YEARS 2006-2018
april 2018
C E L E B R AT I N G O U R 12 T H Y EA R W E N DY DAV I S C O M ES TO ROA N O K E S P R I N G H A P P E N I N G S • LO C A L M A K E RS
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Issu e On e H u n d re d For ty- Two
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Joey Coakley Beck Publisher & Owner jbeck@beckmediagroup.com •••
editorial For editorial consideration:
editorial@beckmediagroup.com
inside
Contributors: Tina Hatcher, Faith Jones, K.L. Kranes, Amanda Marshall, Member One Federal Credit Union, Hayleigh Worgan
April 2018
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her-story
Roanoke welcomes Former Texas Senator Wendy Davis as the keynote speaker for the Planned Parenthood Spring Luncheon. Davis discusses how we can continue to carry the energy from her 2013 filibuster into the future
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save smarter Member One Federal Credit Union shares monthly
financial wisdom and guidance. This month, they provide tips on funding your next home improvement project.
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virginia made A monthly col-
umn focusing on local makers in Virginia. This month, meet Sydney Lane of Lane Paper Works!
Editorial Intern: Samantha Fantozzi, Roanoke College
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•••
advertising With over 12 years experience in
Southwest & Central Virginia, Bella is your BEST advertising option with proven results, loyal readership, wonderful content, and an award-winning design! To market yourself and your business to the women of Southwest & Central Virginia, call us at (540) 904-6800 or email advertise@beckmediagroup.com Shannon Peters Advertising Sales Representative shannon@beckmediagroup.com •••
happenings
Spring is here, and we can’t wait for all of the fun events that await us throughout Southwest and Central Virginia! Don’t miss Blacksburg Fork and Cork, the Lewisburg Chocolate Festival, and the Open Studios Tour—all happening this month! Also, check out The Early Bird Spring Craft Fair and Gardening Primer. And, for our readers who run, the Blue Ridge Marathon returns this month!
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mind • body • soul Get ready for that spring marathon, 10k, or
5k, with some helpful training advice. Also, Earth Girl Wellness discusses GMOs and why you should avoid them in the grocery store.
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bella girls club Introducing young writer, Maryam Durrani.
operations For general inquiries:
Maryam is a fanfiction writer, novelist, and self-published author of three books. Oh, and she’s only 18!
bella@beckmediagroup.com
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bella finds
Sara Coakley Office Manager
We show off our favorite things in this monthly feature. Make your life a little brighter with A Book That Takes Its Time! This book is a great way to focus on appreciating the small things in life.
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LLC
pardon muah
P.O. Box 107 Roanoke, Virginia 24002 540.904.6800 Bella Magazine is the property of Beck Media Group LLC. It is a free publication printed monthly and is distributed throughout Southwest and Central Virginia and beyond. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse ad space for any advertisement or editorial content the staff deems inappropriate for our readers. The concept and design of Bella Magazine, as well as the design, advertisements, art, photos and editorial content is property of Beck Media Group LLC and may not be copied or reprinted without written permission from the publisher. ©2006-2018 Beck Media Group LLC All Rights Reserved. PRINTED IN VIRGINIA w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
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A monthly fashion column with advice to help you fell beautiful inside and out! This month, Amanda shares her favorite spring cosmetic products!
profile: jen whitcomb
Meet Jen Whitcomb of Hawk + Owl Weaving! Jen is a talented fiber artist who creates one-of-a-kind pieces that will truly set your space apart from any other.
On the cover: Hawk + Owl Weaving (See more on page 30) april 2018
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Making Her-story Former Texas Senator Wendy Davis is coming to Roanoke!
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Making Her-story See Wendy Davis at this month’s Planned Parenthood Spring Luncheon!
