Headbands Save Sanity: or how to grow out short hair

After years, and I do mean years, I have figured out how to survive the transition from very short hair to longer locks. My solution is no breakthrough technique but instead my return to my childhood method – a headband. Short hair has been a no-brainer for me because there is zero fuss; just wash and I’m done. No gelling, no curling iron, no combing. Wash and go. Nothing, in my book, could be simpler.

But then came the not-quite-right cut that convinced me to try once again to endure the growing-out process. I’m sure most know what I’m talking about: bangs that won’t stay out of your face, crazy layers that go every which way and just that appearance of yuck in general. Enter the headband.

I started making headbands to sell at the Brunswick Winter Market after talking to a woman who told me they are an easy seller. Sounded like a good idea to me so I began making the reversible fabric miracle workers. I tried on one of my creations and decided I could live with this look. The timing of making headbands and my frustrating haircut was perfect; I could now virtually erase my longer locks from my consciousness by sweeping them out of the way.

Many months into the process I am still weirded out by the feel of all that hair on my head but am sticking with it to see what happens next. I have no idea where I am going with all this hair or what I want to do with it. Never having been one to fuss with hair since leaving behind my high school ritual of sleeping in curlers every night, I wonder if long hair will ultimately become too much trouble for my no-fuss preferences.

Time will tell.

Spring and a new Market

Spring has sprung, which means the end of the Brunswick Winter Market and the beginning of the summer markets. Starting on May 22nd I will be selling on Friday afternoons at the Freeport location of the Cumberland Farmer’s Market http://www.cumberlandfarmersmarket.org/index.shtml. I’m excited to discover how well my aprons and other sewn goodies are received in the new location. My hope is, with the constant stream of tourists coming to Freeport for the ultimate Maine shopping experience, my aprons will prove to be a good seller to all those fresh customers.

Currently I am having a blast making work aprons for our local natural foods store, Morning Glory Natural Foods in Brunswick, Maine. Susan, the owner, saw my aprons at the Brunswick Winter Market and asked if I would be interested in making aprons for her store staff. I designed a simple half-apron with multiple pockets that run across the front and bought a variety of heavy cotton fabrics so I could make each apron of different fabric. Fun, fun, fun! I like them so much that I plan to make some for market.

I have added children’s aprons, fabric corsages and hand painted clothespin-headed creatures to my inventory. My plan is to add reversible jacquard ribbon belts and baby slings in the near future.

I hope to see you on Friday afternoons in Freeport.