Post-Frabjous Saturday

The first Saturday of actual summer reverted to the blah weather to which we're getting all too accustomed. It sprinkled a little, but, thankfully, with no real commitment. Where's that summer weather spirit, huh?? Where's the "Let's get out there and shine and warm people!" Weather today, I tell you...

Anyhoo.

The day went on as days tend to do, and it was fine. It's always good to see my vendor neighbours and meet new people who come by to try and/or buy. A ladybug was among them.

Here's this week's gallery:
Adorable sisters, Isabelle and Chloe.
















More adorable sisters, Charla and Deborah. Deborah is trying a new design I unveiled this week, in pink linen. I call it the "Lily Garbo": Lily, for the vendor neighbour who inspired it, and Garbo, because it reminds me of her, too. This one found a home quickly.



This is either Pandora, Phoebe or Kiki. They wheeled by and did some major barking at other dogs who had the temerity to cross their pram's path.




Aileen workin' it in my Queen of Hearts-ish strawberry fascinator. She chose a turquoise sinamay one for keeps, though.

Draw!

So did you notice how I didn't draw a winner of a fascinator last Wednesday? No one else did! No one replied to my what's-in-the-window contest. Fortunately, I'm too busy to mind.

If I try this again, I'll tell you all about it.

Strawberry Festival A Red Letter Day!

Saturday, June 18 was just gorgeous. Finally! A Saturday that didn't rain, or even threaten it! Warm and sunny! Lovely lake breezes! And strawberries!

It was Strawberry Festival Day at St. Lawrence Market. Yummy-looking trays of chocolate-covered beauties wafted by my table. Celebrity chefs in the south market were giving demos, as were local producers. Lots and lots of people were around to enjoy it all. There was a feeling of ebullience in the air, as if everyone was kicking up their mental heels for a long-awaited warm, sunny Saturday.

We vendors had been encouraged to make strawberry-themed merchandise in honour of the occasion, so we did. I made hat pins and fascinators (pictured above on one of Salome's strawberry sock monsters). Salome Cordeiro and Maria Lopez, my jewelry-making neighbours to my right, had apropos offerings and shared an adorable strawberry top fabric awning Salome had made that spanned their two roofed market carts. Many of us were wearing the jolly red promotional T-shirts the management had given us. It was really, really theme-y.

It was also an excellent day for sales for us. In fictional milliner-speak, it was positively frabjous! (Callooh! Callay!) I don't know whether to thank the event, the weather, or a new table setup I unveiled that day; I just know I was so busy I had to forgo taking photographs before long. And that when I got home I was so knackered that I almost forgot to Futterwacken vigorously.

But I did squeak in a few pics, and here they are:

The lovely Elizabeth chose to model this hand-dyed silk and organza fascinator, "Mood Indigo", which she graciously graces.











Allie looks awesome in aqua.












This is Kimmie playing dress-up. Flair for days, I'm telling you.













Kimmie again, working it. She chose this cap and a sinamay fascinator which might not have long to live if she wears it to school.


Leslie chose two other hats and an embellished band, but also looked so great in this one I asked her to pose for this photo.








This turquoise creation with peacock feather has been waiting for Pam to make it hers.



The never boring Salome pertly posing in my Queen of Hearts-ish fascinator. (It's still available, you lucky people. Salome, however, is not.)









This is the front view of my new table set up, with the indispensable Scott in the back, and your intrepid milliner visible in the mirror. Was this new look responsible for especially awesome sales?








Or was the new side view?

So if you want to find me this week, I'll be glued to my work table. See you at St. Lawrence Market next Saturday!

Hey Beachers!

Announcing a new contest for my neighbours!

Tell me what's in the window (or better yet, send me a photo) at 902 Kingston Road right now (June 15) and I'll enter your name in a draw for a free fascinator!

You can email me or make a comment on this post.

You have to be quick, because I'll be changing the display soon.

I'll make the draw next Wednesday, June 22 and announce the winner.

I hope to hear from many of you! Good luck!

Woofstock 2011

Once again the doggies descended in droves upon Front Street last Saturday for Woofstock 2011. Established in 2003, it's like a kind of Ex for pooches and the people who love them. People bring their dogs who may be all dressed up, or au naturel (the dogs, not the people; clothing remained mandatory for humans) to meet and greet, mix and mingle, and do things dogs and people like to do together. You could even have your dog's DNA tested! It's an extremely adorable event. Scott and I loves us some pooches, so we have a lovely time kissing and patting and squealing with glee.

One of my recent customers came by to tell me how much he likes his cap, and of the good comments he's had in it. Always a pleasure to hear some positive feedback!

The weather very kindly co-operated, which was a huge relief after last week's deluge.

And Woofstock gives us lots of extra photo ops! Here's this week's album:

Dorothy stopped by for a little dress-up.













Many have played with this colourful creation, but Helen is the one who made it hers.








Dorothy selected one of my new sinamay and feather fascinators to wear to a wedding.