Written by Hayleigh Worgan
Former Texas Senator Wendy Davis will be the keynote speaker for the Planned Parenthood Spring Luncheon on Thursday, April 26. Davis is known for her defense of women’s rights, and her fight for gender equality. Specifically, her eleven-hour filibuster in 2013 that temporarily thwarted a bill in the Texas Senate to enact a bill that would greatly restrict a woman’s right to end a pregnancy in a safe and legal fashion. Although the bill was later passed, the filibuster inspired women across the nation to stand up and fight for their reproductive rights. It called attention to the politicians who were trying to strip those rights, and others, from their constituents while few were paying attention. Most importantly, it added fuel to the momentum of a movement that continues five years later. “I’ve had so many women, young and not so young, who have shared with me and continue to do so to this day, the inspirational experience that they had watching the 2013 filibuster. It motivated them to get involved on this issue, and I think that was the most important thing that happened that day. We brought awareness to what is happening in Texas and across the country. We made a lot of women who thought this was a right we could take for granted understand that it’s not,” Davis recalls. Restrictions on ending a pregnancy in a safe, legal environment will ultimately cause devastation to women and families across the nation. Currently, we are facing potential limitations on abortions after 20-weeks. These cases only make up a small percentage of abortions, and those that do occur often happen because the baby will be delivered stillborn or is endangering the health of the mother. This is not a decision that women make lightly. As Davis explains, even if the law is written with exceptions in order to anticipate what women may be facing, each individual case is different. “No language can capture what each of us, as individual women, may face. There is the danger that our autonomy is removed,” she explains. “My feeling is, why would we make a change from where we are today, when currently we are allowing women and their doctors, guided by their faith, to make these decisions for themselves?” This is a question that needs to be repeated before every politician until lawmakers understand that women are not going to watch their rights be stripped away. With so many ignoring phone calls and refusing to see constituents, communication can feel difficult, if not impossible. It’s important to find respectful and effective ways to discuss these matters. If you’re looking for suggestions, try Davis’ organization, Deeds Not Words (www.deedsnotwords.com). Described as a “starting point for turning ideas about women’s equality into action,” the group began as a way to provide answers to questions people asked Davis as she travelled across the country. She found that many young women were passionate about gender equity, but had no idea how to get involved. They were at a page 8
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loss on how to use their energy and passion to really make a difference. Deeds Not Words seeks to show those fighting for gender equity how to do so digitally, by engaging, inspiring, and motivating women to understand how the process works at local, state, and federal levels. The goal is to show them where they can most effectively add their voices to progress in a way that motivates change. In Texas, advocate trainees recently worked ten different bills proactively and they were able to pass seven of them. All were centered around protecting women from sexual assault, particularly on college campuses, and protecting vulnerable young women who are victims of sex trafficking. They hope to expand their advocate trainee program to other parts of the country soon. Ultimately, Davis and the Deeds Not Words program hope that women will continue to get involved in running for office in 2018 and beyond. “We have to start by looking at who represents us across the country and the fact that we have an incredibly small amount of women at the local, state, and federal levels. What that means, of course, is that we don’t have the champions that we need. There are many men who support women’s reproductive freedoms. However, the true champions for these issues are women, and they are the ones who are going to fight with everything they have to make sure we don’t go back,” says Davis. Davis is encouraged by the fact that more women are owning the responsibility for themselves of stepping out of their comfort zone and running for office. As she explains, if we don’t do it, no one will do it for us. In her memoir, Forgetting to Be Afraid, Davis quotes Lady Bird Johnson on the idea that sometimes you have to get so caught up in something you forget to be afraid. “The good thing is that we are there for each other,” she adds. “I see that more and more, particularly post-2016 election, the number of women stepping forward to run for office and support those putting their names on the line is increasing. There is a growing sisterhood and network, and that is important to know when we, as candidates, feel afraid. It’s so nice to know that our sisters are there and have our back.” Davis hopes to continue to stay a prominent part of the conversation about gender equity and its many forms including reproductive autonomy, safety for women from domestic violence and sexual assault, and equalized economic opportunity. Although she knows she speaks from a place of privilege, she will use her voice to do everything she can to empower other women. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear her speak in person. Purchase your tickets to the Planned Parenthood Spring Luncheon at www.springluncheon. ppsat.org. Space is limited (and Bella is a proud supporter of this annual event), so make sure to secure your tickets as soon as possible!
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save smarter Presented by Member One Federal Credit Union
4 Tips for Funding Your Next Home Improvement Project Finding the money to cover these costs may not be as difficult as you think.
If you’re a homeowner, you know how long your home improvement to-do list can be. The kicker? It just keeps growing. While finding the time to complete these projects is tough enough, you also have to factor in the cost. Before you put off the deck repairs or master bathroom upgrade for yet another day (or year), consider these options for funding your next project.
