The Brrrr Months Begin

It's Labour Day weekend and the weather wants to make sure you know that summer's over. Not officially, of course, but to all intents and purposes. It was darn chilly and grey and occasionally rainy this Saturday at St. Lawrence Market. My poor neighbour was underdressed for the sudden drop in temperature, jumping up and down to keep warm in his shorts and T-shirt.

It was a very quiet day, with very little foot traffic. Quite the juxtaposition to last weekend's hot and crowded Buskerfest. There was one interesting event, though. Someone kept announcing that there would be a marriage-related event at 12:30 on Front Street and that we should all pay attention. At the appointed time, a crew of young men performed a spirited dance routine. One of them did a back flip. Then another young man with a bull horn told a young lady that he was ready to go the distance for her for the rest of his life, got down on one knee, and proposed. She accepted, and the crowd went wild.

Did I mention that all this took place in front of the movie theatre where they're playing "Going the Distance"? Because it did. So I don't know if this was real or if it was a creative, yet excessive, way of getting into the movie for free. If you know, leave a message. But it was an amusing performance in the middle of a drab day.

I took shaky pictures for you.


Here is pretty Erika in her new headband with vintage lace from my great-grandfather's lingerie factory.













Rick, looking quite dashing in an Ivy cap.














See the couple in left corner? They are as yet un-affianced.









She says yes.























She accepts congratulations from passersby.

Buskerfest 2010

The great festival of international street entertainers descended upon St. Lawrence Market this weekend. The hats and Scott and I were there on Saturday. And a fantastic day it was! The weather made a late-August resurgence into spectacularity* and we basked in sunny warmth. Nice change from last year's chill and rain.

Not surprisingly, there was a big crowd milling about on blocked-off Front Street. Families enjoying the free entertainment. I was mostly somewhat confined to my tent under the North Market eaves, so it was great that a steady stream of wandering buskers put on a variety of shows right in front of me. This was much more fun than last year, when the same entertainers put on the same shows in the same space several times a day. A Dado-like personage who "spoke" with a whistle amused and confounded with yo-yos, rope and juggling. A Japanese couple amused and confounded with unicycles. Pyromeo and Juliet played with love and fire. And so on.

What a day for my spare camera batteries to die. They had been recharged, really they had. Sadly, I only captured images of the first couple of acts.

On with the show!

Sue in her new sprigged grey chapeau. They make a lovely couple.













Nadia, truly a gilded lily in her new black and gold feathered band.












Kira, pretty in pink. And butterflies!
















My tent neighbour, the aptly named Jewel, modeling her new feathered band.











Jewel and her jewelry.
Maybe I should call myself Hattie?








The juggler!















Very funny unicyclist couple.















Ta-da!











*Desk dictionary says yes, spell check says no. I'm going old school.

Attention Shoppers: Market Exchange

Please note that I will not be at my St. Lawrence Market table this Saturday. My indispensable partner, Scott, is playing Hugh's Room that evening with his band, Kensington Market. (Scott plays bass.)

Maybe you heard them on CIUT's Take 5 this morning.

So come to see Kensington Market! They're really good! Of course, I would say that, wouldn't I? But I liked them on the radio before I knew any of them.

Neutrality Agreement

It was all about natural linen colour yesterday. Every hat I sold was that delicious shade. Chic, timeless, flattering, neutral, easy to wear, goes with everything. I love using that colour.

St. Lawrence Market was much nicer without all the wood smoke from last week, if you ask me. A quick survey of some of my textile crafting neighbours featured the word Febreeze as the common denominator. All is well, though; no lasting ill effects were bemoaned. All my hats needed to recuperate was a breath of fresh air in our back yard.

The weather was just great -- not too hot, which was a lovely surprise, given the infernal forecast. Of course, we tend to be lucky where we're situated, with the lake breezes wafting up Market Street. And the rain held off, too. Lots of foot traffic, sensibly taking advantage of the luscious bounty offered by the farmers of the North Market next door to us crafters. I bought some divine French haricots verts from the Handsome Farmer. (I can't tell you which one that is, because I don't want to hurt the feelings of the other farmers.) And peaches and strawberries and tomatoes and kale. And sexy, stinky, runny cheese from the South Market. Life is good. (I almost typed "Life is food." An apt Freudian slip.)

Lots of visitors came by, which is so great. I love having a regular gig at a regular spot, so people can drop by knowing you'll be there. Friends, family (bearing home-baked goodies! Thanks, Kathy!), returning customers. It's very gratifying and a good way to feel rich.

