Millinery Should Never Make You Sad

Photo:  2010 Eric Richardson

Hurt or sad, I really couldn't say.  All I know is that I spent hours fraying, rolling, and sewing this hat layer-on-layer (March, April?).  So when I saw this pictures I thought, "Do people really care about the feelings of others?"  After seeing this picture I guess I just snapped, resulting in this post.  Forgive me; I should be more of an adult.  My daughter said, "I warned you."  One of my best friends said a couple of years ago that "Milliners are the most vicious people I know."  Both feel that I'm just too generous.  I remain positive.  I will never say that I made a hat that I did not make. 

A Day of Felting and Draping!

I never miss the opportunity to take a millinery class.  I'm all about the continuous learning concept.  After over 25 years of taking classes and reading how-to books, I'm still learning.  So when I had an opportunity to taking a felting class I jumped at opportunity.   I had done a little felting in the past but I needed to upgrade my skills. Suzi Holloway of Wearable Art,  Rehn Dudukgian of Bijou Van Ness, and yours truly could not have had more fun than if we were six year olds playing in the sand.  The three of us actually completed our felting projects in class.

After the felting class I conducted a draping class.  I brought along two hats for show and tell--a classic 1940s-style hat and a contemporary doll hat/cap.  My goal was to demonstrate how versatile draping could be.  Suzi completed her drape, and I must say that I was quite impressed.  

Check out Suzi and Rehn at the next Downtown Fashion Walk on March 18th; I may even show up.  Don't forget to visit Rehn's Web site where you will find her beautiful couture millinery creations.  You can reach Suzi at Szholloway@aol.com.  You'll have to pick up one of Suzi's hats and fascinators at the Fashion Walk.  I even bought one of her hats at the last Walk.  I was surprised that she had hats large enough to fit my size 25 1/2 head and hair.  

By the way, that's Suzi holding the mirror, wearing one of her hats, and the cute lady looking into the mirror, also wearing a Suzi hat, is my little sister, Robin.  Thanks again to Carol Cirillo Stanley for taking this lovely image.  



Check out the purple hat that Suzi is holding.  Great job!

Downtown Fashion Walk

I had a great time at the Downtown Fashion Walk.  Participating in the event gave me an opportunity to see what others were creating.  I flaked on the cocktail hats; I just couldn't get into them at the last minute.  I finally made these three hats instead.  A really big Thank You goes out to Carol Cirillo Stanley for taking these lovely images.