Save up the cash. This is the most
financially responsible way to pay for home improvements. While you might have to wait longer to complete the project because you’re saving up the funds, you’ll be in much better shape financially when you don’t have to make future payments toward a loan that generates interest. Just don’t blow your entire savings and make sure you still have the recommended three to six months’ worth of living expenses saved up in an emergency fund for unexpected expenses.
Refinance your mortgage. This
option can potentially free up extra cash each month with a lower mortgage payment. You could also look into cash-back refinancing. This allows you to take out more money, using your home as collateral, that you’ll receive once you close on the refinance. This works well if you have equity built up in your home and can cover the addition to your monthly mortgage. Many homeowners prefer this method because they don’t have to worry about making a separate payment elsewhere.
Open a home equity loan or line of credit.
Home equity is calculated by taking the value of your home and subtracting the total amount you owe on all mortgages. With a home equity loan, you receive the money you’re borrowing in a lump sum payment. It usually has a fixed rate and is often best for large, one-time expenses like a new roof. Alternatively, a home equity line of credit operates more like a credit card in that you can draw money as needed from an available maximum amount. This is best for ongoing expenses that require spending flexibility. Article courtesy of
Join Member One here each month for more money-saving tips and financial advice! Be sure to visit their website, www.memberonefcu.com, for more info on their products and services. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
Get a credit card. The benefit of using a credit card is that you can make pur-
chases as needed while spreading the payment out over time. Look for a card with a low, fixed annual percentage rate (APR) or one with an introductory APR and plan to pay it off before the promotional period ends. Otherwise, you could be stuck with a hefty credit card balance that accrues interest. Also look for a card that offers cash back or reward points for your purchases that you can redeem later. If you go this route, try to use the credit card to pay for smaller things like materials rather than the entire home renovation so you don’t YEARS incur thousands in credit card debt. 2006-2018
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Written by Faith Jones of Hill City Handmade
Spotlighting amazing local makers creating an array of unique products!
Bella Mag Deal Use coazine page 12
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“lovelybe for 25%
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Sydney Lane
Sydney Lane
Lane Paper Works
lanepaperworks.com /lanepaperworks
Faith Jones is a local entrepreneur, creative, and believer. Her businesses include Faith Inspired and The Hill City Handmade. Faith has a degree in Art and Photography and is a former high school art and culinary teacher. She enjoys spending time with her family and travelling. Faith’s motto is, “Paris is always a good idea.” www.thehillcityhandmade.com w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
/lanepaperworks
In a complicated world, there’s something to be said for simplicity. Simple shapes and colors are the signature that twenty-four-year-old Sydney Lane has become known for. What began as hand drawn greeting cards has now grown into illustrations and custom portraits. Lane Paper Works has emerged to be the area’s go to source for uniquely illustrated family portraits, localities (Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Nashville to name a few), and pets. Each of Sydney’s digitally drawn designs capture her subjects in a cartoon-like way that has become instantly recognizable as her work. After graduating with a degree in Graphic Design and starting Lane Paper Works, she never dreamed that it would all take off so quickly. Exactly one year from its internet launch, the company opened a storefront location on 11 S Main Street in Chatham. The quaint building features not only her own handcrafted designs but those of fellow makers. With a passion for supporting small businesses, the contents of the store consists of artisan gifts, each piece carefully selected from talents across the region. There are many advantages and challenges to going from a website to now running a store. Sydney has not given up her website or selling at handmade markets, she now has not only her products but all of the store inventory to take into consideration when making decisions. Every day her she remembers the advice of her grandfather, who recently passed, “Do your best.” Sydney holds these words close to her heart as she goes through the day to day operations of planning out store products, display windows, and sales all while still creating for herself. While there are many pressure-filled days running the business, Sydney feels extremely humbled to have a supportive family and loyal customers who follow her work and shop in Lane Paper Works. A self-proclaimed cat lady who takes pride in the unique names she gives her cats, Sydney also enjoys music. Her love of music keeps the tunes in the store changing to match her mood for the day. Every day is a fresh start. New and old customers to interact with and get to know, window displays to design around the season, and new work to create. Most importantly, every day is a day to be thankful as an artist and as a supporter of artists. Giving back is just as important as profiting. Her grandfather’s favorite three words of encouragement are featured in one of her prints whose proceeds benefit the American Heart Association. In addition, Lane Paper Works also supports another charity, A21 with proceeds from Sydney’s “Strong Women” print. “It is about 10% luck and 90% hard work, day in and day out. However, it is worth it—so worth it.” For more information, visit www.lanepaperworks.com. She’s on Facebook and Instagram @Lanepaperworks. april 2018
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April Happenings
Celebrate spring with these fun outdoor events!
