Feathers are for the Birds!

Some of my best friends are birds.  Every morning after I make myself a cup of coffee and feed the kitties I put walnuts, sunflower seeds, peanuts and sliced almonds out in the big tree by the kitchen window.   When the crows see me they let everyone in the neighborhood know it's time for breakfast...and within minutes a menagerie of birds...and squirrels...are feasting in the tree and on the lawn.  It's a morning ritual for me and the kitties...we sit at the window and watch...and for the birds too...they gather and wait for me to appear.  It's a nice friendship.

As a hatmaker I think quite seriously about the materials I use...where they come from, how they were produced or obtained, and the effects they have on the environment or the quality of life...so using feathers on my hats has been a rather big issue for me.  I certainly understand why they are so fashionable and why other designers use them in their creations...feathers are very beautiful...but it's impossible for me to set aside where they come from just so that I can make a hat.  I love hats...and I love making hats...but feathers belong on birds. 

Not to get too preachy but...at the Turn of the Century when the millinery and plume industries were at their heyday entire species of birds were wiped out...gone forever!  The devastation was so bad that strict laws had to be put in place and groups like The Audubon Society were formed to prevent anymore damage.  And now in present day...animals are kept on farms so that they can be used for their fur, skins and feathers.  They are raised and killed in ways so horrible that I can't even get myself to write about it...it breaks my heart.

Sometime ago I gave myself the goal to discover as many cruelty-free ways to create a feathery-look for my hats as I could and I was thrilled when I stumbled upon some wild clematis on one of my walks through Portland.  When these flowers turn to seed they become puffs of feather-like flues!  Since then I have been collecting not only feather impersonators but all sorts of organic creatures like seed pods and withered leaves and flowers to use in my designs.  I just finished two hats that include pampas grass as feathers and flowers made from garlic skins for the trim.  Take a peek:

 

 

 

These hats are now available in my etsy shop if you want to see more photos or get more details on specifics of the hats.  In the meantime...

 

 

always remember that life is a journey...

it really doesn't matter where you're going

just make sure you're wearing a hat when you get there!

website: www.fatcathatsandsacks.com

etsy shop: www.fatcathatsandsacks.etsy.com
facebook: Fat Cat Hats and Sacks

A Study in Grey

I'm growing quite fond of the color grey...something that comes in handy when you live in the Pacific Northwest or when you look in the mirror and realize you really are getting...uh...older.  But my love for grey is more than just self-preservation...it really is a beautiful color.   It's misty and moody...and subtle and quiet.  It can be classy and traditional when all on it's own or lively and flamboyant when in the company of others...I particularly like it with orange, fuschia or yellow. 

This affection for grey has inspired me to work on a series of hats...some in only shades of grey and some in combination with other colors.  I've just finished two dove grey felt hats...sort of his and hers...a fedora and a beret.  Both hats are hand-blocked...the fedora has a wide and full crown and the beret slopes over the side of the head.  I trimmed both with hat pins that I made with hammered sterling silver wire and two beautiful pieces of black silver leaf jasper.  Take a peek:

Both hats will be available in my Etsy shop starting Jan 5th if you want to see more views or buying details...wouldn't you and your honey look smashing in them!  And more designs in grey are in the making...meanwhile...

always remember that life is a journey...

it really doesn't matter where you're going

just make sure you're wearing a hat when you get there!

website: www.fatcathatsandsacks.com

etsy shop: www.fatcathatsandsacks.etsy.com
facebook: Fat Cat Hats and Sacks

Hatblocks? I don't need no stinkin' hatblocks!

Feeling a bit frustrated with the cost of hatblocks and how long it's taking me to acquire a wide variety of interesting hatblock shapes...and not being the type of person who likes to compete with winning addicted buyers on Ebay...I recently started combing the thrift stores for affordable alternatives like salad bowls and oddball things made of wood.  It's been alot of fun for me because thrift stores are some of my favorite places to shop...and I've been able to collect some great shapes for mere pennies!  While "official" hatblocks can cost $100 or more my salad bowl hat blocks are usually no more than $5.00 and most often 99 cents or less!!!  The only disadvantage that I've experienced is that salad bowls tend to come in sizes that are either much smaller or bigger than a typical head size but it's forced me to be very creative in using and adapting the bowls to hat-making...and because of that I feel like I've become that much more experienced as a milliner. 

I've been using the salad bowls to create a series of women's perching felt hats that I've trimmed with some of my handcrafted hat pins...here are just a few as well as some of the wooden bowls I've collected:

I'm really quite pleased with the results...and so happy that I've combined two of my favorite things to do...hatmaking and thrift store shopping!  So if ever you find yourself in a Portland thrift store and catch glimpse of someone walking around with wooden bowls on her head...it's probably me trying out a possible new hatblock.

always remember that life is a journey...

it really doesn't matter where you're going

just make sure you're wearing a hat when you get there!

website:  www.fatcathatsandsacks.com

etsy shop:  www.fatcathatsandsacks.etsy.com
facebook:   Fat Cat Hats and Sacks

Fat Cat Hats and Sacks is Now Blogging!

Yes it's true...finally I've created a Blog for Fat Cat Hats and Sacks.  I'll be posting news about me and my designs as well as related stories, thoughts and trivia about hats, handbags and other fashion accessories.  I've been very busy creating some new hats for women and men and look forward to sharing them with you.   In fact here is one for the men...a powder blue and beige tweed fedora:

Currently I'm hand-blocking some felt hats on salad bowls...yes, salad bowls...and am very pleased with the results... I'll be posting some photos shortly so check back soon!  Meanwhile...

always remember that life is a journey...

it really doesn't matter where you're going

just make sure you're wearing a hat when you get there!

website:  www.fatcathatsandsacks.com

facebook:   Fat Cat Hats and Sacks