In the past...

Quite a few years ago I began to make wigs. I was bored at work and had been invited to attend a 'party', more commonly referred to as a 'rave'. I had attended raves in high school and was known as a 'raver' all throughout my senior year. I never truly dabbled in drugs while at those parties, even though that's what was very common back then (and now). Not until after high school and in my twenties, had I actually 'rolled' at a party. I kept those experiences purely recreational and made sure it was in a controlled environment. Too many outside influences can impede on one's good drugged up time at parties, but I digress...

This particular 'party' was my first in years. I was full of bitterness from gaining weight, having a boyfriend that was addicted to an online role playing game called Final Fantasy XI and had lack of social fun besides getting drunk at home with people. I wish I still had the picture that inspired me to create but I'll try to describe it. It was of a gorgeous woman with dreadlocks in beautiful bright colors and very imaginative makeup, sprinkled with glitter and staring off in a devil-may-care way. I wanted to be her. Her confidence and colorful hair and makeup was everything I needed in order to be happy. Within that day I ventured out, procured wool, a wig, craft foam, rexlace and glitter. Even joined a forum to teach me the ways of felting wool into dreadlocks.


The above is a partial picture of my first dreadlock wig. I created it in a day and at the party I received so many compliments, I felt as though I was floating on air. After a couple years of just feeling like the friend 'who got fat' I was all of a sudden treated like the amazing creative person I had been keeping quiet with vodka and cupcakes.

After my debut back into the 'party scene' I began creating more and more wigs to satisfy my need for attention. I wasn't getting it at home at the time and I thrived on feeling beautiful and being treated like a creative goddess. The picture at the top of the page was taken at a time when I had finally begun to make 'friends' within the scene. Some of which I am honored to say are the best I could have ever hoped for. Through my crazy wigs, I began decorating for parties because promoters sought me out for my creativity. I slaved for them in order to just have something creative fill my time while I still worked at a job I despised (and still do). Through all my stresses in decorating I met some amazing people. Some of my best friends went through the same rave bullshit I did. By bullshit I mean, dealing with 'e-tards', stinky people, working for nothing and dancing until dawn then taking all that decorative crap down.



The pictures above are from a party called Techno Therapy. I covered the warehouse with sheets, black lights and cardboard cut outs of stars, Dr. Mario pills and medical crosses in neon paint. You can see me in my white wig surrounded by some friends at the time. All are gone from my life now for various reasons. I can safely say they helped me become a better friend to those I have in my life now.

Through all the drama, creativity and drugs the rave scene did a lot to help me be who I am today. So yeah, I did drugs, danced until the wee hours of the morning, cut out things out of cardboard until my fingers bled, spent hours felting wool to create wigs for vanity and forged friendships that have outlasted my love affair with raves.

In the past...I was a raver and I'm not ashamed to say it.

~Steffaree