BACK in Business!

I have officially landed in Minnesota! Hat-wise, I mean. We've *lived* here since July 3rd, and it has taken till NOW to get my shop up and running. Ok - so we had major water damage and renovation to deal with, but STILL, I mean JEEZ!)

Here are the first two creations for the oh-so-patientest of customers:

I still have a stack of orders in the queue, so will be happily busy for a while yet.

I've also got a few hats started that will be available on-the-shelf. Hunter green tall hat, burgundy tall hat with larger brim than usual (looks a little later period,) cool mottled brown tall bowler, chocolate flat-topped long-hair beaver!! and plans to pull four or five more as I work on the custom orders. That chocolate beaver hat really needs to be someone's Christmas gift. Will post pics soon.

Boy I'm hoping any of you still read this. :)

It is really incredibly amazing to be BACK!! I feel like I've been gone for a long, long time and just now feel like myself again. I HATES moving. Hates it.

As soon as I find the ftp software (again) I'll update the website. Man, is that a pain. Where are web minions when you need them?

It's been forever. I know, I know. Look - HATS!

I have a good excuse for my silence though. A great excuse, actually. I'm moving to Minneapolis. Yep.
My hubby got an awesome new job - the kind that you sell your house and move your child for. He'll be the MD of the Children's Theatre Company, which is a pretty humongous deal. We sure do hope to get there, get settled and STAY for a while!

I've been keeping busy prepping a house to sell, putting it on the market, showing it, keeping up with orders best I can (STILL haven't missed a deadline!) (missed a few emails....but no deadlines) and moving my husband off to Minneapolis to start the new job while the 11 yr old and I finish out the school year and keep the house (workshop included) squeaky clean.

Whaddaya think - good excuse for no blogging?

I just finished a couple of nice looking custom orders, and wanted to share a couple of shots. First, this nice fellow will be playing Raleigh at a faire, and ordered this to go with his fabulous black and pearled outfit. LOVE it! Came out so clean - I'm using a new trick or two to keep the top really really tight to the block while drying and the improvement in the shapes are undeniable!

And this fellow, who needed improved  headwear in order for his clothing to pass muster to have his merchant booth at a different faire, ordered this elegant, understated lovely:

Again - I'm thrilled with how cleanly they came out - and a HUGE thank you to the Seattle weather, which cooperated just in time for me to get this pulled and sized in the sunshine!! It was POURING outside when the order came, and there is no sizing inside the shop when I have to have it smelling all pretty for incipient  house-buyers. Yay for timely sun!

I've ordered new edge ribbon to coordinate with all the fabulous new blanks that I got last August. That order will take 3-4 weeks, so I wait for it patiently. See me be patient? Patient, patient, patient.

I also began a couple of hats for what will be a big order for Pennsic. (20 hats! largest wholesale order I've had yet!) I'm starting that now, because who knows what the future months will bring workshop-wise. Rest assured that there WILL be TrulyHats after this move. There WILL, be a functioning workshop....I just don't know how long that will take to happen. The faster the house sells, the less downtime there will be.

Wish us all the best luck!!

Countdown Timer

Countdown Timer

New custom order finished!

Just finished a new custom order - check 'er out!

I LOVE the new bleached curly peacock swords!

This lady sent me swatches for her wardrobe of kirtles and jackets, all of which had been carefully crafted to be what I call "Elizeranimalized." (Elizabethan Garanimals? Get it?

Never heard of Garanimals? You're too young, forget it. Assume that I meant that her historical clothing wardrobe is beautifully and carefully coordinated.)

It's always a little tough to make a hat that goes perfectly with several changes of outfits, yet it is a common request. If I just stick all the colors in there, it gets kindof non-cohesive and sloppily designed, and

I'm not so thrilled with putting my label on that.

I feel like this one, however, will cover all bases, and came out looking quite nice all by herself!

Now I  just hope she loves it too :)

great customer photo

Two friends from Texas, looking extra groovy in their Truly hats.

Thanks for sending!!

Straw Cavalier hat finished!!

It's finished! Looks pretty spiff, if I dare say so.

As always, click make bigger

I LOVE these cockades. I know I go on about them a lot, but come ON, aren't they amazing? I can make a fabulous, color coordinated focal point to go with ANYTHING now. I replaced the little pink organza flower in the center with a hand cast pewter stud with a Tudor rose on it. Something about those little plastic beads in the center of the flower were just not ok.

 Top view of the straw.

 And the ties that the customer requested to tie underneath her hair to keep the hat on in the wind. She wants to wear this in a sailing regatta at the end of October, and it needs to STAY ON. I tried them out - it really works well!

I sure do wish there were an easy-to-understand guide to shipping custom made straw hats to Australia.
I have to look up my exemption code every time. Everytime. Hm - maybe I could note it here for future reference.

NOEEI 30.37(a) value below $2500.00
Must hand deliver to the Post Office or schedule a pickup - don't just drop it in the box

Pink/silver cockade for the straw cavalier hat

Lookie Lookie.

(Click make big)

It's a lighter pink in person, with a silver grey cockade on top and an organza flower centerpiece, which I'm thinking I'm going to need to glue on for best effect. (drat-we hates glue!) It's not stitched down to the crinoline yet, but is sortof pinned out to show the design concept.

I need to go send her this by email too. Hope she loves it :)