Craft, Inc.

On Ariel’s Nightstand:
Craft, Inc.
Turn Your Creative Hobby Into a Business
By Meg Mateo Ilasco

Okay, so it’s not entirely true that this book is on my nightstand. I heard about it and knew that it would be the perfect birthday present for a friend. Of course I realized this the night before her birthday and had to call half a dozen bookstores before I found one with a copy. Once I had it in hand, I promptly took it home and read it cover to cover. So I guess you could say it was on my nightstand for one night. It’s well written, extremely practical, and inspiring. The book design is also gorgeous. I highly recommend it and plan on getting another copy for myself.

Selling Women Short

On Ariel's nightstand:
Selling Women Short
The Landmark Battle for Workers’ Rights at Wal-Mart
by Liza Featherstone

It's been out for a while, but I finally got around to reading Selling Women Short. The stories about women who are battling Wal-Mart's discrimination, sexism, and low-wages read like fiction. I couldn't put the book down. Unfortunately it's not fiction, but that makes it even more important to read.

Whether or not you've read the book, what do you think about Wal-Mart?

Middle School Flashback (but in a good way)

This summer has been one middle school flashback after another. But luckily they’ve all been good! I met Hillary Carlip who wrote the book Girl Power and I saw Team Dresch perform. Reading material and music that helped me survive middle school.

But the coolest flashback has been getting a copy of Belle magazine. The magazine was started by Kelcie Angstadt when she was 13 years old (she’s now 15). It totally made me think of how I wanted to write a zine when I was 13, but didn’t feel ready to put my opinions out there with my writing. I ended up starting Sticker Sisters instead, which helped me find my voice in a different way. But I love seeing girls express themselves through writing.

The July/August issue of Belle has an article about how to "Be Green" and a quiz asking, "Do you care what other people think?" The title of the quiz might not sound that different from mainstream teen magazines, but the advice at the end sure is! It celebrates individualism and offers suggestions for getting away from today's "fashion-obsessed" society.

In an article on "The Great Debate about Weight," Kelcie writes:

"We are all different sizes, and I hope that I live long enough to see an era where women can be proud of that fact, not hide from it. If we accept that we are different, it will dissolve those thoughts in the back of our mind, like 'She's so much prettier than I am' or 'I wish I looked that good in a bikini.' Why focus on thoughts like that when they only bring you down. It doesn’t help anyone, and especially not you. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and if you train yourself to refocus that eye, you’ll see that you are beautiful, size zero or not."

Powerful words. Keep an eye on Belle—in a few years it just might give Bitch and Bust a run for their money!

Girls & Writing
WriteGirl
New Moon Magazine
Teen Voices

Fun Home

On Ariel’s Nightstand:
Fun Home
A Family Tragicomic
by Alison Bechdel

So I admit that I’m not so into comics or graphic novels. But Fun Home, the illustrated memoir by the author of Dykes to Watch Out For, might be changing my mind. I’m about halfway through the book and can completely relate to many of the dark, but funny, family situations. And somehow stories that involve family funeral homes are always intriguing!

We’ll see once I finish this one, but I might go for another graphic novel soon. Does anyone have any suggestions?

make/shift magazine

On Ariel’s Nightstand:
Make/shift
Feminisms in Motion

Make/shift is a brand new magazine on contemporary feminist culture and activism. The first issue has a “Dear Nomy [Lamm]” column and articles about feminist resistance to war, Ugly Betty, hunger-striking hotel workers, and lots more.
Check it out!

New Book: We Don’t Need Another Wave

I’m so excited! A chapter I wrote about Sticker Sisters called "Sticking it to the Powers that Be" was just published in a new anthology.

The book is…
We Don't Need Another Wave: Dispatches from the Next Generation of Feminists

Edited by Melody Berger. Seal Press.

Here’s what people are saying about the book:

“In this exciting collection of essays, a whole new crop of talented and fiercly political writers make the case that while each new ‘wave’ of feminists (suffragists, women’s liberationists, riot grrls, etc.) may pass like so many political or cultural trends, as long as there’s a need for revolution, *feminism* is here to stay.”
—Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards, co-authors of Manifesta: Young Women, Feminism and the Future


At the book party with other LA contributors.

“We Don't Need Another Wave self-confidently flips the bird to those folks who might protest, as they so often do, that feminism isn’t relevant in the lives of young women. The voices collected here are simultaneously outraged, snarky, hopeful, and lusty—and each one proving that political idealism lives on, as long as you know where to look.”
—Andi Zeisler, co-founder, Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture

“Melody Berger has assembled a raucous rebuke to anyone who thinks that feminism is a thing of the past. This collection demonstrates that it is very much a part of our future.”
—Rebecca Traister, Salon.com

“Only one f-word (besides fat) has the power to strike confusion in the hearts of women and panic in the minds of men: feminism. Just when we need it most, here’s a collection of compelling viewpoints from fearless young feminists writing with equal parts passion, concern, opinion, analysis, and humor. Berger is right: We don’t need another wave when this one is just beginning to roll.”
—Wendy Shanker, author of The Fat Girl’s Guide to Life

“These stories are a testament to the fact that there are still many battles to fight; and that today’s women are not comfortable with being almost equal. We Don’t Need Another Wave gives women a shot of inspiration and the knowledge that sisterhood is still powerful. Indeed, we don’t need another wave; we just need to win every war.”
—Dyann C. Logwood, Founding Publisher of HUES Magazine, Activist, and Educator

“We Don't Need Another Wave reanimates feminist pride, encourages unity, and fosters a momentous rallying cry. For those of us invested in words, but bursting toward action, Berger’s collection of myriad and strident voices authenticates radical feminism as a movement-in-motion.”
—Pamela Means, singer-songwriter

All Made Up

Check out “All Made Up: a girl’s guide to seeing through celebrity hype…and celebrating real beauty” by Audrey Brashich. There’s a couple of pages about me (and Sticker Sisters) in a chapter called “Real Role Models.”

The book is directed at teen girls and has some kick-ass activity suggestions. I like the idea of ripping pages out of a teen magazine and separating them into two piles. One pile of images/articles that reinforce the idea of being “starstruck” and one pile with pages that show alternative ideas of success/beauty. Then, based on which pile is bigger, you can talk about the message the magazine is sending. Hmmm…I’m pretty sure I know which pile would be bigger. But I’d love for someone to prove me wrong! Sounds like an excellent opportunity for some “This Insults Women/Girls” stickers.

And, as you might predict, my favorite idea in the book is to make up your own stickers and cover hyped-up ads with them. Or if making stickers is too much trouble, you can order some from Sticker Sisters and I’ll get them to you lickity split.