Herewith the weekly photo parade:

Lovely Lucie was the first to try on my new gambler-ish straw. No one looked better in it, either.














Gail models her new, bespoke linen bucket hat with the pleated details. She says she likes it even better than the coral linen one she bought earlier this season. Thanks, Gail!






Linda in her new wide-brimmed natural linen hat. And a new, bespoke Trilby will follow.








Anne (easy name to remember!) in her new linen bucket. Don't they look happy together?








Pretty Adria in her pretty, sprigged band. Excellent choice!









Looking ahead to fall/winter, Katrinka models her woolly bow band. It says Minnie Mouse, but in a good way.

Summer and Smoke

Yesterday there was a free corn roast at St. Lawrence Market. Gorgeous day for it, too. Last summer it took place only on the south side, and I never encountered it. This year they had it on both sides of Front Street. I was situated very close by.

They built a big, wood-burning fire next to the fountain, with no chimney. It produced a great deal of smoke. It smelled great for the first little while, until you noticed how much your eyes were stinging. It also produced a great deal of ash, which blew about in large chunks and settled everywhere.

The corn roast was very popular. There was a long lineup the whole time, which snaked right in front of my hat display. These folks were not hat customers. If there were any out there, they had a lot of people to wiggle through to get to my display. I guess that's why they didn't. It was also became pretty claustrophobic for us vendors, hemmed in by the press of humanity.

Sigh....

Fortunately, a kind universe favoured me with a very good day before the conflagration of the corn began. Herewith the photographic souvenirs:

Denise Dufour, a returning customer (my absolutely favourite kind), chose two new hats for herself. Here she is in a black and white gingham with zipper tape trim.
















A real hat fan, Michelle fell immediately in love with my Balenciaga-ish chapeau. Add why shouldn't she? It was a millinery class project that earned a very high mark. It's great to see it find such an appreciative new owner. My mother will miss it, though. It was her favourite.








People. Lots and lots of people. Lots and lots of waiting. Note the tarpaulin my best beloved, Scott, has rigged in a desperate bid to block out the smoke.












Samantha knows what she likes. She chose this hat to model while waiting in line with her dad, Darryl.











A rare, behind-the-gridwall view of the sea of humanity slowly filing by my display.

Attention Shoppers

Please note that I will not be at my usual post at St. Lawrence Market this coming Saturday, July 31 due to an important family occasion. I'll be back, weather permitting, Saturday, August 7.

Merci!

Pendant Moi Le Deluge*

*With apologies to Louis XV.

Last Saturday at St. Lawrence Market began beautifully -- sunny and breezy, not really hot like last Saturday was. Just about perfect, really. Lots of foot traffic, including two customers who came back for more! I love when that happens! Joanna Sipos of Belle Boutique was there, selling her fantastic jewelry. Everyone loves her. She's so nice and so talented. (Disclaimer: I work for Joanna and David Dunkley of KC's Hats on Sundays.) Somewhat fewer craft vendors than usual. Maybe they were scared away by the weather report.

They had a point. Mid-afternoon what looked like a piffle of a trickle at first glance quickly became a very purposeful downpour. My tent neighbours and a bunch of their friends and we were huddled under our tents, madly grabbing our creations out of harm's way, and learning quickly that the tents have holes in them. Not so much fun.

The last time we had a drenching like that was during Woofstock. Sometimes one is grateful for being off to one side, if said side has a concrete roof.

But it was good while it lasted. Herewith the photographic evidence:

The lovely Amanda, first customer of the day, gracing her new hairband.














Meagan, looking adorable in a straw bowler.















Rachel and Linda, playing dress-up. Although I do think Linda should make that Trilby hers, don't you?











Kate in a bow on a band.













Shy little Monica, the band's new owner.















The lovely and very talented Joanna. I was very flattered that she bought this band, and one other piece.








Carole found the perfect hat. Don't they look happy together?

Market Post-Bastille Day

Bastille Day came and went and I almost forgot to sing the Marseillaise. Almost. I remembered in the nick of time and regaled my friend Heather with the first verse, very quietly, on the subway. She had taken me to see "Jersey Boys" for a very special birthday present. I had a blast! Everyone should see it and all bands should have choreography.

"Jersey Boys" and this French holiday have nothing to do with millinery, of course. Except for maybe cockades, those nifty little ribbon circles les citoyens wore on their caps. (Note to self: Make more cockades.) I could tell you some nerdy details about the origins of those, but not until you ask. Cheap bid for emails. (Sad, I know.)

