Curly Girl

I've tried to hide it for a long time, but it's time to be true to myself. Years of blow drying, flat-ironing, pulling, tugging, glossing, and fretting have come to an end. I'm a curly girl, and there's nothing I can do about it. Turns out, though, it's not so bad. 

As a kid, I longed for those curls. I had thick, long, wavy hair and it lived in a pony tail. I begged and I begged - and finally my mom caved. I was 14 years old, and I went in for my first perm. I remember sitting in that chair, dutifully withstanding the painful tugging and pulling of my hair as the (very impatient) hair stylist tightly wound each lock around its roller. Then came the chemicals. The first drops immediately singed my scalp as the odor stung my nostrils. It was a right of passage; I was becoming a woman.

Finally, it was time for the rollers to come out, and this new, more mature version of me was about to emerge. The woman yanked and pulled the barbaric hunks of plastic away from my head, taking with her gobs of hair. As my eyes rimmed with tears, she worked her stylist magic with deft hands and smelly product. She turned me around so that my back was to the large mirror and smiled as she handed me the hand mirror, encouraging me to look at her masterpiece. My heart pounded against my chest, my arm ceremoniously lifting the mirror to my face. My hair... It was....

Big. 

Yup, that about sums it up. Take every insecurity I already had as a teenage girl, add to it unreasonably curly, unmanageable hair. The next several months was spent searching for the right products to tame my mane. Wax (per the stylist's recommendation), gel, mousse, creams, conditioners, sprays - everything we could find. Nothing helped. I had a nest of doom and despair living on my head, and although it wasn't the only perm I got in my youth, it ruined my perception of the beauty of curly hair. This started a lifetime of fighting the natural flow of my hair.

This is a topic so broad, I could write a book. I can tell you stories about bad dye jobs, terrible hair products, postpartum hair loss, bad haircuts - all of these things affect your self-perception. If you hate your hair, you don't like yourself very much at all. However, I am happy to report that I've finally found peace with my curls, which turns out to be a nice step toward self acceptance. So, that is what I want to talk about, today.

If you're serious about a curl-revolution, check out this book!

Firstly, I want to mention that 75% of my great hair epiphany is credited to the book Curly Girl: The Handbook by Lorraine Massey. Combine that with several Google searches for terms like "naturally curly hair," "styling curly hair," and "co-washing," I think I have found the method that works best for me. However, everyone's hair is so very different, so of course you'll have to tweak the system a little to make it work for you. Still, here's a brief breakdown of the steps that have changed the fate of my hair:

• No More Shampoo: I think this is the most important step. I've been practicing this for over a week, and I've been pleasantly surprised. Instead, just use conditioner. You use a LOT of conditioner because it doesn't lather, but my hair feels just as clean (but not as dried out) with this method. There's more to it than just slathering some conditioner on your head, so do yourself a favor and Google "co-washing." There are a ton of great articles out there. Note: If you're really concerned that your hair is too greasy to skip shampoo, you can fill your palm FULL of conditioner, and add a small dollop of shampoo. Just steer clear of shampoos and conditioners with sulfates. Suave Naturals are sulfate free AND cheap!
• Don't Rinse Out All of the Conditioner: To me, this was difficult. We all assume that if we don't rinse it all out, it'll leave our hair greasy or weighed down, right? But that's not the case at all! (As long as you stay away from silicone and sulfates - again, try Suave Naturals.) There's a couple of ways you can do this. I found that by not rinsing it entirely, what was left wasn't evenly distributed. Instead, I now rinse it completely, then reapply a small amount evenly throughout my hair just before I step out of the shower. I keep it away from my scalp, though, because I am prone to dandruff and I don't want to make my head itchy. 
• No Terrycloth Towels: Terrycloth = frizz. Instead use a microfiber towel or a cotton t-shirt, burp cloth, receiving blanket... You know, pretty much anything but terrycloth. 
• Just Say No to Combs and Brushes: Who knew? I mean, I obviously wouldn't run a brush through dry curls, but I often combed and brushed wet hair. Big mistake. Even combing wet hair severely disrupts the curls' natural placement. Instead, rake your fingers through your hair while it is still sopping wet. This step alone dramatically changed the shape and texture of my curls. 
• Figure Out Your Best Drying Process: There are a hundred different opinions on this step of hair care, and I can only assume that it depends 100% on the temperament of your mane. Some say apply product while you're still in the shower, and sop extra out of your hair with your (non-terrycloth) towel. Others say dry your hair some, first. Some say let it air dry. Some say dry it a little with a diffuser, then let it finish on it's own. Others say do the opposite: Let it air dry some, then finish with diffuser.

