HANDMADE HATS

Back in the early 1900's my Great Aunt Kate opened her first hat store. By the time I was born she had two hat stores in downtown Rochester, New York. Great Aunt Kate and her sister Great Aunt Tillie were both spinsters and they devoted their life to the stores. As a child, growing up in the depression, I was truly amazed when my mother introduced me the back room of Great Aunt Kate's main store. The back room was where they kept the magic--the bolts of wool felt and hat velvet, the piles of shivering feathers that seemed to fly in the air when you ran down the aisle, the spools of exotic ribbons and the endless hat trims. We were taught not to run, but to tip-toe so as not to disturb the precious feather piles. We stood in awe while Aunt Kate told us of the glamerous movie stars who called in orders for her wonderous creations.

I guess by genetic nature, hatmaking is in my blood. I love to work old trims and braids into beautiful creations. I have just about depleated my supply of 1890 celluloid braid. I have a bit of 1950's braid. I am always looking for haat making supplies and have found that the new Italian straw doll hats "antique" very well. I have taught hat making seminars and workshops througout the country.

Take a look at some of the wonderous creations we have photographed for you. If you have some old stock that you would like turned into a hat for your doll, we would love to work with your stock--otherwise we ar limited to what we have on hand.