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Sponsored by Garland Properties
happenings
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Written by Samantha Fantozzi
The 10th Annual Blacksburg Fork & Cork returns Saturday, April 21. From 1-6pm, you can enjoy over 20 wineries and 20 artists. Attending Fork and Cork means that you can sample wines from award-winning Virginia wineries as well as wine pairings. In between wine samplings, you can observe cooking demos and see handmade creations by local artists. The festival will also include live music. This is a festival of food, wine, art, and most of all, fun. It takes place at 1600 Innovation Drive in Blacksburg. To purchase tickets or more info, visit www.blacksburgforkandcork.com. The 12th Annual Chocolate Festival in downtown Lewisburg, West Virginia returns Saturday, April 14. The festival will run from 11am to 4pm. You can enjoy chocolate galore, with tastings and bake-offs, and even enter a chocolate mousse eating contest. There will also be chocolate-themed activities for children to take part in, as well as live music and more! Join Lewisburg in its festival of chocolate, music, and family fun. To see the event schedule, directions, and to purchase tickets, visit www.lewisburgchocolatefestival.com.
Open Studios Tour 2018
Work by Steve Mitchell
Join the 19th Annual Open Studios Tour Roanoke from Saturday, April 28 to Sunday, April 29. (Saturday will be from 10am-5pm and Sunday will be from noon-5pm.) Here is a great opportunity to support local arts and artists, by meeting them directly and seeing their workspaces firsthand during this FREE, selfguided tour. The tour will be in areas around Roanoke, such as Downtown and Old Southwest, Raleigh Court, South Roanoke, and Southeast. You will experience eleven studios and roughly twenty-five participating artists. For a map and bios for the artists, visit www.openstudiostourroanoke.com. See you on the tour!
Our monthly Happenings feature is sponsored by Garland Properties, a proud supporter of the local arts and small businesses in our community. Each month, we look forward to sharing our favorite local events with you! Visit www.garlandpropertiesva.com for more information. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
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YEARS
Celebrating Spring!
Plan a day with the family at The Early Bird Spring Craft Fair and Gardening Primer! Are you ready for spring? Gardening season is here, and we are excited to welcome it with The Early Bird Spring Craft Fair and Gardening Primer at 16 West Marketplace on April 7 from 8am to 4pm! Spend the day downtown supporting local businesses, and drop by throughout the day for workshops, vendors, food, and fun! In its second year, The Early Bird is an indoor/outdoor event with over 50 vendors including indie crafts, wearables, jewelry, edibles, and more! For all the animal lovers out there, Little Critters Petting Zoo will be on site from 8am-1pm, and photos are encouraged! They will also be selling food so visitors can feed the animals. Gardeners of all levels can enjoy seed exchanges with local farms and purchase seedlings. This is also a great time to buy, sell, or trade tools at the Used Garden Gear Tent. In between shopping, visitors can participate in demos and workshops on gardening, DIY, wellness, and homesteading. Specifically, Roanoke Community Gardening Association is putting together a Build Your Own Worm Bin class. There is something for everyone at this event, and it’s one you certainly don’t want to miss! For anyone interested in doing their part to make the world around us a brighter, healthier place, Bartlett Tree Experts will also be on site with free trees. Last year, they gave away five hundred trees including Dogwoods, Redwoods, Crepe Myrtles, and Holly Trees! Planting a tree is a great family bonding experience, but it is also important for our environment. Bartlett’s act of kindness is an opportunity for us, as citizens, to truly pay it forward in our community. You can easily make this event an all day affair with your family. There will be several food vendors available between workshops and shopping opportunities including Granpa Ike’s Mini Donuts, Little Green Hive, Wok n Roll Kitchen, and a brand new restaurant in 16 West, S and J Cafe. For more up to date information on vendors and workshops, find The Early Bird Spring Craft Fair and Gardening Primer on Facebook!
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YEARS
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Get Outside!
