Tatiana

I wanted to make this one very wintry, almost icy, so I picked out every silver or crystal element I had in my supply closet to see what I could put on it. I tried to keep things light and delicate by using the white tulle instead of a satin or heavier fabric as backing for the brocade, to counter the relatively heavy silver filigree. Originally I thought about naming this hat "Crystalline," but come on, it's an adjective, I can't name a hat after a noun modifier... so I picked something Russian instead, because let's face it, Russia is cold.

Tatiana

Delicate and sparkling as a snowflake, the Tatiana is similarly one of a kind. Intricate silver threadwork forms a starburst pattern at the top of the hat, which is echoed in the white and silver brocade that encircles the crown. White tulle peeks out from behind the brocade like the thinnest film of frost on a winter morning, and an acrylic jewel as clear as ice is wrapped in silver filigree and accented by tiny rhinestones and glass pearls. A fluffy white ostrich plume adorned with rhinestones rises into the clouds, and curling white feathers fall gently into place to provide a finishing touch to this crystalline creation.

Daphne

This started out as an aqua-themed hat, and I intended it to look vaguely ocean-y, but as you can see that idea just went out the window once I realized that the blue jewels I had just didn't work with the fabric, so I went with pink instead. Then it needed something to go with the paisley pattern in the brocade, so I added a pair of brass swirls. Then a few more. I may have gotten a little carried away with the swirls on this one, but they were so much fun that I just kept going. Then the feathers just worked themselves in... they remind me a little of daisy petals, but I think it works. So, without further ado:

Daphne:

Airy, whimsical, and full of fun, the Daphne is girly without being overly frilly, combining aqua and bubblegum pink to be elegant while remaining youthful. The Daphne features swirl upon swirl of brass wire, echoing the paisley pattern in the luscious aqua brocade layered over an iridescent pink and blue taffeta. The dual shades in the fabric tie into the pink acrylic wire-wrapped jewel that forms the centerpiece of this lovely hat, while brass flowers hand-set with tiny glass pearls provide delicate accents. Three white duck feathers soften the lines of the brass wire, framing the central embellishment and adding yet another layer of texture. This little hat is so adorable, you can't help smiling-- and neither will anyone else when they see you wearing it!

Scarlett

Okay, one thing you need to know is that I love red. Red silk, red brocade, red jewels... red is always the first color I gravitate towards when I'm looking for dresses, jewelry, anything, so I was dying to use these on a hat. The silk is the same silk I used to cover my wedding invitations, so it's obviously one of my favorite fabrics. Plus, the combination of the red jewels and silk just reminds me so much of the dress Scarlett O'Hara wore to Melanie's birthday after being caught kissing Ashley in Gone With the Wind. Perhaps not the best role model, but she always had style!

Scarlett:
Resplendent in silk, brocade, and glowing ruby-colored jewels, the Scarlett is rich, vibrant, and worthy of being worn by Ms. O'Hara herself. A large rectangular acrylic jewel gleams from within a centerpiece of intricate brass filigree accented with tiny sparkling rhinestones in diamond and ruby, and crimson dupioni silk peeps out from behind a wide band of scarlet satin brocade, patterned in black and gold. A nodding black ostrich plume is regal, while curling black goose feathers provide a sassy flair to this lovely, luscious, and ever-so-slightly impertinent hat. Vivien Leigh would be proud!

Briar Rose

I custom-made this one for a friend of mine, who, along with putting up with my constant dissection of the ins and outs of hat-making over Gmail chat, has been nice enough to spread the word about this whole venture to her not-inconsiderable podcast audience. Because she loves pink (to the point of occasionally dyeing her hair in a particularly brilliant shade) yet also expressed interest in a blue-themed hat, I immediately thought of Princess Aurora's dress from Disney's Sleeping Beauty. I always enjoyed the scene where the three fairies made her dress and fought over the color, and when I found this changeable pink/blue taffeta I knew it would be perfect. In keeping with the Sleeping Beauty theme, I used embroidered black rose trim. The best part is that my friend is a knitter, and spends a lot of time spinning her own yarn-- hence, the "spinning wheel" undertheme fits right in!

Briar Rose:
Dark and blossomy, the Briar Rose takes its inspiration from the original Sleeping Beauty story and its more cheerful counterpart, the Disney version. This hat features a jet-black acrylic jewel crowned with brass filigree and accented by tiny rhinestones, while dainty brass flowers hand-sewn with glass pearls peek out from either side. Like the princess's tower, the entire hat is encircled by lush black roses, in the form of rose-patterned and sequined venise lace, and two large embroidered rose appliques bloom on the opposite side. The hat-band, made of changeable iridescent taffeta in shades of pink and blue, is a nod to the animated movie, and the entire hat is finished off with a majestic ostrich plume in inky black, highlighted with sparkling black and fuschia rhinestones.

