More Hummingbird Jewelry

If you were so unfortunate to read my twittering last week, I repeatedly mentioned working on my mother's birthday present. I decided to repeat the hummingbird theme I did for my mother in law but in green my mom's favorite color. However I tried the polymer clay wings again, I wasn't quite happy with the beaded ones. My first batch made it through sanding but didn't make through buffing, so I tried again with a thicker layer of clay and then a backing of clay.

She really seemed to like it. I told her she was market research and had to tell me what is wrong with it.

While I think my finish work was improved from my last piece, as I edited the photos I noticed a few partial fingerprints I missed. I am working on some photo transfer pendants for mother's day and am coating my fingers in cornstarch first to try and prevent fingerprints.

So do any of you want to be market research for me? I am going to give away one hummingbird pendant this week. Winner gets to choose between the purple beaded wing model or the green polymer clay winged model. To enter the contest simply leave me a comment, and I will pick a winner randomly. Feel free to link the contest for your blog buddies if you like. The giveaway will end on Tuesday May 14th at midnight and I'll announce the winner on Wednesday May 15th.

Curl Up & Dye

I have been in a bad mood about my hair this weekend. I got it cut, which usually upsets me. I freak out, and think it is too short. This week was no exception, the layering job on my hair seemed to look more like Eddie Van Halen then the Elaine curls I prefer. While I was kvetching, I pondered that maybe I was the only one who could see the difference to my husband. He gave a slick answer. I don't see the difference, but if it is important to you, it is important to me. Is the man running for office?

Mostly I get upset because I don't think my stylist understands curly hair well enough, nor do I seem to have the ability to explain what I want. I would like to state that I really like my stylist and she is trying to learn, and I don't think I have a better option in my area of the world. (Their are stylist who specialize in curly hair, but not in my remote backdesert.) A while back I didn't get my hair cut by a professional for three years and I snipped it myself because everyone else wanted to hack it off, make it behave, and generally just didn't get curly hair.

I decided to use the flat iron to calm the Eddie look down and flat ironing my hair makes it seem like it grew a foot since no matter how long I have let it get it, the curls always spring up to right around my collar. I admit it had been a long time since I had done it, and it was drastic change to see my hair straight.

However at my mom's birthday party, Saturday night, the reactions started to get under my skin. The compliments were fine until one my mother's oldest friends who often has encouraged me to chemically straighten my hair, went on and on about it. I try to grin and bear it, knowing she hates her coarse curly hair and is always fighting it. When other relatives started suggesting I get it done chemically I started to get hot under my collar.

My family aren't the only ones who feel that way. The lady on the Millionaire Matchmaker told one girl who to straighten her hair, men don't like it curly she said. I know other people who religiously blow dry theirs out every day, and would rather be caught dead than curly. I have had other people tell me they will take me more seriously with straight hair, it looks more polished put together.

Maybe I am a rebel, but I want to wear it curly. Some people actually pay good money to get their hair curly like mine. I am not talking a frizzy mess or unkempt hair. I get nice defined curls most of the time, or at least I think I do. I am bugged because apparently many people see me as mess with my hair au natural, not the way I see my ringlets with love. In fact there is a whole website devoted to girls like me who love their curly locks.

It can be fun to have straight hair for a while, like having a secret identity, but it is a lot more work than I normally do on my hair,because I have two small boys who can make a big mess in the half an hour it takes to straighten my hair. (That is on a good day, it often takes longer.) I can't fathom why they think the change should be permanent.

Culturally I wonder why people see the straight hair as the better option. Sugar & Spice had an interesting post about it from another race's perspective. I can't help but think of Julia Louis-Dreyfuss who has progressed from a bunch of frizzy curls, to tamed curls, and then to straight. Maybe it is an attempt to break the Seinfield curse?

Picture A, on Sunday, Picture B a few weeks ago prior to the cut.

I am curious what you think about it. Sexy or a turn off? Professional, unprofessional? Unsightly or lovely? Go ahead and tell me the truth, I can take it. What's the worst thing that will happen, you will make my hair curl?

Grocery Line Musings

Overheard behind me in the line, spoken by 3rd or 4th grade age boy.

Oh look Britney. Why did she shave her head Dad? Did she have cancer or was she just drunk and crazy?

My first thought was how sad, he knows about that. I felt certain, Brittney, Ashlee and all those other girls have no idea about the example they are setting for all the kids who look up to them.

Then, I remembered how my son was chanting Miley Cyrus, Miley Cyrus this week. I asked him if he knew who that was, he said she was the girl from Hannah Montana. I cringed because I didn't turn of the Today show early enough one day last week and we caught the "news" story about her Vanity Fair pictures. I didn't pick up the remote fast enough, I don't really want my kids thinking that is the way to be. Plus, I don't think he knew who she was before that.

On one hand I can understand why people are concerned about the over sexualization of young girls, but how many grade school age kids read Vanity Fair? Many more may be sitting around the morning watching the Today show with mom.

On the other, I think we are way too invested in the lives of celebrities. Not that I want to excuse bad behavior but how would most of us fair under that kind of microscope. I can guarantee you I would flip out at some point, say something stupid, do something wrong or wear the wrong dress to the wrong event. Thank God no one was following me around as a teenager.

While at times I would really like to solely blame the media, I have to find fault with myself too. I used to click on those little stories on the bottom left of the MSN Homepage too. A while back it occurred to me that I was part of the problem, I was reading it. Those advertisers on those pages were targeting me. I highly suspect if more people were turning the channel every time a bit of celebrity gossip or really unnecessary story came on they would be fewer in number. Just a thought...

A Blog About Nothing

I have been racking my snot filled brain to come up with something worth blogging about. I wanted to find something exciting, or controversial, you know pithy that makes you come back for more. No such luck, trust me I spared any of you who weren't reading what I was twittering about this week.

Have I ever mentioned my need to do things well sometimes gets in the way of doing it at all? Tom quit laughing sometimes I do something well.

I have been burning the candle at both ends trying to get my mother's birthday present made. Version one didn't make it through the buffing stage so I am having to redo. They are cool if I can make them sturdy enough to be jewelry.

Tee ball is taking up a bunch of time lately. It is entirely worth every minute though, the kids are too funny. Zach hit the ball the other night and promptly ran to third base. (It's not like it was his first time, he just got confused.) Well I need to get back to my present making. Bird posted about how she never gives her handmade gifts away. I always ending up spending too much money on supplies. I do usually give them, perhaps to the chagrin of the recipient. Sometimes I cringe when I see them at a later date. How do you feel about homemade gifts?