The return of America’s Toughest Road Marathon! Are you ready for the most exciting annual spring athletic event to come to Roanoke this year? We couldn’t be more excited for the return of the Blue Ridge Marathon! This year’s event will take place on April 21 at 7:35am. It features a full marathon, a half marathon, a 10k, and a Carilion Children’s Family one mile walk/run! Courses begin and end in Elmwood Park, and each one is uniquely geared to be fun for every participant. Whichever path you choose, you are guaranteed to have a great time. The full marathon (26.2 miles!!!) course takes runners through scenic views of the Blue Ridge parkway, Mill Mountain, and South Roanoke. “America’s Toughest Road Marathon” is also, arguably, the most beautiful. Marathon runners will receive free chip timing, access to “runners-only” food tent at the finish line, free event/runner photos courtesy of Game Face Media, an event shirt (if registered by March 20), one complimentary beer ticket, live music at the finish, a free pair of Feetures! running socks, access to Fleet Feet Recovery Zone massages and chiropractic adjustments, and more! If you’re thinking that 26.2 miles is not challenging enough, you may want to join the double marathon runners. This dedicated group starts running as early as 1 a.m. on Saturday. There are limited registration spots available for the full and double marathons, so register as soon as possible! Not ready for the full marathon yet? That’s perfectly okay. The half marathon is also challenging, and features all of the freebies mentioned above. The best part: you get to break off and head to the finish line while the full marathoners continue for another 13 miles! All marathon and half marathon finishers receive a commemorative finisher’s medal. The top three male and female finishers in each age group, and the top three runners overall, will receive awards. There is also an option to conquer the full marathon as a four person team. The 4-Person Marathon Relay allows a team of four friends to complete the course, one section at a time. All members of the relay team will get their own unique Blue Ridge Marathon Relay finisher’s medal and a marathon shirt. The first three teams, regardless of their gender or age, will be awarded a trophy at the end of the full marathon award ceremony. Finally, the 10k option is a great way to get involved in the excitement without the daunting commitment of the full or half marathons. The course will still take you up to the Mill Mountain Star, and there will be awesome photo opportunities to commemorate your achievement. Once you finish your route, you can enjoy local food from food trucks, a beer compliments of the Blue Ridge Marathon team, and free live music. It doesn’t get any better than that! For more info, please visit www.blueridgemarathon.com. We can’t wait to see you there!
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mind•body•soul
YEARS 2006-2018
Running for your Health Top Tips to Get Outdoors!
You’ve made the decision to get in shape, and whether your goal is a full marathon or simply a few laps around the neighborhood, there are a few steps to consider taking before you strap on those shoes and head toward the finish line. Here are a few tips to help get you ready for the big race:
Seek Quality Sneakers
Feet come in a variety of widths and sizes, so visit a specialty running store to find perfect-fitting sneakers. These may come with a hefty price tag, but there are no shortcuts for comfort and support while running long distances.
Make a Schedule
Try to aim for at least 10 hours of training per week, including three days where you run and two or three days of other physical activity such as cycling or strength training. To avoid exhaustion, be sure to include at least 1-2 “rest” days per week.
Stick with Water
Avoid sports drinks that are loaded with preservatives and sugars. You can’t go wrong with the hydrating power of water. As a rule, try to consume at least 6-8 ounces of water for every 20 minutes you run. Proper hydration after the run is also vital.
Go Online
Many websites have training guides for various skill levels or different types of races. If you have a smartphone, look for apps that can take you through day-by-day workouts to get you marathon-ready.
