Fearful Summitry

St. Lawrence Market was its usual self this Saturday, but we're bracing for whatever upheaval the G20 Summit next weekend will wreak. I hear the police have suggested to the farmers in the North Market that they may prefer to cancel their trips into town next Saturday, since highway travel will be made more interesting/challenging by the eighty-odd motorcades scheduled. A nearby bank has received a shipment of plywood with which to barricade its windows. Sheesh...

All the excitement will be taking place some distance west of the Market, except for the big pen they've built for the detainees from Queen's Park, and the downtown convention centre. That's southeast of the Market, along Eastern Avenue, in case you're planning to storm the barricades. Alons, enfants de la patrie...

Frankly, it's all too much to contemplate for me. I will not be at the Market next Saturday. I will be back Saturday, July 3 (barring monsoons) as usual.

Anyhoo, back to yesterday. It was quite nice, especially after the weather made a commitment to behave and the sun came out to stay. Nice people from near and far came by, as usual. I didn't get nearly as much work done as I'd planned to, as usual.

Salome Cordeiro had a table nearby, as she often does. She is as multi-talented artist who lends a hand to the same folks I do. So we're stablemates. Or something. Salome was selling some fabulous creatures she's made, "scalarags and sock imps", at least some of which were very, ahem, cheeky.

Amy (left) and Jocelyn gracing a brace of hair clips.








Emma-Rose, looking lovely in her aptly chosen hairband.













From the left we have Jane, Sydney, Lauren and Casey, four charming girls.







Salome and a bevy of her creatures. Please note that the sock she is holding up was made from a pair of kids' socks. A tiny thing made into a teeny thing.








Cheeky devil!

Woof

If you like dogs, and lots of 'em, Woofstock is the place for you. Dogs and people were abundantly represented at St. Lawrence Market this Saturday, grey skies notwithstanding. From Great Danes to teacup Yorkies, from "naked" to costumed, it was a regular pup-apalooza. The skies finally opened mid-afternoon, right about the time we would be packing up, anyway. The event carried on today (Sunday) as well, which was rain-free. Hope everyone who went had fun, and all their shots.

A few brave souls wandered off the beaten path of Front and Market Streets to find me toward the back of the Park and make my day worthwhile, millinerilly speaking.

My shots (photographic) were limited, as all my camera batteries died. Even the spares. Here are the few I did manage to get.

These doggies, Kelsey and Quin, are staying at the King Edward Hotel, giving new meaning to the expression, "it's a dog's life."






Sandra in her new grey Trilby. Which was modeled earlier by...





Zoe, with Kayla and Donna.









Corinne looks quite dashing in her new peacock-trimmed chapeau with the bead and sequin motifs. And Michelle took home a grey silk calla lily headband.

This dachshund is Mila. She came back dressed in a centipede costume.

Amnesia Day

Whew! It's been a busy week. On Monday, as previously posted, I went to the Dundas museum to see the glorious hats display. The next day I went to Lake Simcoe to visit a client, who happens to be my best friend's mum. A delightful afternoon. Gorgeous weather again, but the lake was too cold to get wet in. I hope to rectify that when I bring the completed hat that was commissioned. More busyness ensued, millinery and non, then before I knew it, it was Saturday and I was back to the Market once again.

I blame all this for me being too ditzy to write down the names of two of my photo subjects. If they see this, I hope they will be so kind as to email me so I can put their names next to their photos.

It was another good day, thanks to all the lovely people who bought hats or accessories for themselves or their sisters or daughters. There was a lot of love in evidence, very heart-cockle-warming. And what goes around, comes around.


What a little cutie.















This anitpodean elfin sophisticate's name eludes me. If she sees this, I do hope she'll email me to refresh my memory.









Katherine, right, bought her twin sister Libby the hairband she is wearing. The lime green silk looks great with Libby's colouring.








Melody's mother, in a matching outfit, bought her this hat. They were on their fifth annual Girls Trip, with other girls of their family, where they get together to visit new places and spend some quality time. Because life is short!




Next week at St. Lawrence Market it's Woofstock. If you likes you some pooches, come on down!

Museum Millinery -- Act Now!

My millinery colleagues, David and Sheila, and I used our mutual day off this Monday to visit the museum in Dundas, Ontario, where hats were on display. Sheila had told us about the guest curator, Norma Shephard, and her Mobile Hat Museum some time ago, so we jumped at the chance to go see Finishing Touch: The Milliners’ Art & The Hatters’ Trade while the jumping was good.

It was a gorgeous day, and the town of Dundas, next door to Hamilton, was just beautiful. We poked about the main street and had a lovely lunch before visiting the tiny, perfect museum, where admission is by donation.

