Monkey War Berries Day

I played hooky last week.  It was supposed to rain all day, and it was Woofstock, which meant lots and lots of doggies and the people who love them, all concentrating on dogginess.  Bless them all, but as I've mentioned before, I do not make fascinators for dogs.  It also meant that we vendors would be squished under the overhang of the farmers' market building, which is a dank and gloomy location on rainy days.

So I called it.  And by all reports, it was a good thing to have done.  I slept in, which I haven't done in ages.  Sheer bliss!  Therapeutic, too  And then the indispensable Scott and I ventured to the annual Beach craft show, in our own neighbourhood, to see what we could see.  Rather hoping to encounter Jacqui Uza and her husband George, my peripatetic friends from Windsor, who were at the event last year selling Jacqui's gorgeous little knitted, beaded bags.  But they weren't there.  Probably in Bahrain or something.  Seriously, they do get around.

But I was back at the Market with bells on last Saturday.  Inside the south market the Strawberry Festival was happening, apparently, but outside it was the War of 1812.  Brave souls donned many layers of costume, including woolen coats for the men, and strolled about picturesquely. These two kindly posed with their sock monkey counterparts, the wonderful work of Aunt Lizzie's Needlework Company, my other tent neighbour.  They tell us we'll be seeing them throughout the summer (humans and sock monkeys), so for their sake, let's pray for moderate temperatures.

It was another lovely day, but not crazy hot as it is as I type this.  Not frabjous, as last year's Strawberry Festival was, but just fine, thank you.  I wore my strawberry fascinator to get into the spirit of the day.

 The fountain was back!  Dogs and kids were very happy about that. 

 The park was very full of visitors and vendors to visit.  The view from my tent.












Looking up from my tent.

Mary, first customer of the day, looking fab in her new linen Trilby.  I dyed the hat fabric myself.  (The madras print band, not so much.)

 Elyse, in her new organza rose band.  I'm loving me some organza this season, and I'm not alone.

Giselle Long, from the north market office, carrying  balloons to the south market, where the strawberry festivity was taking place.

Natasha, Katerina and Dimitria looking lovely for their photo op.

It was hot enough for my tent neighbour Mark to change into these awesome Chinese farmer's sandals.  How I want them.

So now imagine how hot these brave souls must be. Yet they smile and pose obligingly.  That's the kind of spirit that won us the war of 1812.

 This cool cat with the amazing eyes garnered his share of attention, out to take the air, calmly perched atop his person's shoulders.

Pat Campbell rocking her new grey linen bucket.

  Natsuko looking fresh and lovely in her wavy straw band.  

Iris visited my table earlier in the day, hemming and hawing between two linen wide brimmed hats, or the possibility of a custom made one.  She came back in time for Natsuko to help her decide on this gold one. The colour suits her so well and the wide brim keeps her pretty face out of the sun.

   The almost obligatory shot of Salome, here sporting the fascinator she chose before I had even put it on display. Just the thing to go with these particular specs, of which she has quite the wardrobe.

Seasonal Correction

I guess  the gorgeous weather couldn't last forever.  May ended in a very cranky mood, bringing wind, rain and chill, dragging the beginning of June down with it.  Saturday was dull and cool-ish, but at least the rain held off while we were selling hats and hair toys at St. Lawrence Market.  There were many vendor absences, and who could blame them?  The weather was not very promising.  The indispensable Scott and I have a policy of heading Market-wards on Saturdays unless it's actually raining when we wake up.

It paid off this weekend.  There were fewer people about than there were for the last two weekends, but that was okay.  Some very nice ones came to see me and my work, play dress up, say lovely things and sometimes make a purchase.  I was up very late the night before trying to get as much finished as possible for Saturday, and I was feeling rather tired.  (Actually, I felt hung over, and I wasn't.)  So a quieter day suited me just fine.

Next week is Woofstock.  Doggies in costumes and stark naked and the people who love them.  My table will be squished under the overhang of the North Market building.  No, I don't sell hats or fascinators for dogs.  Not even corgis.  (HRH reference for jubilant royal watchers.  Did you see the flotilla on the Thames today?  Awesome!)  So come on down and enjoy the poochy fun!

Not many people went for the photo op, so I just have two photos to share today:

Katelyn and Julie and their beautiful smiles in their new headbands -- raffia discs and an organza bow.

