Mad Hatter?....No Darlings... I'm the MAD One...

Hello Dhaaarlings...

With a cool change comes madness...

The heatwave lasted for four days of above 40 C with minimums in the low to mid 30's... Nuff said....

Prinny was quite knackered after that.... and it took everything in my power to keep the water up to the garden... (I'm dreading the water bill) But stuff it! I didn't plant out a garden to have it turn to dust overnight...

As the weather has cooled I've been game enough to get back to creating some stuff.... and this time around...

It's hats darlings!...

The youth theatre group has the rights to "The Music Man" this year...

It's a Musical set in early 1900's America...

The costumes are lots of long straight skirts, blouses and angular jackets with peplums and mini bustles... But more of them once I start making them...

Oh... and did I mention marching band costumes? No?... Well I've got them to make too... At present the figure is for 12 band costumes...

 but knowing the producer... will probably have grown to double tht by the time the show is cast...

In the meantime...

I thought I'd start playing about with some hats. Here are some of the results...

Something over the top and just a little ostentatious...

Perhaps for the Mayors Wife... "Mrs Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn"?

Here's what to do...

Take one large black sombrero...

Hand-stitch some satin lining to the undersid of the brim...

  Machine gathered and then hand-pleat as you go...

Pin into place then stitch and remove the pins...

Add some madly oversized peoney roses, sprigs of bright yellow freesia and mauve wedding bush...

Add some more Satin to the crown and wrap around a goodly length of scrunched up mauve tulle... Stich the tulle into place and tie it off in a big oversized bow...

What more could any girl want?

Something a little simpler perhaps?...

These three for instance...

The dark blue... is an original felt and ribbon found at the op shop for $2! Bargain! I just fannied about with some flowers to spruce it up a bit...

The other two... the brown riding hat and cream boater came as new blanks from various thrift shops.

The blue i've already mentioned but the Green is an original find again from the op shop... It came with it's original silk rose and grosse graine ribbon trim... The brim is oval in shape with the sides being much wider than the front and back of the hat...

I've just added the peacock feathers... I think the green in the feathers just give it a bit of a lift...

The Dark Blue on the left is another find in an op shop.

I've done nothing to alter it... It's in it's original condition... dust and all.

Here it is from the back...

I love the shape of both crowns and the curve of the brims....

 and both still have their original ribbons which I don't intend changing...

I'll be getting out the glue gun now... Well... After the long weekend... to fix all the flowers into place...

(They are only pinned at the moment)

But in the meantime Darlings... I'll be thinking of you all as I sit raising a glass in your honour and sipping something cool by the riverbank while the Empress and I Celebrate Australia Day...

Bottoms Up Darlings...