Story of the Wilds

Imagine!  I have posted another hairstick!  

I am proud to introduce:  The Wilds.

I would like to tell two stories about this hairstick.  The first is the story that gives it its name (the one that shows up as the product description).  The second is the story of how and when I made it.  Why do I want to share these stories?  Honestly, why not!  :)


And so, without further ado, here is the first story:


In the heart of the Enchanted Forest, there is an area that remains completely untouched by humans. Aptly called “The Wilds,” this area is not even frequented by trackers and woodsmen. 

Why is this part of the forest avoided? The legends that describe the Wilds offer some insight. It is said that this area is the heart of the Fae King’s realm, where the plant-life is unpredictable and the sun randomly disappears. The forest there has a mind of its own, or so the stories say—and, understandably, not many people want to risk exploring it. Those that do are seldom heard from again. And so, the Wilds lives on in legend and story—tantalizing, beautiful, and mysterious.

This hairstick is made in the colors of the Wilds. The focal stone is shades of green and shadows; the accents are golden like the rare sunshine. It is a reminder of things that are unknown, mysterious—and often more than a little beautiful.


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Now, here is the second story:


In the summer of 2008, I had just started making my own hairsticks.  I was interested in learning, experimenting, creating; it was a different art form, and I was hooked.  In fact, I had not even thought of selling them yet...  I was simply making them for my own enjoyment.  


Frankly, making hairsticks was one of the things that I did to keep myself sane while preparing for my wedding.  I was due to be married in September 2008, and I needed a creative-non-wedding-related-activity to keep me stable.  (Planning such a large event messes with your brain, it really does!)  Calligraphy was out of the question--I used that to address all of my wedding invitations.  Making necklaces and earrings was out of the question--I was busy trying to figure out what I was going to wear for the Big Day (tm).  In fact, even sewing had connotations--I did not want to make my own wedding dress, and did not even want to approach my sewing machine.  


And so, I settled on making hairsticks.


My first designs were not bad.  Actually, there are some of them that I still wear on a regular basis now.  Yet, as the months progressed, so did my skill.  And, on August 8, 2008, I made a series of sticks that I immediately loved.  They were simple, elegant, and well-balanced.


One of them was this:

Look familiar?

Yes, indeed, it was the hairstick that would eventually be called "The Wilds."  I was incredibly pleased with my work.


Yet, I never wore the hairstick.  Before I knew it, the wedding was upon me--and it was like a fairy tale!  And almost immediately afterwards, my husband and I moved into an apartment.  However, that meant that this hairstick went into a box and was never worn.  How unfortunate!


To me, this hairstick is special.  It represents a very special time in my life--preparing to be married, and learning a new skill.  I have never worn it, and probably never will.  (I just don't own enough green.)  And so, I would love to share it with someone--someone who will not just get a hairstick, but a little piece of my growth as an artist and a person.