After much deliberation. Elizabeth chose this one and one other.  And excellent choices they were, too.  The colour really suits her.

A Memorable Memorial Weekend

Well, that was a fast month!  Already it's the last weekend in May, Memorial Day weekend for our American friends, many of whom visited St. Lawrence Market on Saturday.  The weather was as wonderfully obliging as it has been every Saturday this month  (praise be to a kind universe!).

Once again there was a dearth of buskers.  (Did I jinx them when I posted earlier this month that every day was Buskerfest at the Market? Maybe I don't know my own power...)  Someone said the Lemonbucket Orkestra has in fact busked their way to Romania now.  Godspeed to them.

There is also a dearth of water in the fountain.  The dogs, kids and even pigeons look quite forlorn about this.  I hope it will come back soon, and isn't a victim of municipal belt-tightening.  That would be sad.  I think I benefit from all the negative ions charging about when it's going.  I certainly love watching the pooches and kids cavorting in it.

But mostly it's all bounteous at the Market these days.  The farmers' market next to us is jammed with deliciousness.  Asparagus is in!  And strawberries are arriving in fits and starts.  Can't wait until the haricots verts get here.

I digress...

Many visitors graced my table on Saturday, played dress-up and left with a new hat or hair toy.  It's wedding season, after all.  I have a commission to make a fascinator for someone who is going to seven of them this summer, including her own!  But not everyone needs a special occasion to wear feathers in her hair.  I love that kind of joie de vivre. Sideeka finally decided she had to have the brown creased sinamay beret with the peacock trim that she modeled in last week's post.  They make a very attractive pair.

On with this week's fashion parade:

Shannon, right, in her new lacey fascinator, and a friend.

Holly looking lovely modeling this little number.

A bevy of American beauties:  Valorie, Natalie and Erin.  Erin bought the wide-brimmed linen hat she's wearing.

Becky in her new wide-brimmed linen chapeau, and Andrea.

Monique fell hard and fast for this sculpted creation, which has been patiently waiting for her to make it her own.  Which it now is.  Love that happy smile!

It's Charlotte!  She likes it!  But she needs to come back when she's a little bit less little.  What a cutie pie!

Liz looks lovely in her ethereal new beaded aqua band.  

Caroll put this on and exclaimed, "Oh, I love it!"  And why not?  Her new fascinator looks fabulous with those red framed glasses.  And she walked off wearing it.  My kind of gal!  Thanks, Caroll! 

Thank you one and all for another great weekend! 

 

Victorious Day

It's the Victoria Day long weekend here in Canada, the unofficial launch of summer.  The weather has been absolutely gorgeous, as if it was really getting into the spirit of the season!

St. Lawrence Market on Saturday was bustling.  Throngs of people strolling about, enjoying the scene.  Tour buses brought fresh recruits on a regular basis.  I don't know if I've ever seen it so busy, outside of Buskerfest or Woofstock, two crowd-pleasing events on the Market's summer schedule.

Strangely, it was busker-free this time, yet it took me half the day to notice this.  They're mostly quite enjoyable, but it was a pleasant change to not have to yell at people just to be heard above the playing.  Who knows, maybe the Lemonbucket Orkestra is on their way to Romania now.  (Two of my hats are going to be spending part of their year in Italy from now on.  Once again, my hats do more traveling than I do.  Sigh... )

Lots of lovely people came by my hat display, I'm happy to report, and many left with new chapeaux.  So on with the sheau!  (Yes, yes, Spellcheck, leave me alone...)

 Just look at them all!  These are views of the massed hordes from beside and through the tent I share with three other vendors.
















Caitlyn in her lovely new hair band.  She likes her some pink.

Helene tried a few hats, but kept coming back to this one.  We'll call it her starter hat and hope to see her again soon.

Lovely Mariana in her new organza cluster band and  a smile that could light up a room.

Pat admired the fascinator I was wearing and I admired her necklace.

Phyllis rocking her new straw braid band.  That's me reflected in her sunglasses taking her picture.

Rae in her new hat...

...and in her new cap.  Thanks, Rae! (If you see this, please email me.  I can't read your email address to send you these photos.)

Sideeka was admiring this sinamay piece last week and came by again.  Stay tuned!

I heard this man saying that his dog loves children and wants to protect them.  What a happy pooch, enjoying the love from his fans.

Still happy.

This adorable guy spent some time next to my table.  Very gentle and sweet.