We made a beeline for the hat display, and spent a very fast hour ooh-ing and aah-ing over Ms. Shephard's collection. It was wonderful, and truly exceeded our expectations. I don't want to tell you everything we saw and loved and wanted to try to make ourselves -- I want you to go see it for yourself. Time is of the essence; the display is ending June 13.

May Day

If it's this hot in May, what, pray tell, might we anticipate for July? Plenty of demand for wide-brimmed hats, I bet. That was the message I was getting from the many visitors to my St. Lawrence Market table yesterday.

The Market was bursting with activity on the first really gorgeous Saturday of the season, including a festive interlude with a wedding party towards the end of the afternoon. Beautiful saris, a resplendent groom and a jolly band, in the shadow of St. Lawrence Hall.

It was also the weekend for Doors Open, so lots of visitors poring over the historical buildings open for exploration. A friend dropped by to share his photos taken from the belfry of St. James Cathedral behind us. Pretty darn cool!

(Did I ever tell you that I once tolled the noonday bell at St. James Cathedral on Christmas Day? Because I did.)
Jean is taking this hat and silk flower home to Newfoundland, to keep off the sun as she tools around in her little red convertible. I love it!










Jessica and Beth, gracing two of my hairbands.










Marjolaine, who modeled this band because it went so well with her beautiful eyes.






Jane, who was a milliner in Vancouver. It's always a pleasure to meet a fellow hatmaker. She's also a fine painter.






Amanda, a young lady who really looks good in green.






















Wedding festivities. 'Tis the season! The more, the merrier!

Kelly's With the Band

Kelly Aija Zemnickis, aka KAZ, who bought the spriggy headband yesterday, kindly dropped me a line. She wore it to Conan O'Brien's show last night. Her band was a hit, and even drew a compliment from the comedian who opened.

And here I go, shamelessly telling you all this. Please forgive me.

KAZ tells me she's a playwright. One of her works is off to the Minnesota Fringe Festival this year. I love her works' titles. They are amusing, intriguing and make me want to know more. Judge for yourself.

Here's the photo Kelly sent me. Who's a pretty girl?

Victoria's Rain

It's Victoria Day Weekend and we're celebrating her reign with precipitation. Not thunderously, just drippily. Cottages and gardens claimed their share of the population, but at St. Lawrence Market we bravely soldiered on regardless. Thank goodness for our tents! When it rained we just pulled our table under and stayed dry, and open for business.

Many visitors to our table today, starting with Ella, who was in her pajamas. She made a beeline for the coral hat and flower, the latter of which her mum kindly bought for her. Such a shy child; I do wish she'd come out of her shell just a bit.










This is Daryl. The man knows how to wear a hat and how to look at life.
















Eric, Megan and Cameron. Pretty cute, for children.




Lauren. Girl fashionista. Takes after her mum.





















Lindsey, who's taking this black and white embroidered hat to live in Dallas.








Kelly, who's taking this embellished hairband to see Conan O'Brien's show. Wee!












This young lady's braces match this hat's ribbons. How fun is that?

I'm Baaaaack!

It seems like I've been waiting forever to get my spring/summer sales season underway at St. Lawrence Market. But now I'm back ! Finally!

It was not the sunny, warm day that was promised (I'm lookin' at you, CTV News and the Toronto Star), but it did not rain, and that was the main part. The foot traffic was about what you'd expect on such a day. Nevertheless, I had a most encouraging start and my work cut out for next week (well, as soon as I actually cut it out).

It was good to see other vendor friends from last year and meet some new ones. I have a nice spot near Front Street, right beside the fountain, which should be my perch for the next several weeks. So come on down and tell your hat-loving friends, too!

The pooch at the top of this post is Bruno. 10 weeks old. Cutest. Thing. Ever. Let me pick him up and kissed me and kissed me. I was a goner.


Em, left, and her twin sister Jessica, who's having me make her a black wide-brimmed hat like the green one she's modeling. Em bought the water resistant bucket hat she's wearing.








France bought this ecru brocade trilby, my newest design, to keep the sun off her face while she sells her adorable knitted children's caps.

Alert the Media!

Look what Vaughan Weekly chose to print of the no doubt many photos they took at Heintzman House last Saturday! I'm so chuffed I could die. Thanks, Michael!

Did I mention the photo is also on the front cover this week? Because it's on the front cover this week.

Heintzman House Boutique Sale

My spring hat season was off to a great start last weekend. On Saturday Heintzman House was bustling (which is not really supposed to be a 19th century costume reference, but what the heck). Ladies of all ages and a few good men hummed through the house, fortified with complimentary coffee and cookies, doing some spring shopping with vendors of many ilks sprinkled throughout, to benefit the house's ongoing preservation and refurbishment.

