Wapsi Square

What is a Wapsi Girl?

The girls of Wapsi Square are distinct individuals, each with their own personalities and dreams and goals. They all have weaknesses (because who doesn’t?) but they also have the determination to strive for what they want, whether that is a new career, to save the world, or just a quiet night with a pizza and a beer. And they have each other – and that is one of the important things, I think. Without the support of their friends, none of them would make it – it’s nearly impossible to succeed at these things if you’re all on your own, no matter how strong you are. They may clash sometimes, but when it comes down to it, all the characters of Wapsi Square are there for each other, giving what support is needed to reach those goals.

I graduated from college with a BA in world literature, and no idea what to do with it – and so I wound up working some admin job to pay the bills. And it took me a lot of years and frustration to figure out what I do want to do, which, it turns out, has nothing to do with literature, aside from my joy of reading. What I love is to create costumes, and a few years ago I made the scary decision to start my own business to sell those costumes to people. Since 2006, I’ve been spending good chunks of my previously free time behind a sewing machine, and several weekends a year operating out of a tent at renaissance faires. My husband often works with me, and always helps me set up and break down, and when he can’t be there for me all weekend, other friends fill in the gap, working an entire weekend for a pittance.
Storied Threads is still not where I make my living – alas, I’m still working an admin job to pay the bills. And sometimes I feel like I always will be, and all I want to do is order a pizza and drink a beer and stop sacrificing so many weekends and evenings to this business. But then my husband and my friends step in, and brace me back up until I find the strength to reach for my goals again. I cannot imagine doing this without them. And that, I think, is what makes me a Wapsi girl – not just having the courage to try for my dream, but having the wonderful friends to help me reach that goal when it otherwise seems out of reach.

Veronica Bailey
Website: http://www.storiedthreads.com/