Hats Off, Hats On

Last weekend I decided to attempt a cloche hat. I've wanted one for quite a while despite the fact that I really don't look good in hats. I like hats. I have even been known to wear them. But wear them well? No, actually.

Exhibit A
There will be no Exhibit B.

The hat almost works. It's a little big, but it covers my head. I just don't like it as much as I thought I would. Mostly it's hot. 

I guess I'll have to wait until this business of the middle-aged heat wave finally passes. I had hoped 57 would be the magic number but apparently I have to get "upper" in age. 




Ah, I digress. Apologies. The cloche is my dream hat. Not the straw hats that I must wear in the Louisiana summer. Cloche hats are cute, sexy, and fun. Straws are utilitarian, sun fighers, blah if you will. 

I mean, who doesn't love a straw hat when the rays are hitting the part in your hair at 100 degrees? Ever had a sunburn on your head? The part-in-your-hair part of your head blisters. When the heat is that bad, the tops of your ears melt. Nothing short of a straw hat the size of a tree can handle that job. 

Preferably a well-worn, beaten up old straw hat. One with a string so you don't lose it when you pass out. Because in the South, passing out is the only thing you're allowed. God forbid that you whine a little (or a lot). 

Inside band and label

When the temps are 105 degrees, you are most likely sizzling on metal stadium seats. Trees don't grow in those kind of places; they have more sense than that. 



Southerners? Oh no, we don't have the sense of a tree. We go to little league games, Nascar races, football and soccer games and all manner of sit-on-a-hot-metal-seat events. Hats come in handy at those places. Hats and umbrellas. And sunscreen. Don't forget the sunscreen. Oh, and water. A towel to put on the seat. Yeah, that towel is pretty important to the hiney-end; no one wants a cooked hiney. 

Years ago (okay, many years) our boys were teenagers. They are athletes. As parents of three boys, we've bleachered every sport. In wind and rain, in sweltering sun and, once, in a November ice storm. The ice storm was bad. The August sun shining in my eyes at three in the afternoon--the bleachers absorbing heat all day long--was the absolute worst. 

Thank my lucky stars, I'd remembered my entire ensemble: a big red straw hat, a reflective silver umbrella, water, sunscreen and towel. I was the only momma in the stands. (Really. It was a scrimmage and some distance from home.) I did pass out (it's a requirement, remember?) during which time, my ears and eyelids melted.  Soon after, the seat of my pants burst into flames. Yep, I got a little hot but a big red hat saved my life. Too bad it couldn't save my toosh.

Pin It Weekly #194

I recently made an interesting discovery. As a result, I've been burying myself in embossed metal art--beautiful, intricate, intriguing. Some, I've noticed, could easily become quilting motifs.

The few minutes that I haven't been sewing or pinning embossed metals, I have been thinking about an idea I have for a cloche hat. I've wanted one for a while now but don't have a pattern.  I guess if I look at enough hats, I'll be able to create my own pattern. Why not?

I hope you are having a great week, even though it's very close to the end. I have only two days of word because of the Mardi Gras holiday and as of right now, one is complete. That means Friday to go before another three-day weekend. Yes, (hehe) I'm enjoying my week. 

#fleurdelisquiltsonpinterest

Pin It Weekly #111

Before I get too far along and forget this quilt, I have to share!

CHOONSAN (SPRING MOUNTAIN), ©2008, 48"X 60"

Do you see yo-yo's?  Yes.  Yo-yo after yo-you.  To make a face no less.  Impressed?  You bet I am! The artist, Shin-hee Chin, has many other works on her website.  I recommend you visit.

So, on to Pinterest and what I've been pinning lately.  Well, in addition to quilts, of course.  Hats.  I needed a hat not long ago to hold off the sun.  Generally I just stay indoors, but sometimes it's necessary to face the sun.  I like a hat that can hold a ponytail.

Now don't be fooled.  I would not wear these hats.  I could but I'd get laughed out of town.  No, these are just because they are fun, pretty, unique, or eclectic.  I like eclectic.  I like that something is there only because it is.  I hope to be eclectic when I'm a little old lady.  I'll wear a hat.  I really hope to be a little old lady....little being the operative word.  

And a few of my favorite....the cloche

And a few of what I do wear (especially in summer)....straw hats

 

Find these hats and more on my "haberdashery, hats" board.  Then check out what others are pinning and add your favorites.

Below are a few of my favorite boards from this week.  Share a couple of your favorites.  Just scroll down to the inlinz connection below and add the url to your favorite board or one of your pins.  We'd love to see what you're into.

Pin It Wednesday #59

Know what a cloche is?  A pretty little bell-shaped cover.  

A cake cover is one example.  So is a wired cover for a gorgeous Christmas (any holiday) vignette.

Funny, I was actually searching for a cloche hat because I was pinning hats.  When I typed in cloche It didn't occur to me that I'd get so many glass examples.  But I found a few.  This is my favorite~~pretty little leather books under glass.  How perfect is that?

Found a few hats, also.  What pretty little bells these are!

Look at the embellishment on this beautiful mustard cloche.  

Oh my!

Like the look of fancy?  It's all in the little details!

So once I decided that I love the look, I started thinking there has t be a way to get one of these without having to put out tons of money.  I don't have tons of anything, so I have to spend sweat equity to get what I want.

Ta-da!  It's so doable.  Just type in cloche diy~~BOOM!

These are cheap glasses turned upside down with glass marbles as handles.  I'd use round marbles or even a glass knob, but you get the idea.  I'm thinking that if I want a larger cloche, I could use glass bowls, but remember to look on the bottom to make sure there's no tell-tale signs like wording.  Wouldn't they make some pretty, inexpensive gifts?  I talking dollar store for starters.

As for the cloche hat, I had to figure out how milliners get that bell shape.  Here you go....it's a  rounded wedge times six that forms the skull shape.  I've made some infant hats with this rounded wedge (although I wasn't trying for such a tight fit) and found that it's not so difficult to sew together.  I imagine that it would be easy enough to change, or eliminate, the brim of my pattern and adjust the size of the wedge.    And then I found this pattern.  Of course, I don't know one thing beyond this drawing, but I'm betting we could figure it out.  What do you think?

Let me know if you've made a version of the cloche glass cover or the hat.  I'm curious how that turned out.  

Mary

Pin It Wednesday #30

How does it happen that I can't "cheat" at this blogging business?  Really, I can't.  Well, if writing the blog early and scheduling ahead is cheating, I can't.  I can't figure out why, when I schedule a post to publish on a certain day and time, it doesn't post.  

That's about as much as I will cheat, you see, because I'm not very good at it...I easily get caught.  Maybe I talk just a bit much and before I realize it....I'm caught!  Kinda like now.  

I guess I'll have to stop relying on the computer clock or the server bell thingie because it obviously does not think I should have this luxury.  Okay, but it could mean that I don't get to Wednesday until Thursday.  Kinda like now.  Sorry.  

Here's good news--I deleted the silly, fudy writing from the original post, and I have some pretty pictures to show you.

pretty block ideas....

Wouldn't it be difficult to choose only one?

pretty vintage hats...  

Imagine wearing some of these pretty vintage accessories.  How about making them? 

Now aren't you glad I deleted most of that silly writing?

Happy pinning,

Mary