Some Francophones did come by my table at the Market on Saturday, though.

The day began sunny and hot, but became cloudier and gustier later in the afternoon. My poor neighbour, Linda Childs, had a few hair-raising moments trying to keep her lovely creations framed in glass from falling to their deaths. It was close there, once or twice. Hats are bouncier.

Other than battening down our respective hatches, my tent neighbours and I were entertained by eye-catchingly costumed teams zooming about on a treasure hunt. It was The Great Urban Race, modeled after The Amazing Race on TV, to raise money for St. Jude's Hospital. They were having their pictures taken pretending to dive into the fountain and asking us where this and that were.

Otherwise, the north Market was abundantly bountiful with produce. Veggies, fruits and flowers seemed to have increased exponentially since last week. Come and see for yourself next Saturday.

Mark, looking quite dashing in an Ivy cap.










Sue, modeling her new wide-brimmed, hand-blocked, tea-stained straw. With chinstraps added for boating with confidence.












Syndey, Carleigh, Taylor, Kristi and Michaela - one attractive family, mostly from Arizona, and a bit from Michigan. Taylor chose a hairband with a zipper flower for a birthday present. Thanks, Taylor!



My friend and best customer, Lucy. She's been coveting this raspberry felt since Christmas, and finally took the plunge. She's looking forward to wearing it for real when it's more seasonally appropriate.

Feeling the Heat

Another spectacularly beautiful day at the Market yesterday. We were so lucky that the heat wave had broken the day before, taking the oppressive humidity away. It was hot and sunny, but not the trying-to-kill-you kind.

Lots of visitors from near and far were afoot, or a-wheel. One was Ramteen, a photographer. He kindly shared with me the cool photo he took of my hats (left). The colour, the composition, the light and shadow! How nice to see my work through someone else's lens. Thanks, Ramteen!

Also, a couple stopped by who used to run a millinery store on Adelaide. It's always fun to meet fellow milliners, but I always seem to meet retirees who have sold all their hat blocks. If you have hat blocks to sell, I'm all ears!

Now it's time to get cracking on a hat for Salome. She's off to Cuba this week, and she must be protected from that Caribbean sun.

On with this week's show:

This is Roslyn, who thought she didn't look good in hats. I love disabusing people of this illusion!










This charming Francophone is Gabrielle, who glows in her new coral linen chapeau.











This is Sydney. I could tell she was a dancer, but she chose not to strike a dancer-ly pose for this photo in which she models her just-made-that-day hairband.








Alley, front, and Blue. I once had a brother who was an Airedale, like Alley. It's true. My mother's other child.

Pat's Hat

Pat, my best friend Heather's mum, had me make her a hat. I had a delightful time taking my millinery road show to her beautiful Lake Simcoe home on a gorgeous day last month. It was just as fun taking her the completed chapeau, as Heather and her hubby Johnmark came, too (and did all the driving! Score!). A bit breezy, so no lake dipping this time either (nerts), but another delicious and abundant lunch, walks and frolics with Oliver, overgrown puppy deluxe.

Pat chose a hat for gardening and Floridian sun. I think she made an excellent choice. The sunny colour makes her complexion glow. Thanks, Pat!

School's Out!

This weekend took the nasty taste of last weekend clean away. It was sunny and warm, the kids were out of school, and everyone seemed to be breathing a collective sigh of post-summit relief.

As I said last time, I wasn't selling hats last weekend. My partner Scott and I did come to St. Lawrence Market anyway, to see what we were missing and to shop. We weren't missing anything. The weather was awful. The North Market was a virtual bowling alley. Very few farmers came in for the day. Only two brave souls selling their crafts under tarpaulins outside, trying not to be blown away by the winds. (Pathetic fallacy, anyone?) The South Market seemed quieter than usual, too. The liquor store on the corner was boarded up, but the bank wasn't, after all.

But last Saturday was very nice, indeed. We had our tent neighbour, Judy Welch, the model agent par excellence in her day, tell us about the time she met Elvis Presley. Lots of lovely people came by, like Judith, who had me make a custom linen trilby for her, and graciously allowed me to trim it as I saw fit. So I did. She loves it and it loves her. A few more hats found their forever homes, both locally and internationally. I thank their new "mothers".

Judith in her new trilby.

















Trilby, trim-view.














Cheryl. She looked great in this one.
















Gisele, in another trilby.





Helen and her new hat, which is preparing to enjoy life in Liverpool. Thankfully it's a big Beatles fan.






The lovely Ailish and Shannon, gracing well-chosen hair ornaments.