Hair and Beyond

When I was younger, one of my first friends was a girl named Stacy. Her mom and my mom were best friends as teenagers, and in 1974 they both graduated from high school together. Before they knew it, adult life took over causing them both to go their separate ways. My mom stayed in Binghamton, New York, married to my father, while my mom's friend, Annette, moved to California with her military husband. They stayed in touch, and it wasn't long before both young women found themselves pregnant! Unbeknownst to each other at the time, both my mom and Annette chose the same name for their soon to be born baby daughters. As it would turn out, I was to be "Stacey" (with an "e") and Annette's daughter would be "Stacy" (no "e"). We grew up calling her Stacy Lynn, and I was Stacey Jean!!

That's me, with Stacy Lynn to the right.

My first memories of Stacy Lynn go back to when I was about 4 years old. My family had traveled to California on a vacation to visit. We went to Disney Land, Universal Studios, and the beach. Though I was little, and despite distance, I felt a kinship to Stacy Lynn and her family. Throughout the years, they would travel back to Binghamton to visit their extended family, and our mom's would make a date to take us to both Chuck E. Cheese's and the carousel at Recreation Park. Eventually, when I was in the third grade, Stacy's family moved back to upstate NY and we became close friends. Our mom's often hung out when we were little, so Stacy and I did almost everything together.

Annette, Stacy Lynn's mom, was a hairdresser, as was Stacy's grandmother. After a few years of being back in New York, I remember their family building a house with their very own beauty parlor attached to the front. One thing Stacy Lynn and I would do together was spend hours in the shop, playing with mannequins and doing their hair. I also remember playing Barbie dolls with Stacy, and while I would just brush and braid their hair, Stacy Lynn thought nothing of cutting it right off! Doing hair was in her blood, and years later, Stacy Lynn also became a hairdresser just like her mom. Eventually, Annette opened her own shop called Hair and Beyond on Robinson Street in Binghamton, and once Stacy was able, she became co-owner.

Hair and Beyond Salon

Fast forward many many years, and here we are now in 2010. The salon is still going strong, with a loyal clientele. Despite their success, Stacy Lynn and Annette have endured some trying times over the past couple of years. As a respite to all that was going on in their personal lives, they decided to focus some of their energy on an uplifting activity. They entered a national contest called Matrix Mannequin Mania . Again, Stacy Lynn found herself playing with mannequins! With the help of her co-workers, she created some fantastic designs. Her mannequin entitled "The Widower" actually became a finalist in this national competition! With lots of hard work, prayer, and intense rallying for votes, Stacy and Annette's hopes for winning were high! And lo and behold, they WON!!! Now, Hair and Beyond is known nationally, while Stacy Lynn and Annette, the shop's owners, are $25,000 richer!! I'm incredibly happy for them! They deserve it!!

Spirals on the wall!

Stacy Lynn's success inspired this post! As it is, a few years ago, I had the opportunity to give a little of myself to their shop, Hair and Beyond. Annette had opened the salon in the mid 80's, so the decor needed a little bit of a makeover. I was available and more than happy to help out. I spent numerous nights painting decorative work on the interior walls. Hot pink, black, and white were Stacy and Annette's colors of choice. I thank them for the chance to do a little artwork for them. I got a lot of positive feedback for my work, and wanted to take a moment to share. :)

Abstract Florals!

Checkered!

My photos aren't of the best quality. I had always hoped to take some more professional looking shots. But, you get the idea! I had alot of fun painting at Hair and Beyond, and hope to do some similar work in the future!! Wish me luck! Maybe some of Stacy Lynn's and Annette's good fortune will drift my way. :)

the ladybug chair is finished.

and yes.....in case you were wondering......i finished the chair on time! my ladybug chair. the one that took more than four months to complete. no, i didn't spend four months painting it. i just spent about four months procrastinating. and thinking. and changing my mind over and over again as to how i would approach this wooden chair. but finally, i settled....and the battle between my mind and my paintbrush has, at least for now, come to an end.

so yes. the ladybug chair is done, and it's reception was a success.

i delivered the chair to it's recipients on saturday (i had it done on friday, my deadline, but was unable to meet up to make my delivery until the next day). wide eyes and "oh wow"s made me smile!! i said i was nervous that they might not like the chair,

that i didn't think it was what they might have expected. that comment was met with a sincere "it's more than we expected!!", which of course made me happy. they loved my ladybug chair!! and i felt complete. and i was reminded as to why i take on projects like this. because it fills others with delight. and even though i said i was done taking on such projects for other people...i think i might've been mistaken. that moment of exchange made the entire process worth everything. and there will be a little girl named "karalynn grace" who will get to enjoy my efforts for years to come.

i feel blessed that i can give this gift. the woman who commissioned the chair, later told me that i "paint from the heart". what an amazing thing to hear...a simple observation forcing me to reflect and acknowledge that which is indeed true. i am thankful for her words.

ladybugs.

struggling to paint ladybugs. i've had this project for a few months now. a project involving the painting of, or should i say, decorating of a wooden chair for a child. a wooden chair meant to be adorned with ladybugs. that's the motif. ladybugs that i don't want to paint. tiny red bugs with black dots. i think it would've been easier to paint pink ladybugs. but this child's mother hates pink! even though this child is still only a baby. even though, to me, the idea of red and black seems awfully harsh for an individual so delicate and soft. so i actually haven't painted the chair, as one might have predicted. on the contrary, i used some green, some yellow, some orange, some brown. it's an earthy wooden chair. spotted with ladybugs. the red and black kind. i don't believe it's painted as expected....but i do hope the recipients like it. if i ever get it finished.....

my due-date is friday.

i've learned alot about myself, as an artist, by having taken on this project. i'm through with "decorating". meaningless, thoughtless, under-appreciated color placed onto a surface with a steady, predictable hand is no longer fulfilling. hence, i have decided that i can no longer paint what others want me to paint. the time has come for me to claim my talent as my own, so that i can utilize it as it is meant to be utilized. i've known this for awhile now. far too many ideas fly through my mind and are lost. lost because i'm always focusing on what i need to do for other people, instead of harnessing my power to really truly create! i simply don't have the time, energy, or motivation to do anything but pursue my own personal bouts of inspiration, any more. i don't have to paint. but i want to. and what i want to paint comes from visions in my head, brought on by my very own internal and personal processes that only i can interpret. there is much to be expressed, trapped inside this crazy skull. and i'm the best person, or rather, the ONLY person who can create those expressions!

but for now, i still continue to struggle with these ladybugs. i said i'd get this chair finished. and i'm a woman with integrity. so, i'll get it done. somehow. slowly. hopefully by friday....