'Georgia Peach' is a hand felted hat made to re-create an Edwardian style cloche with a wide brim. I used beautifullly soft merino wool and Nuno felted a silk scarf right onto the wool to create a patterned band with a tiny ruffle at the top. The feathers add a very Edwardian finishing touch and since it was hard to decide which colour feather worked best I chose to add them both! The model is my adorable niece Emily who was visiting me in October. She is a Southern Belle and spent considerable time durning our photo shoot throwing fall leaves in the air! Something she doesn't usually get to do at home!
'Lacey' is wet felted using a cafe au lait colour merino wool roving. The vintage lace is Nuno felted right into the wool and looks like a delicate hat band. My model Gabby always looks so pretty in any hat style I ask her to wear but I think she might really be an Edwardian girl at heart. I love this style hat on her!
'Clementine' is made using the same process and pattern as 'Lacey' and with the last bit of the beautiful vintage lace. I love the softness of this pale, shell pink colour combined with the cream colour of the lace. The brim worked better turned down on this hat although it can be flipped up at the front or back (or both) if the wearer prefers. I really like how a hat tends to take on the personality of its wearer and has a unique look becoming to each person who wears it.
'Gingerbread' is Nuno felted with a pretty chiffon fabric that reminded me of icing on a Christmas cookie. The red satin ribbon was the perfect addition to compliment the flowery bits of red in the pattern of the fabric. The felted flower and feather add just the right sort of Edwardian flare for this style. Hats with big brims are something a little out of the ordinary for me and I really enjoyed experimenting with new shapes and trying something different. A brim is very flattering for many faces and ladies often ask for hats with brims. In the new year I plan to continue this trend and play with even bigger brims on newer hats yet to come. Can't wait to get started!
'Marquee' is an Edwardian style cloche in neutral beige and brown. When choosing colours for hats I often gravitate towards vibrant colours and have to make an effort to select neutral shades. When I do I always love the results and think I should go with neutrals more often. This hat is very simple but also flatters most faces really well.
'Rust' is made in a style that suits most people and especially those with short hair. The pleats are hand folded while the hat is being shaped on a wooden hat block. The buckle embellishment came out of my vintage button tin which was given to me by a dear friend. It was her mother-in-laws button collection and contains hundreds of buttons. This sweet little buckle popped up as I was digging through looking for the perfect button just like it knew it belonged on this hat!
'Brownie' is made in what I call the mad hatter style but I think an Edwardian lady might have liked it! It has a Nuno felted flower in cream with a long green stem just for fun. This hat is seamless construction made all in one piece. I used a flat top hat block to shape it and the brim can be worn folded down as well. I should have taken a photo with the brim down while I had Gabby here. Didn't even think about that until just now.
This trilby called 'Dragonfly' is a custom hat made for a very special friend @chefaray. She chose the colours herself which look fabulous together! The surface pattern is from a Nuno felted vintage silk scarf (like the ones my Mother wore folded in a triangle and tied under her chin in the 1950s) that melted right into the wool during the felting process. This hat is far from Edwardian and maybe slightly hipster but will suit Amanda perfectly as she is definitely young and hip and fast becoming a well known celebrity! Will definitely get photos of her when she gets her new hat.
An Up-cycle sweater always makes a cute and warn slouchy hat. Hand stitched and fun to make these hats are stylish but simple and can be worn anywhere, anytime. Definitely not Edwardian though!
Couldn't resist posting this photo of Winnie, my niece Emily's dog who also came to visit me from the south. Winnie went Canadian shopping and got herself this perfect Roots sweater! How cute is that?!
