the little free time I have doing my projects is a great stress reliever: ) By next week I should have a normal schedule and totally catch up on all I’ve missed. Already I’ve made and learned things I’ve never done! I even totally failed at making a pom-pom, ha ha.
So! Let me show what I have done this week!!
First off is my cover for my style binder and some interior pages. This is where I keep all my notes and inspiration cut outs that help me collect and visualize my style.
Next is my first project, a faux vintage brooch wreath. My original thought was to have this really look like a house and maybe put a bird sitting on it, but I kind of like how it is now. Can’t wait to hang it on our door! Fun project and I hope to make more not only for the house, but for friends and family.
This is a mock polaroid picture frame. Another thing I can’t wait to hang up! This includes the first documented picture of me and Rob. Rob hates how young he looks….but hey, it’s US!
I’m working on my third project right now, which I should have mostly finished tonight. I can’t wait to show it! So far, I’m enjoying myself so much! And it’s going to be so awesome when I have like a whole evening and even a weekend day to spend on these projects! Also, I’ve been looking at other student projects on the Flickr group, so great! It’s just cool how different everyone’s projects look even though they are the same project!
Another cool thing about Style School is you can sign up to have a buddy to help and inspire each other. At first I wasn’t going to sign up, but I did and I got such a great partner! Her name is AJ , she’s from Austin, TX (so jealous) and we have tons in common and it’s making Style School that much more enjoyable: )
See ya next time!
Hello to another year and a new decade! I have a feeling it’s going to be a great year. To know that we are in a city we love and in our very own home feels good and stable.
I have some resolutions for the year and I’ve also decided to restart my “12 Months of 29″ List. I got distracted with so many other things that the list got pushed aside…but I’m totally going to try again!!
2010 general goals:
-Take better care of my body
make more balanced meals
develop a well rounded exercise routine
-Be more eco-friendly (I was so passionate about it 3 years ago, such a shame I stopped)
-More arts and crafts
-More creativity and my true self into life, crafts and clothing (can’t let the boys suck me into the t-shirt and track pants look ahhhh!)
and…
10 Things Before 30 List: (formally known as 12 months of 29)*
1. Make a fancy dinner with appetizer, main course and dessert
2. Get a hair cut and donate it
3. Change all the light bulbs in the house to CFLs
4. Sign me and Ginny up for agility classes
5. Go camping
6. Start my garden
7. Sew pair of pants/shorts
8. Start my scrapbook
9. Go to a play/concert
10. 1 finished piece of art (digital, paper, paint) each month till June
*which be documented in the blog
See ya next time!