Nutrition
Filling your body with the proper amount of fuel can help ensure finish-line success. Load up on quality carbohydrates, such as beans, peas, whole-wheat pastas, whole-grain cereals, apples, brown rice, and root vegetables. Protein also plays an important role in a runner’s nutrition, so fill up on lean meats, fish, eggs, low-fat dairy, peanut butter and soy protein sources, as well. By following these general rules, you’ll be able to focus on achieving your goal and enjoy the thrill of finishing the race. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
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mind•body•soul
What’s a GMO? Written by Tina Hatcher
Tina Hatcher is the owner of Earth Girl Wellness, LLC. Her passion for overall wellness has allowed her to work in multiple disciplines from corrective exercise, sports performance and sports nutrition, weight loss, and nutritional counseling across all ages for the last 25 years. www.earthgirl wellness.com page 22
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Food manufacturers praise their products as Non-GMO. A television commercial portrays Triscuits as “Nongenemodiscuit.” So what’s with the Non-GMO trend? Is it worth our interest since most food marketing departments have long tried to lure us in with fancy wording to entice us to buy their product? Especially since many of these marketing ploys are only vain attempts to make a product inaccurately sound healthier? Earth Girl thinks the Non-GMO marketing trend is worth the added effort. GMOs are “Genetically Modified Organisms.” Essentially natural food items (fruits and vegetables) have their genetic material altered to create a newer, “healthier” version of the food. Take corn for example. One species of corn has a piece of its genetic material taken and inserted into another species of corn to make it more resistant to drought, torrential rain, bugs, or undernourished soil. The new version of corn is then easier to grow in harsh conditions, creating higher crop production and lowering cost. Sounds great, doesn’t it? Cross-breeding of crops has been done for centuries to create similar results. So what’s so bad about that? Cross-breeding is a naturally occurring event. A farmer can put two similar breeds of corn together to make a new breed. Genetically modifying the corn is a scientific process occurring in a laboratory; two unrelated species are forced to combine. Think of it like this: You can create a new breed of dog by allowing natural puppy love to occur or you can create a “Frankenpup” by taking an eye from one and a leg from another. As a point of debate, most of these new species are created to help bolster food supplies in challenging environments. Unfortunately, food executives have also used the technology to make a maximum amount of profit from their products. Most of the products containing GMO ingredients are of such poor quality, we shouldn’t eat them. But let’s push the point a little bit. What other ramifications can come from GMO products? Not a single GMO product can be labeled as organic and can’t really attest to the health of the nutrition or the potential harshness of the product to the land. There is not a single long term study which can validate the safety of these products. GMOs may not have dramatic effects on the current generation but can side effects show up in our children or our children’s children? Additionally, GMOs can ultimately eradicate normally occurring species of many fruits or vegetables. Cross pollination can occur across GMO farm and organic farms that are literally miles apart. So how can you know if your food is safely free from GMOs? The most commonly genetically modified crops today are corn and soy. These are found in virtually every packaged product on the supermarket shelf ! Earth Girl highly recommends putting any GMO product back on the shelf. Look for the Non-GMO Verified Green Seal of Approval and buy organic when possible.For more information on GMOs, go to The Non-GMO Project at www.nongmoproject.org.
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bella girls club *
Monthly feature of regional young women making their way in the world and making a difference along the way!
Young Female Writers Club Fan Girl Dreaming Maryam Durrani Written by K.L. Kranes It sounds like the plot of a book. 13-year-old Maryam turns fanfiction success into successful book series and finds her true self in the journey. This isn’t fiction. Maryam Durrani, fanfiction writer, novelist, self-published author of three books, has accomplished more in her 18 years than many writers twice her age. Maryam’s book dreams likely started far before fanfiction readers discovered her stories of the Last Airbender. In fact, it really started with a shampoo bottle. “I always loved reading,” Maryam explains. “When I was little, in the bathtub I’d read the back of shampoo bottles.” As a child growing up in Ashburn, VA, Maryam would read anything. If it had letters strung together to make sentences, she devoured it. She spent hours daydreaming, building worlds and characters in her mind. Soon she picked up a pencil and strung together sentences of her own. Family, friends, and teachers encouraged her to write. Maryam completed her first book in the back of an English classroom, filling 350 pages of a spiral-bound notebook. It still sits on her bookshelf in her room, a token of her passion and talent. page 24
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Winning first place in an international writing competition gave Maryam the courage to aim for something bigger. At 13-years-old Maryam stood in front of her parents and told them she wanted to publish a book. Many parents would pat their young daughter on the head, smile, and forget about the idea five minutes later. Most 13-year-olds would forget five minutes later too and move on to another whim. Not Maryam. Writing was not a whim. She was ready to write and publish her novel even if no one supported her. She expected a lecture on the difficulties of publishing a book. Instead, her parents gave her the kind of advice Dumbledore might give Harry Potter. “You have to do it because you never know where it’s going to go until you reach the end,” they told her. And so she did. Maryam was only 14 years old when she self-published her first novel, Assassin.
