Don't take “no” for an answer. Ali says she doesn't know if someone gave her this advice or she gave it to herself, but basically, don’t listen to what anyone says. Take it with a grain of salt. As with many creative people, they are told “no” so many times -- that’s “ridiculous” -- that’s “whatever,” she says, even down to the people at the Home Depot: “You cannot tint your own plaster!” She can, and she does; the result is fantastic and I, for one, am happy she listened to her own voice.  In my experience, the best advice comes from other artists who place no limitations on one's creativity and encourage at every step. More on the Home Depot later in the story.