No, I didn't lose any friends. No one stopped calling or texting or hanging out. None of that happened, but I did go from being "D" or "Danielle" or "Hey you" to being "The One With The Beard." Yep, when you decide to accept a challenge, especially ones involving fake beards, knitting needles, and an iPhone camera, you will get a new name.
No worries, though, friends! "The One With The Beard" is great. I love the name most days. I like it on days when I meet someone for the first time and am introduced as "The One With The Beard" and get the initial shocked look that tells me they will be scouring my face with their eyes looking for my beard the instant I look away. "Surely its hiding there somewhere!" Their eyes say. Then I get to pull my fake beard from my purse with just the perfect expression on my face. I know I've nailed them with my expression of excitement and sheepishness with a healthy dose of expectation thrown in the mix. I know I nailed it cause I practiced it in the mirror the night before. No! I would never do that! Probably not, anyways. Moving on! Then to see their wary expression turn to giddiness at the chance to wear a beard for a few seconds is a gift I have grown to love. I am "The One With the Beard." I wear it proudly, but I probably wouldn't have chosen that name for myself. Eh. I accepted the challenge. Didn't realize how my life would change. I didn't realize how much I would learn about myself and the women who would participate. Its been an adventure.
Some of the things I learned along the way.
1) Women want beards. Period.
2) I love asking women,, " Will you wear my beard and let me take your picture?"
3) People in Texas like beards way more than people in Portland! SHOCKER!! Most of the doubles of people were taken in Texas on a recent 2 day trip! seriously crazy!
4) Beards are surprisingly easy to knit.
5) Women will come out of their shell to wear a beard.
6) People like to see pictures of women in a fake knitted beard.
7) People want a coffee table book with pictures of bearded ladies gracing the pages. Who knew?! 8) Once you have become "The One With The Beard" you will continually get texts, emails and phone calls requesting that you bring said beard with you to a certain event. Its kinda fun actually!
Gosh! There is so much more that I learned, but I want to get to the good stuff! I know you want to see the result of my month long project. So, below are the pictures. I had planned to take only one picture per lady, but they were too great to not share them all. All of these are posted on Instagram (where the challenge was issued) and on Flickr. Also, for those of you waiting to post your pics, thank you for waiting! Feel free to share them with the world!
Of all the women that I asked, only 7 refused, the rest are below! Enjoy!
The knitted beard seen here is not my own pattern. I used this pattern by Liza Root.
Danielle I love this post! Especially te pics with Bev wearin the beard! Makes me wish I had seen you to get to wear it too! :) glad things are going well. I heard you had a great visit home. Love ya!
Hi Danielle!
I believe my mother met you at Thatcher's a little while back.... finally found the scrap of paper and looked you up. :)
Lovely to meet you.
-hds