K.L. Kranes is a blogger and author of young adult novels. Her debut novel, The Travelers, was published in 2016 by Saguaro Books, LLC. See more from K.L. at www.klkranes. com/blog. w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
By its name alone one might expect Assassin to be a story of an innocent boy trained to be a deadly assassin. It might conjure an image of him with swords crisscrossed behind his back and a scar from his temple to his neck. But Maryam had read enough books about boys battling for the fate of their souls. She wanted to write something different. A determined, intelligent girl, Maryam didn’t always connect with the characters in young adult books. She gravitated toward strong female characters and they were hard to find. Even Hermione Granger, one of Maryam’s literary idols, didn’t star in her own story. She was a sidekick. Maryam longed to read books about smart, independent female characters who took control of their own destinies. Since she couldn’t find any, she decided to create one. Adalia, the main character of Assassin, became the character Maryam had always wanted to read. Instead of a boy with swords crisscrossed on his back, it was a girl battling for the fate of her soul. “Adalia doesn’t let anyone slow her down. Her confidence, perseverance, and determination always shine through even in the darkest of times,” Maryam explains of her main character. Like her main character, Maryam oozes confidence and determination. “If I had a catchphrase would be, “Prove ‘em wrong!” Maryam explains. Although there’s little reason to doubt Maryam’s ability to accomplish her goals. By the time she turned 18, Maryam’s young adult, science fiction novel had grown into a trilogy, Assassin, Ascendant, and Apprentice and Maryam had grown as a person and a writer. She’d fought to write and publish her work. She’d fought against self-doubt, spending many nights wondering if editing, revising, and the painful process of story creation were all worth it. Now, at 18, Maryam speaks of herself and her writing with the kind of maturity usually found over three or four decades, not less than two. “Don’t be afraid of what people think, because, at the end of the day, your writing is yours,” she says. Maryam also looks to the future with a practical determination. Although filled with dreams, she understands the difficulty of becoming a professional novelist. It’s time for her to leave behind writing in the back of high school English classes. She is considering a career in the sciences. That doesn’t mean she won’t continue to write. Maryam has already figured out the writer’s secret. If you’re a real writer, then you’ll write. It doesn’t matter whether or not it’s your job. “Wherever I am with whatever I have and how much I’ve achieved,” she says. “I see myself content, curled up in a warm blanket with a hot cup of coffee and an exciting new book to read.” Books are a part of Maryam’s soul and she could never leave them behind. It is only a matter of time before the story of another strong female character stirs Maryam’s pen to start writing again. Until then, there are plenty of chances to enjoy her writing. Maryam’s work is available on Amazon and on Wattpad (www.watpad.com/user/draninator). april 2018
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YEARS 2006-2018
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bella finds A Book That Takes Its Time by Irene Smit & Astrid Van Der Hulst
A Book that Takes Its Time is the book that points out the small things in life. Each story slows you down and are written by different people. It will make you stop and think, as well as giving you little activities to do. Irene Smit and Astrid van der Hulst provide you with note cards in which to write your ‘Beautiful Moments’ on, or maybe you want to send a cute and fun postcard to a friend. There are two mini notebooks inside as well. One notebook is full of insights into what you get when you focus on one thing at a time (also has room for you to write) and the other is a 30-day notebook with questions to answer every day. Other extras in this book include poems, recipes, stickers, an envelope of poetry pictures, and space to write a letter to yourself. With fun and colorful illustrations this book takes its time in slowing you down to appreciate the little things. www.flowmagazine.com
Written by Samantha Fantozzi w w w. l o v e l y b e l l a . c o m
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Written by Amanda Marshall
