Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Viva.
How Much Change Has Female Empowerment Brought to Society in Recent Years?
Over the years we have seen some major changes in society occur as a result of this movement – from how women are represented in the media to economic empowerment. Despite the setbacks of the pandemic, we’ve proven time and time again that we can fight for equality, and it’s vital we keep moving in the right direction.
By Caitlin Purvis5 years ago in Viva
Boldly bald
For as long as I can remember the second thoughts in my head became too overwhelming to handle, I'd dig out a piece of my hair and hold onto it for dear life. I would take a strand like it was a flotation device thrown out to me at sea and aggressively start twirling. This type of self soothing was something that happened subconsciously and I never seemed to take notice until a classmate of mine pointed it out to me. We were in seventh grade and she asked me ‘why I twirled my hair like that’. I distinctly remember telling her I do it when I'm thinking. From that point on when she saw me twirling she'd ask me what I was thinking about more as a rhetorical question to point out that I was ridiculously twirling my hair again.
By Maesia Farah5 years ago in Viva
Effect of Normal and C-section Delivery On Women
The safety of the mother and therefore the baby is that the priority throughout birthing. Though giving birth is sometimes most popular (two out of 3 births a vaginal), if a giving birth is unduly risky for a medical reason, the health care supplier might discuss a cesarean with oldsters.
By SNMCDeoria5 years ago in Viva
Paper to People
I cut my own bangs when I was around six years old with my mom’s fabric scissors. Needless to say it was a hot mess, but I liked reconfiguring things. I also enjoyed the rush that cutting gave me. It was a final action, hopefully, of mindful deliberation to follow through with a choice that could not be changed. It was my cliff jump, if you will. Somewhere around that time I was making my own paper dolls and designing their clothes. Paper and pencils that she brought home from work were my treats. I’d sit for hours drawing figures, carefully tracing clothes on top of them and positioning the hanger tabs so as not to show when the dolls were dressed. It was only when she realized that I was using THOSE scissors that I learned the difference between fabric scissors and paper scissors. Each has a special purpose. Crayons were my paint brushes. Prints, stripes and plaids created with them were later replaced with markers, ink and guache in fashion design school. Paper scissors still had their place, but now an arsenal of options allowed me to bring designs on paper to life. I am now able to take those ideas from conception to their end result. Creativity gives me immense joy and comfort and that was especially so during the height of the pandemic last year. When much of my life was a guessing game, I was able to channel my energy into using the most important tools I had in the box; imagination and scissors. I think that by continuing to create my happiness through making beautiful, fun, fierce hats showed my clients that there are ways to persevere through struggles by channeling into what makes them happy, too. Developing paper patterns for the perfect fit, now for people, cutting through fabric with precision and the proper scissors to craft a hat that someone will love is how I create my happiness. I create for others.
By LISA MCFADDEN5 years ago in Viva
Two sides Topsy-Turvy
My passion for my project stems back to my childhood. I owned a Topsy Turvy Doll which had been sewn by my Grammie. One side of the doll was little red riding hood, the other side her Grandmother. Lurking behind the Grandmother’s bonnet was a sinister bad wolf. I admit I was obsessed. Turning the doll over and over only to surprise myself each time with the wolf when I pulled back the bonnet to reveal the snarling wolf. Was is a warning of danger? Were the Grandmother and Red Riding Hood never truly safe? What ever the meaning it was visual story telling the ignited my love for dolls and sewing.
By Genevieve Jordan5 years ago in Viva
Crafting: Women's Empowerment. Second Place in Threading the Needle Challenge.
I’m sitting in a bright and buzzy classroom with around 20 other women. People chat excitedly, leaning over to see what their neighbours are working on. Music plays in the background; some people are singing along, others humming their own tune. The occasional squeal pops out as someone finishes their piece, delighted with their own handiwork. We swap colours, we sort beads, we pass scissors, we snip threads, we admire each other’s work. The room is filled with colour and creativity and fun and love.
By Jenifer Nim5 years ago in Viva
Finding Strength in the Sparkliest of Places
The lights quickly dimmed. Our glamourous drag queen host strutted through the center aisle "You know I could talk about myself all night, but I think you came here for a different kind of reveal!?" The theater filled with cheers along with mine; 23 years old, and pretty tipsy for both my Bachelorette party and my first burlesque show. I raised my glass to my best friend next to me, neither of us wise to what a wild journey this show would lead to.
By Rachel Hall5 years ago in Viva
How to describe colour shades
I used to love the smell of these type of colour crayons. Growing up, I remember that I was annoyed the colour did not stick to the paper. It was the waxing effect of the colour that you could scrap off the piece of paper and at times, it would simply not colour as per its main purpose. These type of crayons were something popular but kind of fancy in my childhood days. Not everyone used to have them or be able to buy it. It seems to me now, looking back in time, that it was more like a snob purchase. Something with which you show off to people that, "hey I can afford these fancy crayons for my kids and I am proud to exhibit this wonderful trait of me, as a mom, this awesome, trendy woman that I still am, even though the motherhood is suffocating me, but hey, I am here to stay, as a mom, so, cheers to me!". Or at least, that's how I interpret it.
By Annaelle Artsy5 years ago in Viva
A Modern Girl in Old Clothes
I am a historical costumer, and cosplayer. I started sewing costumes at age 15, but I absolutely loved history ever since I was a child reading American Girl books. I remember playing for endless hours with my Felicity doll and wishing I could have dresses like hers. I now credit my special love of 18th-century clothing to that doll.
By Seamstress Without A Cause5 years ago in Viva
Bosom Friends
In February 2020, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was detected early, and the tumor appeared small, but I had to choose between a lumpectomy plus radiation, or mastectomy with reconstruction. The hardest part about this decision was the fact that I had finally become comfortable in my own skin. In my mind, it is truly just a body, but it is the body I’ve spent my entire life coming to terms with! However, If I opted for a double mastectomy plus reconstruction, I could choose a breast size that worked with standard clothing sizes!
By Jane Baldwin5 years ago in Viva
