I got a burst of inspiration, and started to crochet a scrunchie. I haven't really done anything with my hands for a long while and was amazed, how relaxing it really is. I expect to finish it tonight (it ended up being rather big). Already it looks very cool, it's ruffled and very nice.

The only yarn I had at home, was light golden brown- almost same color as my hair, but I'm already thinking of buying some more colorful yarn...and maybe little beads. I prefer so much hand made things to industrial, and am really happy that I can made at least some hair toys myself.

Hair growing is becoming more and more fun all the time.

I still plan my next hairstick buy...little hairstick junkie as I am. But it seems like the shop just empties five minutes after Rapunzel puts new stuff there- and unfortunate for me, she does it when it's midnight here and I'm asleep. When I come back in the morning to check what's new, the place is again full of sold signs. I'm happy for her success- she has earned it all, and it's no wonder that there are thousands of longhaired ladies dying to get their hands on LL hairsticks. But...maybe Rapunzel could clone herself or something? 
Until that happens...I guess patience is a virtue, and I'm sure that one day I get my chance to snatch the most beautiful pair in the shop.

After all, I've done it before. *wanders off to play with her lovely hairsticks* I'm sure they just love to be entertained by their nice owner.

My income isn't large...it's really tiny, as I'm still studying and my jobs are irregular. But I don't spend much money to anything else either (except feeding my family, bills and train tickets).
I need seldom new clothes, I don't have expensive hobbies, I travel little and don't own a car, I don't smoke or drink much alcohol, I don't need much money for entertainment. To put in short: I've learned fairly well to live according to my income.
So I find quite often, that there is loose money that I can spend to a pair of hairsticks if I want. Actually, few of my friends have asked me how can I afford such expensive hairsticks -and don't realize that they have their small habits that really cost as much even if they don't realize it.
It's really as simple as that. Ten less lattes in a good café, two party evenings or three new CD:s- and there's suddenly enough money to buy a pair of hairsticks. I guess that for most people it's just easier to spend ten times 6 euros than 60 euros at once.

Not to forget that the hairstylist I used to go to, charged almost exactly the price of a pair of LL hairsticks each visit. How convenient...

I don't know how much you have saved, but it's certainly a lot! I wish I had been smarter, but my mom has taken me to hairdresser since I was a child and though I had heard of home cuts I just thought that hair cutting and styling is best to leave to professionals.
Really, sometimes my own woolheadedness still surprises me. But, realizations like this must be good for character development. 

I'm pushing my limits again. I'm going to wash my hair tonight, it's then been 4 days since my last hairwash. My scalp is itching, but otherwise my hair doesn't look terrible. So I'm just going to improve my character, tolerate the itch and let my natural oils work. And enjoy being able to wear a perfect Dutch braid for the whole day.

I've finished my prettiest scrunchie so far. These self-made ones are for daytime use superior to the ones I've bought. As they're crocheted around a regular flat ponytail holder, they hold much better. I could wear a ponytail attached with one of these for whole day! I have also made two bigger ones that can be used around a bun- haven't tried those on yet, but I'm sure they're just as great.

Now that I'm into handicraft again, I'm planning to try enameling my Maiden's Treasures hairsticks, as I still have some matte enamel left from my last wood painting project. The sticks are really pretty, but plain wood with no enamel is way too slippery for my hair- the bun just won't stay! Their ends are also rather sharp, so they aren't very comfortable to wear... It's disappointing, as they are so beautiful.

I guess I now know, why they cost so much less than LL sticks... I need that enamel finish. Guess this means that Original LL sticks won't be my choice either. My hair really seems to love luxury even more than rest of me

EDIT: Yay! Three layers of enamel worked. The sticks are so much more manageable now, though their appearance didn't change a bit. I guess that these aren't first and last MT hairsticks for me, as I feared for a moment. Though I still prefer to receive my hairsticks ready. 
   

Oops I did it again... namely ordered new hairsticks, from Maiden's Treasures. I just couldn't resist their winter sale any longer.
  Anyway, my quality hairstick collection is still small, 9 pairs altogether (I'm trying not to think that before late fall, I didn't have a single quality hairstick). But I'm considering ordering a Quattro hairstick...and I still haven't managed to order anything new from LL. Now just listen to me. I sound like SUCH an addict I can't believe myself! But I can live with it, especially after a discussion I and spouse had last night before going to sleep. He asked me, what I would like to have for birthday present (my birthday's coming next month). He already got me a pair of gorgeous LL hairsticks for Christmas, so he obviously didn't want to buy another pair as a present now (I wouldn't have minded, but he has some strange ideas about getting something different, different hairsticks not being different enough  ). So we thought. But no. I don't really need anything else. I don't need anything and besides don't like practical gifts, my perfume collection is close to overwhelming, I don't want new jewelry or music, I don't have time to become addicted to a new computer game and as I'm trying to lose weight, I absolutely don't want a huge box of chocolates. Maybe I just ask him to take me to see a ballet or something...
   So it turned out, that my only material need really are new hair accessories. It seems to be abnormally LOW amount of material needs, so I'm trying not to feel quilty about my spending or weird (sometimes I feel that I'm the only person in this country who loves long hair and beautiful toys) and just enjoy. After all, hairsticks are artworks and things of beauty, and one can't ever have too much beauty surrounding her.

I also inquired Tenderheaded.com, whether they ship to my country- they had some lovely silk bandanna scarves. But they don't ship to my country. One moneyhole plucked there.

I got an idea again.

I'm going to make a hairstick box of my own! I went to a local hobby store, and found there a nice, big unfinished wooden box. It's not open box, but I think I can bear that if I paint it nice enough. 

My plan: 1) Paint the box. I have a tendency to make things very ornamental- I'm wondering, could I perhaps theme it to Kalevala. Lacquer.
              2) The difficult stage: Inside. Find a way to cover inside with silk (not satin, because I want LUXUS!). Find some styrofoam sheets to make padding, and cardboard (cover cardboard also with silk) to divide inside so, that each stick has own place.
             3) Arrange the sticks and be happy.

Geesh...I feel I'm going to work with this for a long time. But hey- maybe spouse has finally bought us a digicam before that, and I can send you pictures.

Ooo, Galadriel, I love the chinese bun!

Did you get the instructions from longhairloom.com?  When I found that site I was so amazed!  I can't wait to try the Bridal Bun...