Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Use salt water soaks. Avoid swimming. Make sure nothing touches in the pierced area.

Answer: Regular salt water soaks can promote healing and prevent infection. You may get salt water solution from your piercer or buy a sterile saline spray at your local drugstore. You can also put 1/8 teaspoon (1.34 g) of salt into 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of water and mix them thoroughly.  Submerge the piercing directly in the mixture or apply the soak with a clean washcloth or paper towel by gently holding it to your piercing for a few minutes at a time. Apply the soak for 5 to 6 minutes. Do this twice a day for about a month or until your piercing is fully healed. Swimming after a piercing is a bad idea. Chlorine from pool water, and contaminants from open water, can irritate a piercing and cause infection. Refrain from swimming until your piercing is fully healed. You should also avoid soaking in bathtubs or hot tubs. Keep foreign objects away from the pierced area while you wait for it to heal. Do not, for example, wear a hat if you have an eyebrow piercing. You should always be aware of your hair if it's longer. Keep long hair from touching the piercing. You may have to pull your hair back more often as the piercing heals.  Avoid sleeping on the side of your body where the piercing is. Bacteria from your pillow can cause an infection. If you have something like a navel piercing, talk to your piercer on how to best protect it. You may have to wear gauze over the piercing or loose-fitting clothing.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Create a 5-year plan. Decide on your focus. Get a degree in design. Start developing your style. Find inspiration in the world. Learn about the industry. Keep track of current trends.

Answer: Make a plan for yourself that includes a series of steps that are realistic to achieve. Include a timeline for achieving each step so that you can stay focused.  Be flexible with your plan. This isn’t written in stone, so if a new opportunity or contact presents itself, be flexible so you can incorporate a new direction. Reevaluate this plan every year or two. Determine if you’re on track or if you need to make adjustments. There are many paths you can follow in shoe design. For example, you can design shoes for women, men, children, athletes, and so on. What appeals to you most? Consider which aspect of the shoe design process appeals to you most. Do you love designing shoes but you don’t care about actually making them? Do you want to actually make your own shoes? Do you want to work for a big company like Adidas or Nike, or do you want to own your own boutique? While it is not necessary to get a degree, a degree can help you develop skills and contacts that will be useful for succeeding in the industry. Enroll in a 2- or 4-year program at an accredited institution. Your degree doesn’t need to be in shoe design. Any degree in an art- or design-related field will be applicable. These might include shoe design, industrial design, graphic design, art, product design, fashion design, and accessory design, among others. A great shoe designer will have an interesting and original look to their designs. You can start developing your own style and brand immediately.  Limit the elements that you can use, such as restricting yourself to three colors, or two types of fabric or material. This will force you to be imaginative and innovative. Give yourself assignments. Design shoes for different types of people, for example. What are some similarities that resound through each design? Challenge yourself to create something new every day. Design a new shoe every day for a month. You may start to see themes in your shoe designs. You may have a tendency to look at other shoe designs and designers for inspiration, but this risks replicating designs. Look for inspiration in other areas of art or the world. Christian Louboutin, for example, has drawn from archaeology to influence some of his designs. There is more to shoe design than just drawing pictures. The industry is roughly divided into three parts: design or creative, manufacturing, and retail.   Design/creative: This is the division where you create your design. But this involves more than sketching a shoe on paper; it also involves pattern making, and for some designers, using or making original lasts to determine shoe fit (lasts are reproductions of the foot, usually made of high-quality plastic or resin).   Manufacturing: This is the division that turns your design into an actual pair of shoes. Learn about the chain of manufacturing, from selection of materials to production.  Retail: This is the division that sells your shoes. Understanding the retail side involves understanding what consumers are looking for; these are the people who will be wearing your shoes. Who are the consumers you’re hoping to target? Also consider what stores and buyers are looking for and how your shoes might suit their needs. Following the industry and trends in shoes will help you figure out where you can be cutting-edge and stand out. This is a competitive industry and being on top of trends is a necessity. Read design and fashion magazines to keep up with trends.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Use the Davy knot for small flies. Thread the line through the eye of the fly hook. Form a loose overhand knot with the end of the line. Bring the end of the line back over and through the overhand knot and the hook itself. Tighten the knot by pulling on the end of the line.

Answer: The Davy knot is commonly used among fly fishermen who want a quick, simple, unobtrusive knot to tie small flied with. The Davy knot will get you back fishing in no time if you happen to break a line.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Find a good time to talk. Set a reasonable goal. Plan what you want to say. Address their concerns.

Answer:
A conversation about your friends is one that you want your parents to take seriously, so make sure you treat it that way. Don’t ask your parents in the middle of cooking dinner or right as you’re heading out the door to school. Look for, or help create, a good time to talk.  Ask your parents to go for a walk with you. Stay at the table with your parents after dinner to talk. Instead of turning on a movie or TV show, sit with your parents and start a conversation. If your parents are concerned about your friends, then immediately expecting them to let you go on an overnight trip somewhere isn’t going to happen. Think about something specific and start by discussing that.  Having friends over for a movie night once a month. Going to a friend’s birthday party. Grabbing a pizza with friends after soccer practice. Talking with your parents can be stressful, especially when it’s about a difficult topic. When emotions take over a conversation we tend to become angry or forget what we wanted to say. Practice the conversation in front of a mirror or write down what you want to say. This will also show your parents you’re serious about this conversation. Ask your parents why they don’t like your friends. You can’t convince your parents you have good friends unless you know what they dislike about them. Once you hear their concerns, you will be able to address the issues.  If your parents express concern over a friend’s driving, try responding with, “Tommy can get a little distracted when driving, but I don’t think he has any tickets. If it makes you uncomfortable than I won’t ride in any car he’s driving. Jacob is a very responsible driver, I promise to ride with him any time we go someplace.” If your parents are worried about the type of language a friend uses, help reassure them that it’s not influencing your behavior: “I’m sorry you’ve heard her using inappropriate language. I don’t talk that way and I’ll make sure she understands what is and isn’t appropriate to say in the house.” If your parents know that a friend smokes, you need let them know that it doesn’t affect your choices. “I know Sam smokes, and I don’t like it either. But he is still a good, trustworthy friend and doesn’t smoke around me.” If you do have a friend that smokes, try talking to them about quitting!