The story so far

It all started with steampunk. I was looking for a mini top-hat to use in the steampunk costume I was making for Anime Boston, and all of the available hats were either too expensive or too plain. I thought I'd decorate my own, but the brick-and-mortar craft stores were apparently fresh out of any miniature hats larger than 4" across, the online craft stores had larger hats but they looked cheap even in the pictures, and the rest of the Google hits I came up with were for overseas wholesale manufacturers. I began to see that there might be a niche market for high-quality miniature top hats that wouldn't break the bank, and before I knew it I was emailing a hat company in China to see about making an initial order. Many months, several dozen emails, and numerous shopping trips for supplies later, I managed to get started decorating hats. It's been easier than I thought in some respects, and a lot harder in others, but I'm happy with the overall results.

I've been making hats every few days, designs based on whatever I feel like creating at the moment, so I'll try to post them here as they're completed. All hats are available for sale, and I'll be setting up an Etsy store and/or another website to facilitate purchases. For the record, these hats are approximately 7" in diameter, made of 100% wool felt, and have elastic loops on the inside that slide onto the included black plastic headband (or can be anchored with bobby pins or clips). All hats are individually decorated by me. Hope you enjoy looking at them!

The First Eight Hats

Ernestine:

Inspired by steampunk fashion, the Ernestine juxtaposes luxurious fabrics with antiqued brass, utilitarian

gears with delicate

filigree, and takes it over the top with a lush panel of overlapping pheasant plumage. The Ernestine features burnt orange dupioni silk and a brown/gold brocade, a pad of pheasant feathers in browns and creams,

and a topaz acrylic jewel

set in brass filigree. Metal gears and tiny brass flowers set with pearls are hand-sewn to accent the central embellishment, along with tiny rhinestones in two shades of topaz.

Emmeline:

Slightly more whimsical than her older sister Ernestine, the Emmeline is offbeat, quirky, and full of an airy unconcern for all things conventional. A fluffy golden ostrich plume is grounded by an eclectic collection of clock faces, keyholes, and brass flowers set with pearls, while a single coppery gear is a nod to the traditional steampunk aesthetic. Burnt orange dupioni silk and chocolate brown grosgrain ribbon are set off by six tiny topaz rhinestones, and fanciful brass curlicues finish off the look.

Ikebana:

Elegant in its simplicity, the Ikebana embodies the qualities that are the hallmark of the traditional Japanese form of flower arranging. A single band of olive-green brocade is wrapped with narrow brown satin ribbon, and surmounted by two perfect silk orchid blossoms. Delicate gold thread forms vertical stripes that meet at the top of the crown in a starburst pattern visible only from above. The orchid stems have been wrapped in matching olive-green satin ribbon, and the petals are painted in acrylic to prevent creases and maintain their delicate pefection.

Jacqueline:

Quintessentially Parisian, the Jacqueline would be equally at home nibbling macarons at Hermés or attending the races at Ascot across the Channel. No matter what's in vogue, black and white are always the fashion. The Jacqueline features bold black-and-white striped ribbon, set off by a fashionably drooping white ostrich plume and three black goose biots, curled to perfection. A ruby-red

acrylic jewel is wrapped in brass filigree and accented with two tiny pearls, and placed in the center of a dramatic bow. No matter what the event, you're sure to be the best-dressed person there in this chapeau!

Lady Anne:

Cool and aristocratic in shades of gray and lilac, the Lady Anne is threaded with silver, studded with pearls, and fit to adorn nobility. Silver thread is hand-stitched in a quilted pattern over the entire crown, and accented with individually sewn glass pearls at each juncture. A wide band of lilac dupioni silk is highlighted with a double row of satin ribbon in lilac and gray, while an amethyst acrylic jewel is wrapped in silver filigree and accented with more pearls and tiny rhinestones in lavender. The hat is surmounted by a matching gray ostrich plume.

Tiffany:

With hot pink brocade and black feathers, what else can this hat be called but "Tiffany"? Shocking pink brocade practically glows against the black felt hat, and is patterned with exotic blooms in electric blue, orange, and gold. The swirling chrysanthemum pattern in the brocade is echoed by the golden wire swirls that surround the central jet-black acrylic jewel, and the intertwined black spiral goose biot feathers. It can be tough to make hot pink look elegant, but the Tiffany manages it!

Twilight I (Edward):

Inspired by Twilight, the Edward is dark and brooding, with a hint of sparkle under the surface. Black, black, and more black is accented with glints of blood-red and silver, while leather and chains keep this beautiful hat from being overly feminine. Black burnout velvet with sparkling threads woven throughout covers the crown, topped with a hat band made of supple black leather. A narrow red satin ribbon adds a touch of color, while red teardrop crystals dangle like drops of blood from silver chains fastened by antique silver buttons. A jet-black acrylic jewel is set in silver filigree with two tiny red rhinestones, and curling black feathers add a finishing touch.

Twilight II (Bella):

The feminine counterpart to the Edward, the Bella is just as dark and dreamy, but softened by lace and fluffy ostrich plumes. She still has the sparkle, covered in burnout velvet with metallic threads, and it's only enhanced by layers of heavy black venise lace that recalls the shape of Gothic windows. Antique silver buttons stretch silver chains across a black ostrich plume, which rises above a jet-black acrylic jewel wrapped in silver filigree. Blood-red teardrop crystals, tiny rhinestones, and narrow satin ribbon provide accents of color to this gorgeous hat.