Fortunately, I have found a method that works perfectly for me. While in the shower with sopping hair, I glob on curling cream (you know, that kind that doesn't make your hair crunchy). I squeeze out the excess with the towel, then apply curling mousse. I let it air dry until it's about 70% dry (still feels damp, but mousse is starting to harden), then I stick the diffuser on the hairdryer and set it on medium. As I dry, I very gently scrunch my hair and flip my head down occasionally to encourage more body. The light scrunching breaks away the mousse "cast" on each lock, leaving it soft yet still holding the curl. 

There's a lot more to living a curly lifestyle than the information I've given you here, but I think it's a great start. Give it a shot, and please, tell me what you think in the comments below!

If you like this post, share, share, share! I'd love to give you more DIY hair care and skin care tutorials and product recipes - if there's anyone out there in cyber world listening. ;)

Until next time...

Let Me Write You A Love Letter

Scripted Sundries is about a lot more than rescuing old books and turning them into something beautiful and wearable. My passion lies behind the written word. Ernest Hemingway was once quoted as saying,

"Write drunk; edit sober." 

Taken literally, this isn't exactly the most inspirational quote (or maybe it is - who am I to judge?), but that isn't the way I read it at all.

When I am driven to write, a different voice comes alive inside my head; one that doesn't consider practicality or convention. It's a voice that is strong, bold, passionate, and fearless. It turns feverish secrets hidden deep in my soul into scorching flames of primal need. It turns a muted setting into vibrant pallet of hues and electricity. It turns words into a work of art. In this state, I am intoxicated on prose. Were I to censor myself, my words would be meaningless. 

A recent project of mine is none other than the subject of love. What attracts you to your mate? What do you see that others don't see? Is it the way his eyes are drawn to your lips when you speak? Are you the only one that notices that she paints her nails in a desperate attempt to be "girly," only to neglect them as she allows the excitement of life to embrace her wholly and sweep her away? Does your heart pound against your rib cage every time he hides a smile, though never quite concealing the telltale dimple buried deep into his unshaven cheek? What was the first thing you noticed about him/her when you met? Is your relationship based on domesticated bliss? Sexual illumination? Are you living in a real life fairy tale? Are you best friends?

Let me write a love letter to your significant other. You give me the details. Tell me what you want me to say, what you feel, what you want your lover to feel. I will take these tidbits and weave them into a tapestry depicting a map of your very own heart... If that is indeed where your passion lies. 

I will soon be offering custom written-just-for-you love letters for sale, but you lucky bunch of love birds have the chance to get it free! These letters will be written solely for you and your partner, though they may be used as examples for advertising purposes and in my own compilation for my love letter project (though the subject of the letters will remain anonymous).

I will accept love letter challenges from the first five people to message me on Facebook or E-mail. Just send me a note to let me know you're interested, and I'll reply with what information I need from you. Simple as that! Now, hurry, before someone beats you to it!

Contests and Big News!

I love my job. I really do! I love creating, I love being a business owner, and most of all I love the expression on a customer's face when they pick up a piece of work over which I have labored, and their eyes light up when they realize that it's made from a page of their favorite book, or a piece a sheet music from their favorite song. Finding my place at the farmer's market has been a true blessing, and each day I attend I am more stricken with inspiration.

But now it's time for Scripted Sundries to grow. Starting out as a few haphazardly twirled rosettes made from a novel my kids destroyed being passed around the book store, then braving the daunting task of listing on internet venues, I have finally grown a following. I have a base of loyal customers that visit me regularly, happy to share the gift of literature and art with their loved ones. I feel like it's only fair to make these pieces available for others outside of the TriCities region.

And now for the big news. I have been offered a prime spot in an artisan gallery (Artwalk, in Boone, NC). The space is small, though perfect for my tiny accessories. I would love to jump on the opportunity, though the opportunity presented itself rather suddenly, and I was not prepared. Here's where you can help:

I have created a fundraiser with Go Get Funding (http://gogetfunding.com/project/bring-scripted-sundries-to-artwalk-in-boone-nc) in order to raise $200. Any donation will help! I will be traveling to Boone this Sunday (7/21/13) to get a better view of the booth, so I would ideally have the money raised by then - but I have set the ending date for a week from now. 