Spring Makeup Favorites Spring isn’t just for closet clean outs. It’s also the perfect time to sift through your cosmetics and get rid of anything old or unworn. It’s important you consistently check your lipsticks and mascaras, as they can collect germs quickly. Powder products can be kept longer, but if you don’t wear it, toss it... at least that’s my personal policy. The best part of the process is purchasing new products you’re in need of ! Lately, I’ve added several amazing glosses, lipsticks, brighteners, and even a drugstore mascara to my makeup arsenal. One of my favorite high-end glosses is by Chantecaille in the color Charm (found at Nordstrom) and has a luxuriously fabulous formula. It’s super smooth and doesn’t get sticky or cakey throughout the day. I’ve been wearing it paired with a lipstick by Charlotte Tilbury called Kim K.W. (also found at Nordstrom) and absolutely love the combo. For any nude lip lovers out there, this duo is for you! The second gloss I’ve been obsessing over is called Fortune Cookie and is a drugstore gloss by NYX that really surprised me. It has a candy sweet smell, looks really beautiful worn over a lipstick like Blush Nude by Tom Ford (also pictured), and only costs $4.99. For a tired under eye, I’ve been wearing an instant brightener by Maybelline and love how it really wakes up the eye. Sometimes I wear it alone when I’m in a rush or under my usual concealer if I really want a stark highlight. And for those really tired under eyes, I’ve been loving no more baggage by dr. brant (found at Sephora). It’s best used on bare under eyes (I wouldn›t use anything underneath like moisturizers or serums) and has an orange coloring to counteract any darkness. It instantly tightens the skin with a nice cool feeling! Additionally, you’ll find some products that bring color and life to the skin. The first is by Charlotte Tilbury and called Healthy Glow. I’ve been using this when I self-tan since I don’t tan my face but still want some color. It comes out of the tube white and self corrects to a nice bronzed glow when rubbed into the skin. Great for no-makeup days! And for the perfect punch of blush, Tom Ford’s Frantic Pink gives a nice peachy-pink glow to the skin. I also threw a new mascara in the mix by NYX called worth the hype. I’m so impressed by it! It’s an awesome price point and gives the lashes a ton of length! FYI, I suggest using with a lash primer for even longer lashes. When in doubt, check out pardonmuah.com for more beauty product suggestions and tutorials on Instagram at @pardonmuahinsta.
Amanda is a Kentucky native and author of the lifestyle blog Pardon Muah. She shares beauty products, motivational stories, and fab fashion finds weekly. www.pardonmuah.com
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xo Amanda april 2018
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profile
Meet Jen Whitcomb of
Hawk+Owl Weaving Interview by Samantha Fantozzi
How did you get your start with Hawk and Owl?
So my business came about from the need to just be creative again. I studied art in college and a couple years ago I stumbled across Maryanne Moodie; an Australian, well-known female weaver. And within the weaving world, she’s super popular. She made me want to learn to weave. Her weavings were super colorful, and full of texture and I thought ‘I really have to try that’: so, I did. And people really wanted to by them, which was a surprise. I didn’t plan on that becoming an actual business. But when they started reaching out to me, I opened an Etsy shop and it took off from there.
How did you come up with the name?
It’s about my kids. I have twins; boy and girl. My daughter was a really bad sleeper, so she was the night owl. My son was the opposite. They used to share a room, so it was totally insane. One would be awake, and one would be sleeping. So, when it came time to come up with a fictitious name, I had a hard time deciding and I finally landed on something funny that reminded me of them. Plus, my husband is super into birds, he can do like 400 different bird calls so it’s kind of a thing within our family. Not too much to do with weaving, just more of a family connection.
What kind of weavings can customers expect to find in your shop?
My color selections change seasonally, as do the designs. I don’t really plan out my designs, they’re mostly geometric, free-form weaving. They come in a variety of sizes from extra-large to small, and I also take custom orders. I try to have between 10 and 15 things in my shop at a time. Closer to the holidays I offer more smaller pieces like tassels and pom-poms. But, on a regular basis, just a broad selection of random geometric and bright pieces.
How long have you been weaving?
KGB Photography
Not long, I would say 3 ½ years. I picked it up pretty quickly. I made my first loom. I took a premade frame that had canvas on it that was meant for painting. I stripped the canvas off and used the frame and hammered in some nails. After that, I started ordering professional looms. Made my first loom and just went to town: didn’t take too long to get into it.
Do you have a favorite piece that you’ve done?
I made a piece as a submission for a New England-based magazine called Taproot Magazine. It was really big and had lots of heavy fringe. I photographed it on the Blue Ridge parkway and I still have it. It was fun to make, and it’s become one of my favorite pieces. Find Jen on Facebook at Hawk + Owl Weaving; Instagram at hawk_ and_owl_weaving; and online at www.hawkandowlweaving.com. Her website contains a small portfolio of her work. If you wish to make a purchase, you can either click her Etsy shop from her website or go to the shop directly at etsy.com/shop/hawkandowlweaving. She also posts about upcoming events, such as workshops and pop-up events, on her website. She does classes through Wool Workshop in Roanoke and will be having one this month. Visit their page to get details!
Featured on this month’s cover! page 30
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