The historic Thornhill property is beautiful and intriguing. Ontario's first mud (adobe) house! Since 1817! My indispensable right-hand man Scott and I were shown a piece of this under a movable panel in the front parlour. Techno-nerd that he is, Scott also found an old intercom in a room next on the list for refurbishment. We hope it stays. It's so cool!

Auxiliary ladies modeled spring fashions throughout the house. Thank you to those who borrowed pieces from me to top off their looks!

We had many visitors to our display and two charming roommates in our second-floor eyrie -- Wendy and Inna, jewelery makers both. A long but very pleasant day, all in all, in gorgeous surroundings.

Thank you to Sabina Margitta and the ladies of the auxiliary.




Maya in the gold hat, Naomi in the blue, and their mums.











Olivia tried on just about everything. Here she is in a small selection.








































Where did Sarah go?






There she is!









Dorit looking quite fab.

Spring!

It's spring and I couldn't approve more. In my world (my head), it's pretty much spring unless it's Christmas. It's absolutely my favourite season, especially right around now, with the trees all fluffy before they burst into leaf. That fluffy-tree smell is about the best thing ever. Thank you, Universe. Excellent work!

So yes, I'm still here. Sorry to have been away so long. I have been working away, though. My showroom-to-be (STB) wall is filling up with colourful new hats. I have a new design or two, too. All will be revealed at my first show of the season, and I quote:

Please join us at The Heintzman House for our Fabulous Boutique Sale
On Saturday, May 1st, 2010
10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Admission $2

Exquisite jewellery, fashion accessories, fashion show, mini makeovers and massage, and much, much more from top quality vendors.

Here endeth the quote.

The $2 admission goes toward keeping the Heintzman House in good nick. It's an historic property in Thornhill, the earliest mud (adobe) house in the province. Their website indicates that it's quite beautiful, a lovely place for weddings, etc. I'm really looking forward to seeing it. I love historical houses.

They're having complimentary nibblies and a fashion show. Speaking of which...

Fashion Week


...I was invited to a Fashion Week show! David Dunkley, of KC's Hats, to whom I lend my petits mains on a regular basis, once again provided the millinery accoutrements for Pat McDonagh, the grande dame of Canadian fashion who designed the military style coat Michaelle Jean wore to greet President Obama shortly after his inauguration. The coat was very popular, and her fall/winter 2010 collection was all over it. David kindly invited me to the show. It was a Cinderella-ish moment (and I do mean moment; those shows are short!) and I had a lovely, brief time.

My old classmate Jorge was there. He's quite the scenester, it seems. Here's what he wore when I saw him:
Thanks, Jorge's blog.

My costume was rather more conservative, I'm afraid. I was even too shy to wear my latest frippery, which would have gone perfectly with my ensemble: The Garlic Pasta and Kale headpiece! Silk "pasta", rayon "kale" and gold bead "garlic". It's what's for dinner chez moi, quite frequently.

What an occasion to not check the batteries in my camera. As a result, I can only show you the sign that was on my chair. They spelled it correctly! I had to save it. Who knows when my name will be on another chair at Fashion Week?

I really liked the collection, personally. And I learn that the creator of the necklaces will be at the Heitzman House show! What a small, tangled world.

Beach Sale Beached

In case anyone was planning to come to the last holiday craft sale I had booked, it's been cancelled.

401 Redux

Well, it's all over. But it was great while it lasted.

The 401 Richmond Street Holiday Marketplace took place from last Thursday to last Sunday. The weather was quite kind, overall, and the traffic of visitors was excellent. Vendors are invited to participate by residents of the building. I felt very honoured to have been included.

I was pretty nervous about taking part in a sale that lasted four days straight. Long days, too, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all but the last day, so no time or inclination to make more things for the next day. But as it was, I did have enough hats and smaller fare to last throughout, without having my display look sadly diminished at the end. Good thing I began preparing for the holiday season well in advance this year! Yay, brain! Sometimes it really functions well!

Did I mention that I helped decorate the joint, too? Because I did! Under the expert supervision of Carol Greaves, set dresser by vocation, awe-inspiring accessories creator (and vintage ephemera dealer) by avocation. It was a good way to get familiar with the somewhat convoluted main floor of the building, and to collect smiles and compliments. I'm a sucker for those, I admit it.

So here are some images of this wonderful sale. Make sure you watch for it for next year. It's a great shopping experience for anyone.

Pictured, from the top:
My table
Decorated railing
Carol's table
Our tribute to Cristo. (Just because it's wrapped, you know? Like he does?)
Janet Bike Girl, rocking her new rusty bucket hat
Mary-Ann Jelonek, jams and woolies wallah
Kathie Young, Phoenix Arts Group