Pretty

When I'm not making hats, I'm often admiring shoes.  Like this one.  Sigh...
Okay, I'd rather look at it than wear it.  My feet are not masochists.

HARRIET WILDE pumps

Spring Has Sprung And So Have I

The beginning of May means the tents are back up next to the North Market building, and so am I.  Thus beginneth my fourth season selling my hats outside St. Lawrence Market in downtown Toronto.  Did you know that National Geographic voted it the best farmers' market in the world?  Imagine that!  I am happy and proud to shamelessly latch onto whatever lustre proximity affords me, and to contribute my own, such as it is.

(Oif, what a sentence.  Please forgive me.)

The last two Saturdays have seen lovely weather.  Yesterday especially was simply gorgeous.  It's great to see my crafty friends again, like Salome, sassy queen of jewelry makers, and Roberto and Stephen, the photographers.  And Maria and France and Marjorie and Sky and Mark and on and on.

The season got off to an auspicious start.  It's always so encouraging to sell something right away, especially a new design.  Thanks to Kathy, I did just that.  The rest of the first day was fine, and the second Saturday was really great!  Let's hope the weather co-operates for the rest of the season.  Rather important when you work outside and your merchandise is textile.

On with the photos:

Salome looms large amongst craft vendors of the north Market.

Kathy, first customer of the year, in her new pink Trilby.  I dyed it myself.  I could dye for you, too.

The Lemonbucket Orkestra, klezmer-ing it up for money to travel to Romania.  Very fun and very loud.  

The Samba Squad, making their way east along Front Street.  Every day is Buskerfest at St. Lawrence Market.

See?

First wedding party photo of the season.  Such pretty colours!

Roberto in the hat I made for him.

Pat Taylor, first customer of May 12.

Christine, in one of her two new hats.

Leelee playing dressup.

And along came Linda Chamberlain, trainee clown, teacher of bongos to the young, and lover of pink.  I suggested she might like this pink organza hairband and she agreed.  I further suggested she might feel an affinity for this pink Trilby, and she further agreed.  Then she went in search of the lady clown pictured above.  I hope they found one another.  Thanks, Linda!  

Roberto's Hat

Last winter I made a grey felt fedora for my friend Roberto Riveros, a photographer who sells his framed prints of local landmarks at St. Lawrence Market.  He just sent me a long-promised photo of it.  The animation almost makes up for the fact that he's not posing in it.  So does the fact that it's now part of his website's masthead.  Okay, I'm flattered!

Trying Not To Let It Go To My Head

Today I am a very happy milliner. I just received the nicest testimonial from a recent client. It seems she likes me and my work and she is very kindly allowing me to share her story with you:

“Here is my story: I have this favourite cap. I dare to say it is an old friend, like a PI's clung-to trench coat. My hat was a poor-boy cap with an extra generous crown and its drape was beautiful. Not only that, the cap protected my wind sensitive head during the shoulder seasons -- wind too cool for no hat and temp too warm for winter hat. Finally a couple of years ago the cap almost overnight seemed to sigh and disintegrated from fifteen years of sun and wind and protection duties.

I was so lucky to find Anne! I had been searching from even before the 'disintegration' in anticipation of 'the day'. I stopped searching a year ago or so when a visit to a well known Toronto milliner made me feel like I'd received a 'smack upside the head' for my impertinent request. The employee looked at my cap and gave numerous reasons why it was a huge deal to try to make another by taking a pattern from my old friend and how it would NEVER drape the same way and, and, and. At least she was delivering this speech in a friendly manner. At one point she turned to the shop owner for consultation. She (the owner) was arrogant, dismissive and behaved disinterestedly, merely glancing at the cap from 10 ft away. And here she had in me a perfect pushover for whatever price she wanted to charge since I was already well primed by the anticipation of cap-mourning.

Anyway, that experience was significant enough for me to decide that my hope of replacing the cap was dashed, UNTIL I found Anne. She with her anything is possible attitude, has made three beautiful new caps for me...so far. She has the loveliest personal presence and earnestness for her work. Her attention to detail and 'no quitting until it's right' mindset is wonderful. And her prices are definitely fair. Her work is in a word: excellent. How lucky I am to have found my very own milliner.
Happy end to this story and the very happy beginning of having my very own milliner.

Clarissa"

Wow. Can you be humble and proud at the same time? Because that's how I feel. Thanks, Clarissa!