Donations of $10 or more will be met with a gift from me - a selection of book page rose accessories, custom made for you! But it gets better. To get the word out, I am also having a contest. If I reach my goal ($200), I will be giving away a custom book page rose wreath - made to your specifications! This is more than a $50 value, and you don't even have to donate to win! Just share this blog post and when I reach $200, the drawing will be made. 

So, what are you waiting for? Start sharing!!! Let me know about it on my facebook page: http://facebook.com/ScriptedSundries

Blast from the Past

Jem and the Holograms. I loved that show. I remember waking up every Saturday morning when I was little and impatiently sitting through thirty minutes of G.I. Joe (which my brother was watching with great enthusiasm), waiting for Jem. I can still hear the theme song in my head....

"Oooooh, Jeeeeem is truly outrageous!

Truly truly truly outrageous!"

Hmm.. Those were some talented songwriters, eh? I guess five year olds are easy to please! But soon, my musical appetite wasn't so easily sated. I would sneak out of bed early in the morning before anyone else was awake and tiptoe down the hall to the family room. After a quick scan to ensure I was the only person about, I would grunt and gasp as I pushed the chair over to the television set. Then, up on my knees, I would turn the dials *CLICK CLICK CLICK* until I found the forbidden fruit:

Teased hair, fingerless lace gloves, frilly socks with high heels - I was in heaven! I turned the volume up just loud enough to hear from about seven inches from the screen, I closed my eyes, and I just listened. 

Speaking of teased hair, who remembers these?

Who didn't love these little buggers?! I had a room full of treasure trolls. Princess trolls, farmer trolls, athlete trolls, plain trolls, fancy trolls - I was a lover of all trolls!

Know what else I collected?

POGS!

There are actually a lot of people who don't remember pogs - and what a shame! It was great fun. The pogs were these little cardboard disks. During a game, the player would slam down a metal disk (called a Slammer) on top of their opponents pog, and if it flipped over, they got to keep it. Or so I think that's how it went. It was loads of fun and very competitive.

These are just a few of my favorite things as a child. Leave me a comment below about your favorite childhood toys, shows, or activities, and I'll post another flashback next Monday!

Things for Which I am Grateful:

All I've ever wanted to do was sell my creations. I remember in second grade, I got a set of knitting looms as a gift. With the set came two skeins of yarn: one a soft baby pink, and the other crisp white, with a single thread of sparkling tinsel woven throughout. from these two skeins, I created a small stock of headbands to show to my classmates. The very first day, I sold two of those headbands for twenty-five cents a piece, and took numerous orders for more. I came home with a list of colors to dig out of my mother's yarn basket and the very first overwhelming sensation of having too many custom orders to complete in a timely manner. I was hooked, knowing that I work best when under pressure.

Over the years I have dabbled in this and that, a self-proclaimed jack of all trades (and master of none). My grandmother was an artist, my mother a crafter, and I... Well, I didn't know what I was, but I have forever held within me a burning desire to create.

Now, my dream has finally come true. Two years ago, I began making roses from book pages. That alone has awakened my desire to reclaim and repurpose vintage treasures, turning them into pieces of wearable art. I now search every nook and cranny, seeking the unseemly likes of tattered books, damaged and neglected - those destined for a future in rubbish. What I didn't anticipate is that others would love the work that I do. What started with a late night project to kill my boredom has turned into a full time job - and I am my own boss.

These days, I have a lot on my plate. Besides the business, I also keep a part time job at Books-a-Million, I am a student at East Tennessee State University, and I have three small children (aged 2, 4, and 6). But no matter how busy I am, these days I am just eternally grateful for all of the opportunities I have to teach my kids how to work hard to accomplish their goals, and that no dream is ever out of reach.

My passions in life are my family, writing/literature, and art - and I am so blessed to have each of these things surrounding me every single minute of every single day. Now that I am a regular seller at the farmer's market, I am given the opportunity every week to express my love for each of these things, and show people that the beauty of the written word can indeed be expressed through visual/textural art. By doing this, I have also seen an awakening in the creative spirits of those unknowingly searching for their own realm of creative expression. To witness this is beautiful, and I would not trade these experiences for any other.

So thank you friends, fans, and followers of Scripted Sundries - not only supporting me, but also for allowing me to do what I love. Your never ending encouragement inspires me to do greater things, and I hope that one day the greatness comes back around to you!