(Interesting coincidence: One of my favourite relatives was my Aunt Helen, whose middle name was Dorothy. How amazing is that??)




Isabella was dancing to the klezmer band with help from her dad, Adam.












This fountain was a very popular hub for the pups. Much diving and chasing of Frisbees and balls ensued.





A rare sighting of a dog in sandals. Nicely co-ordinated with her sundress, as you see.








Luke. What a lovely boy. I grew up with a series of Great Danes, and I love them. It's so great that these days these big beauties are allowed to wear their ears unmutilated by cropping.

Some local colour:

In Honour of My 100th Post, Presenting... Eliza!

I had just finished this hat when I noticed that I have now made 100 posts to this blog. It seems apropos to honour that occasion with the reveal of "Eliza." She's a good girl, she is, and she's adorned by an English rose. David Dunkley brought me a spray of them when he was studying in London a while ago. This is the hat that inspired me to finally utilize one of them. I think they deserve each other. What do you think?

Duck Weather

It was bound to happen one of these days, and today was the day. Scott and I got to the Market and it started to rain. And it wouldn't stop. It rained and rained and rained and rained. We don't have sides on the tent the Market provides, so we got quite damp. It got so dark the street lights came on. Needless to say, the few people who scurried by were much too wet to stop to browse the crafts. We hung around for half the day, trapped by the weather, until our will to live began to recede and we decided to call it a day.

So we packed up our damp selves, damp hats, damp almost everything, packed it in the car and went to see the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie, playing at the cinema next door. It was just the thing to cheer us up. Of course, when we emerged afterwards the sun was out and so were the people. There was no point in setting up the hat display again, because the hats were still wettish. Who would want to try on a wettish hat? The few brave vendor souls who stuck it out (I'm lookin' at you, Maria and Marjorie) won the day. My hats off to you guys! All my hats.

Offloading water from the tent roof with a broom. This nice man came around often.














So no one got to see my pretty new slouch cloche in silver and white. Next week will be sunny and dry, right???

Market Fluctuations

We were back at St. Lawrence Market for this last Saturday in May. The weather didn't know what it wanted to do, so it did it all: cloudy and cool, sunny and warm. It never actually rained on us, for which we are truly grateful. It pays to dress in layers. It also pays to bring a chamois to dry off one's sodden table prior to setting it up, or to have friends who will lend you theirs. (Thanks, Lena!)

Karina kindly paused to pose.









Faye, Linda and their mum Doreen Dohoo. Faye, from Detroit, is modeling her new equestrian cap with zipper trim that looks so great with her top. Linda is in her new hairband that looks so great with her colouring.








James busting a move to promote O.I.P. Dance Centre.








When I saw what my fellow vendor Gloria had on today, I asked her to model this hat.









Many have admired the safety pin trim on this grey linen striped bucket hat, but Kate is the one who made it hers. I think they'll be very happy together.

Henriette and Anne Visit My Home Showroom

Last Christmas, Anne (another one) and her siblings wanted to give their mother, Henriette, something special. As Henriette is a longtime hat lover, a gift certificate from a milliner was a natural choice.

Just today Anne brought her very stylish mother to my home showroom. Another room reveal, another "Wow!" (My favourite one-syllable word.) We were all prepared for measurements and custom order taking, but no! Henriette found a couple of ready-made hats she liked very much that fit her needs for everyday, plus one a that's little fancier. She looks fabulous in both of them, and I am honoured to dress that elegant head!

Henriette models the black and white checked hat she eventually chooses, while Anne takes her picture. The hat reminded them of the decor of a room in their family's past, which Anne's siblings are expected to "get" once they see it.

I neglected to snap Henriette modeling her new Trilby. (If I'm really lucky, maybe she or Anne will send me such a photo???)




Trying on a grey linen striped bucket with safety pin trim











Checking Anne's photos











Playing dress-up in "Mean Mr. Mustard"









Anne playing dress-up in my sinamay fascinator. Her shirt demanded she try it on.

Absence Alert

Please note that I will not be at the Market on Saturday, May 21. I will be out of town at a memorial service for a member of my family. See you (weather permitting) on Saturday, May 28.

Hats 1, Weather 0

Well, the hats have always won, as far as I'm concerned. (Yes, I am a word nerd and can't resist a pun.)

It was supposed to rain all weekend. But when we woke up Saturday morning, there was no rain. There was gloom, and damp ground, but no precipitation was at that moment precipitating. Just anticipation of precipitation.

The rule chez nous about such occasions is we simply take the hats to Market and hope for the best. So this is what we did, and a kind universe rewarded us with a relatively dry and warm outing.

Not much foot traffic, however. It was very foggy and gloomy, if not actually rainy, and most people seemed to have chosen to stay in. Which is really their loss, because today, Sunday, is way wetter and colder.

Only one photo this week: Hailey, who was in town to compete in a hockey tournament. A jock, and a fashionista! Well-balanced child. Doesn't she look excellent in her sunny new hat?