Glass Artist Ona Magaro

In a time when men outnumber women in films 3 to 1 on screen, unequal pay based on gender still unfairly affects females on a day to day basis, and social media and advertising outlets are repeatedly beating women down with unrealistic and often times contradictory expectations about beauty, health, and happiness; it’s time we stand together and let out stories and experiences bring about an era of change. Let’s applaud the women who are out there defying stereotypes and pushing forward in careers and fields where they are outnumbered. From one woman’s triumph shared to another’s inspiration spurred, small changes will amount to larger ones that can eventually redefine what it means to be a working woman.

Ona Magaro’s glass creations and her life story are quite the achievements to admire. She has turned her passion into a thriving business. After years of fine-tuning her craft, her work is breathtaking and unlike any I’ve seen. Take a look at the glass sculpture Ona created for us, from start to finish. She envisions the body of a bird by utilizing the simplicity of a single color and an elongated curve, free flowing and elegant. But don’t let the airy nature of her art fool you. It’s hard work, requiring a tremendous amount of physical strength and a heaping load of creativity. Her advice to anyone hoping to follow in her footsteps is to study marketing, accounting, and writing to build a successful business around the artistic talent.

As Oscar Wilde would say, we live in a world where “life imitating art” is an everyday occurrence. May Ona’s art and experiences be something that young women can look up to and hope to emulate as they grow and discover what path they’ll pursue. When I asked Ona what she wanted to teach her children about the arts, and how she hoped her work will affect the way they interpret the world around them, her simple response is what I hope to share with you, “That anything is possible.”

Ona’s workwear: Carhartt Women’s Long-Sleeve Signature T-Shirt, Women’s Series 1889 Slim Double-Front Dungaree, & C-Grip Knuckler Glove

last photo above taken by Jessie Moore

Backpacking Hacks

Montana is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I was lucky enough to spend a few days backpacking around the area. It’s filled with geysers, natural hot springs, wildlife, and so much nature to explore. Here are a few tips I researched before I set off on an adventure:

1.) Avoid poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak. (pictured above)
2.) When packing a backpack for the trip, pack the heaviest items closest to the middle of your back, lighter items on the front and bottom of the bag, and medium-weight, frequently used items on top.
3.) To gauge how much daylight is left in the day, outstretch your arm and hold your hand just under the sun. Count how many times you line up your hands in the distance between the sun and the horizon. Each finger is equivalent to 15 minutes of sun, therefore each hand is equivalent to about an hour of daylight remaining.
4.) You guys know I’m a picture-a-holic, but don’t get so camera happy that you forget to step back and appreciate the glory around you. Make sure to put down the electronics for a bit to really soak up as much wilderness as possible.

Now get out there and experience the natural beauties the world has to offer!

my adventuring gear: Carhartt Women’s Calumet Long-Sleeve V-Neck, Carhartt El Paso Shorts, Women’s Wellington Boots, Carhartt D89 Backpack, & Carhartt Water Bottle 

Forget the Desk Job– I Make a Mean Chocolate Croissant

 

It’s fair to say that most people would prefer an early morning routine of rolling out fresh chocolate croissants to a 9 to 5 desk job. But how do you get there? How do pin down your dreams fast enough to make a career out of them?
After realizing she wasn’t cut out for the daily grind of cubicle life, Sandra Holl decided to buckle down and follow her heart by attending culinary school. At that time, she knew she wanted to be her own boss and make the food she wanted to make. Seeing the opportunities at Chicago’s Green City Market, Sandra decided that opening her own booth would be a low-risk way of starting a business. There she and her husband, Mathieu, used it as a venue to test out their rustic, French pastries and built a name for themselves. Eventually, a brick and mortar space was next step. In 2010, Floriole Café and Bakery’s doors opened in Chicago’s quaint Lincoln Park neighborhood.
When I asked Sandra what the most rewarding part of her job was, she replied,

“I love that I have a family business. I work with my husband and can bring my daughter to work with me. She sees how hard I work and is so proud of her mama. She often tells customers, “This is my mom’s bakery.””

There is no greater feeling than to bring creativity and light to the world through the smile a chocolate hazelnut cookie can yield, while inspiring your own daughter and nudging her along to the discovery that she too can do the same with a little elbow grease and determination.

Here are a few tips from Sandra for anyone striving towards a similar path:
1. Find a chef you admire and work with her or him. Absorb as much of their knowledge as you can, then move on and learn more.
2. Perfect the basics before you get creative. No one really wants a wasabi curry cupcake but everyone wants a perfect slice of peach pie.
3. Everything breaks. Learn how to fix things yourself.
4. Know that you will work seven days a week. Even when you are off, you will run errands for the business, answer calls and emails and when the security alarm goes off in the middle of the night, you will go make sure that it was only a false alarm.

Sandra is wearing: Carhartt Women’s Minot Shirt, 1889 Slim Double-Front Denim Dungaree, & Rapid City Utility Work Apron.

