Cute Buttons!

I love cute and unique buttons. Especially since my daughters have been really enjoying sewing and craft projects. I try to keep an eye out for things that are cool and different. On HeySusy, there is a post on these colorful buttons. Check out her post for more information. If you know of cool places to get original and cute buttons or crafts, reply to this post with the info and links. Let's keep the creativity flowing....

Slightly Annoyed...lol

I have not knitted in a very long time (since I was a kid). Even when I did knit, it wasn't anything amazing. But I thought, hey... let me give this a shot. So I am trying to knit something as simple as a scarf, but for some reason instead of getting a rectangle shape that I need, it starts curving inward into this funky triangle shape.

And I am like dang! What in the world happen? So I ended up having to stop, because it was going no where fast...lol. So I just ended up sewing up the two sides and it fitted nicely on this Barbie. Cute - but not what I was going for. I need help in the knitting department.

*On a side note: You gotta love this shirt!

Buttons!

I had this black hat that I never wore because it was just to boring. I felt like a boy when I tried it on. But I didn't want to give it away because it fit really well. So I held on to it. Then I though about try to spice it up with some buttons. I did a search on Ebay, and found these cute heart buttons. It only cost me $2.85 in total with shipping for all 12 buttons. What a great deal... So I took about half of them and sewed them into a little cluster on one side of my hat. And Wahla! I just made my ok hat into a cute hat that I can't wait to wear. And it only took me a few bucks and about 15 minutes of sewing to complete. It was a fun project. Let me know what you think and tell me about some cool things you did to spice up your boring hats or clothing.

Hand made Jewelry

My daughters and I really enjoy making jewelry. I have made my own necklaces, earrings and even a few pieces of loc jewelry.

But what I am really forward to doing is creating my own loc ties. So that is my next challenge!

Kalia also got creative when making her loc ties. That has encouraged me to try and do some on my own. Look out for more post on creating loc ties once I try it out.

Time for creativity

I was asked recently how do I find time to create & maintain my website (and blog) while working a full time job; and while also being a full time Wife and Mom. The answer is simple - I really don't have much time at all.

But I learned the hard way that if you don't do something you love, that is an extension of who you are - you can feel like are you are starting to lose your identity. So for quite a while, I was on auto pilot and really doing all I could to make everyone in my life happy. But I realized - with the help of love ones, that I wasn't doing the things I love.

So even though I don't have much free time - I try to make time for the things I love the most. Art, blogging, creating websites, reading and creating something new. That's my thing! So I am happy to be able to do something that feels good and important to me. And one day soon - I hope to be able to go back to school and take up Graphic Design (with a minor in Marketing). Because its never to late to reconnect and to learn more about what you like to do and what makes you happy.

My "Hair Bible"

When I started my loc journey, I was on the hunt for any and all the information I could find on hair maintenance, loc styles, the loc'd and deadlock community and more! I was happy that I was able to find wealth of information on the Internet. But shocked and saddened that mainstream publications pretty much ignored or didn't acknowledge women or men with dreadlocks / loc’s.

Once in a while, I would see an article in Essence Magazine featuring a loc style. Or there might be a featured article in an African American hair magazine. But that’s it. In a world where straight hair is the ultimate goal - all I saw when I opened magazines where tips, tricks, products and every idea imaginable on how to get, keep and maintain long straight hair. For quite a while I felt as if society did not value the beauty of loc'd hair. So I decided that I had to move passed that desire, for everyone to see the beauty in natural hair, which I saw. For some, that day may never come. But one of the challenges of having loc'd hair is being able to love your crown of hair, no matter what any one else has to say. From that point on - I decided to make my own "hair bible" as I like to call them. Over the years I have collected photo, articles, how-to guides, recipes, maintenance idea's, inspirational stories and lots of information on dreadlock / loc accessories and styles.

I treated these binders as my own source of information, guidance and inspiration. If I ever felt lost about my choice to be natural or if I feel like I am own my own... all I have to do is open up one of my binders and look at all of the information I have put together. It took time, love and patience. I hope that in the future, we can pick up a mainstream publication like Elle, Vogue or W Magazine, and see someone that looks like us throughout the magazine. Until then, I will continue to add to my own collection of amazing pictures, articles and stores sharing knowledge, and more.