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Did You Get the Gift You Wanted?

The way I remember it, my mother promised me I could get my ears pierced when I turned 12. She claims that she never negotiated such a deal and that I had to be 13. I complained that I had told all my friends that I was getting my ears pierced and now I couldn't go to school without holes in my ears. Besides, I needed a new look for a new year. No ear-piercing and that was that, and my mother went out grocery shopping to prove her point.

I had a point to prove too. No sooner was my mother out the door, when I raced to find a ballpoint pen, some ice cubes and a needle. I rummaged through her jewelry box until I found some gold studs. Then, I pleaded with my father to mark my ears with the pen so when I poked the needle in, the holes would be even. It seemed so simple. It pained my father to help me mutilate myself, but I begged and whined just like a dog desperate to go outside.

The ice cubes were not actually necessary. They froze my hands into a useless numbness and were slippery and hard to manage. Several attempts at stabbing my earlobes with the needle and, 30 minutes later, my frozen earlobes were burning and my fingers couldn't grasp the needle anymore.

My father was full of suggestions, but offered no physical help. He recommended that I try clipping some heavy duty clothespins on my ears to numb them. That technique was truly very painful and started a whole new throbbing sensation. Still, I couldn't get the needle through. Who knew earlobes could be so tough? Next, my father suggested I try a block of wood behind my ear to push the needle against. Not a bad idea, but the wood I chose was full of splinters-too much piercing!

Then, I hit blood. I had to get serious. I was nervous that my mother would come home before I finished this dirty deed. I found a thicker, sharper needle and a thimble in the sewing room and was rewarded by feeling the pointy prick of metal on the other side of my earlobe. I pulled the needle out, ready to insert the earring. This was double the pain and it seemed as if I was starting from square one all over again. I got smart on the next ear and the process was much quicker-just the earring stud, no ice, no clothespins, no wood, no needle.

The earrings in my freshly pierced ears felt like they weighed 10 pounds apiece, but I loved the look. I had just finished pulling my hair back so I could admire my glamorous new self, when in walked my mother. She took one look at my handiwork, with her gold studs, and declared that the pain I was undoubtedly in was probably punishment enough. To this day I have never been tempted to try another piercing.

If you didn't get the gift you wanted for the holidays or your birthday, I'm not suggesting you find your Dremel toolkit and drill holes in your body or tattoo yourself. However, there are some ways to improve your look with a sharp needle, or two, and save money by doing things yourself, painlessly. (As with any websites or online stores, check for accuracy before you go.)

• It's becoming more of a challenge with the high cost of material, but it is still possible to sew a variety of outfits cheaply and easily, and get a custom look to boot. A list of some of Connecticut's sewing and knitting stores can be found at www.tomfarrell.org/textiles/stores/index.jsp?state=CT.

• Create a unique look for your home as well by sewing curtains, pillowcases and quilt covers that can be made from scraps and leftover material. Pick up idea books and magazines, or look online at websites such as designsponge.com for inspiration and how-tos for creating a chic new look for the new year.

• Knit or crochet a fashionable new hat or sweater. You can stay warm while you knit, too. Purchase yarn online or in stores or at farms that supply high quality yarns. Check out knitting.about.com/od/Connecticut, a directory of yarn shops in Connecticut.

• Make your own accessories like jewelry, hair bands, and bags with products found at craft stores like A.C. Moore, Michael's, or Joanne Fabrics. A directory of other craft stores in Connecticut can be found at http://connecticut.uscity.net/Craft.

Winter can be a great time to learn a new skill like sewing or knitting. Give yourself a gift of an adult education class or one provided by a craft store that gets you out of the house, helps you meet other people, and keeps you looking sharp.

Naomi Migliacci is an international consultant who enjoys traveling and adventure. She collects friends and bracelets wherever she goes. She lives in Guilford.