 

Barrel Racing Advice

People often forget that barrel racing is a rigorous sport. You and your horse have to communicate instantaneously. Time is the determining factor, so your movements must become one. With a misstep, it’s easy to hit or knock over a barrel, docking points and adding on seconds to your final count. Barrel racing is for the rugged at heart. Don’t let emotions get in the way. You are in command in as you trot into the arena.

“To do this sport, you’ve got to be a little fearless. You can’t be scared. Ride aggressive, be confident because it’s all or nothing, and the number one thing is you cannot ride timid!” -Charmayne James

Dogs Are a Girl’s Best Friends

I traveled all the way back to my hometown in Texas for this tutorial. Meet Lisa and Jenny Boswell, family friends who live on the most breathtaking ranch. I spent a lot of time on their property when I was growing up. We always had a blast hanging out, riding horses and four-wheelers, trying to catch frogs, painting our faces and going off on kayaking adventures, and so on. Among the many well-loved animals at their home, is a gang of the sweetest dogs around. There’s a lot to learn from a family who takes such good care of their four legged friends.

Here are a few pointers I picked up watching them work:

Make sure the dogs get plenty of exercise, as the Boswells call it “running the dogs.” It helps release pent up energy and prevents aggression. If you have a lot of land, take a four-wheeler or a mule out and have the dogs follow you around. They’ll have a blast and get in a really good workout.

Keep an eye on them during playtime. Of course a little rough housing is normal. Just make sure it doesn’t get too out of hand. You’re the chief mediator, after all.

Be in charge of mealtime. Feed each dog from a separate bowl, and even in a separate place if necessary. Let your dogs enjoy eating without the need to be territorial or feeling it has to protect its food.

Make sure you can handle the responsibility of being a multiple dog owner. Dogs really are a girl’s best friends and they deserve lot of love and attention. Don’t spread yourself too thin.

Want to treat your pup? Snag this Carhartt dog bed. 

Advice on Passion Projects

This is Annie Yiling Wang, graphic designer by day and jewelry designer on the side. Jewelry making is a fun hobby that lets her use her hands as she unwinds. Getting crafty can be relaxing, while still putting visual skills into play. Annie approaches her designs as if they were a three dimensional pattern or collage. The different color combinations and materials form a wearable canvas. She even makes a lot of her own beads. Annie has found a way to make her side project profitable. A lot of artistic and crafty people spend much of their downtime making things that could be turned into a lucrative passion project.

Advice from Annie about selling your work:

• Find stores in your area. Don’t be shy about showing them your work.
• Have a type of client in mind and seek out places who may have a similar client base.
• Get creative with places your could sell your wares. Think outside of your market.

Tips for Beginning Barrel Racing

Meet Brittany Baton, an extraordinarily talented barrel racer from East Texas. She’s the southern girl next door with a close knit family and a drive to compete in the arena. When you’ve been riding since the ripe old age of two, you get to be pretty comfortable in the saddle. Watching Brittany run barrels you can see how natural and at home she feels there. Her advice to beginning barrel racers is to “always have an open ear for anyone that knows more than you do. Listen to their advice and try to use it because you can never learn too much.”

check out Brittany’s riding gear here: Carhartt Weathered Wildwood Jacket, Hamilton Flannel Shirt, Calumet Long-Sleeve V-Neck, & Carhartt Slim-Fit Jeans

DIY: How To Muck Your Horse’s Stall

Mucking is an important part of caring for your horse. A clean and healthy environment is crucial in their well-being. You will need a pitchfork, a broom, a shovel, and a wheelbarrow. Clean each stall once a day, twice if you can. The more often you do, the easier your job will be.
Ellen is wearing the perfect mucking outfit in the photos above. The Carhartt Women’s Sandstone Active Jac is ideal for chilly chores in the barn. It’s extremely durable and flannel lined. The Norfolk Henley is a comfortable cotton shirt and the Original-Fit Canvas Crawford Dungaree has a contoured waistline to prevent gapping as you move about and is slightly fitted through the hip and thigh.Now to the gritty details. Follow these steps:

• Use a pitchfork to sift through the bedding to weed out the manure.
  When cleaning a stall bedded with straw, use a mental pitchfork.
  When dealing with shavings, use a plastic pitchfork. 
• Move everything that’s clean into the back and corners of the area,
  and toss everything that’s dirty towards the door.
  The more clean bedding you’re able to reuse, the more money you save.
• Rake out the dirty section and place into the manure spreader.
  Use a shovel to pick up any bits that may have fallen through. 
• Sweep the center of the stall clean. Let the stall air out and dry.
  Use absorbent deodorizer on any wet spots.
• Make sure the ground is entirely dry.
  Let your horse wander about all day as it airs out.
  Horses need all the time they can get outdoors.
• Spread out the remaining clean bedding and add fresh straw if needed.
  Now you’re welcome to let your friend back in.