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Happy March - can you believe it? Via the wonders of online life, I have seen the Snowdrops blooming. However, I just checked my front garden, and while there isn't any snow, there are not blossoms...yet.
Not daunted, I keep adding more and more seed packets to my Wishlist on Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. It is the most therapeutic feeling! I can imagine all the flowers and veggies growing. It looks really nice in my mind's eye.
I forget that gardening here in western Pennsylvania is NOT like gardening in California nor in England. In our clay soil, the weeds grow enormous overnight. This isn't true of what we plant. Consequently, I probably won't end up with what I can envision in my mind!
Perhaps, this is a sign to redirect my attention to where I have a bit more control? My studio!
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It's the Pickle Hat that I created from a 'Shower Thought'! You know, one of those ideas that hit you unexpectedly while you are doing something else. My eureka was the idea of making an over-the-top, pickle-inspired hat for an online friend who LOVES pickles AND has a hard time finding hats that fit.
Below is the work-in-progress image that I shared in February.
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From a flat pancake (with warty bumps), I persevered to shape it into a rounded object.
Originally, I had planned to attach the tiny gherkin during the feltmaking process. However, I was unsure of the angle. So, I hand sewed it on when it was dry. I'm still not 100% on this detail. Wouldn't it be cool if it could rotate like a propeller! Hmmm. :)
Unexpectedly, the silk earflaps ended up shrinking a lot - approximately 50%. Along with the polka dots, the only wool is along the edges to 'bind' the fabric. Hence, the earflaps look dinky! I had imagined them being more of a prop that could be tied and flounced about.
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It's a challenging hat to photograph, and like most felted textiles looks better in person. The shine and color don't come across.
Here it is on LadyB, who is looking atypically fierce. There are more humorous videos of her wearing it on her Instagram, @thefoundfashion.
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Did you know that I do an Instagram Live every Tuesday at 11:30 AM eastern time? If you have any questions or topics that you are interested in, 'hit' the reply button and let me know.
Again, thank you for all of your support.
With appreciation,
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PS: If you are a feltmaker, you might be interested in taking a class with Pam de Groot. I took two of them a few years ago and now incorporate many of her cool techniques into my hats. The sample-based, Surface, Form & Space was my favorite one. Her other class is more project-based. Here, you learn how to recreate three of her neat, almost iconic, felted sculptures: The Splash, The Spiral, and The Twistie. The latter I transformed into this Purple Jester Hat.
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