#fantasy hat

Part 3

Some of my hats have a brand new customization option that adds depth and shape to the brim. I call it the wave. But there has been some confusion about what it actually means to add a wave to a hat brim. This post lays out all the details so you can figure out exactly how to get the hat you have always wanted.

For the last few years I have been focusing most of my attention on the top half of the hat, trying to make hat tails with perfect arcs and ridges. Then one day a customer asked for their hat to look more "lived in" than usual. I took a step back from my usual hat designs and tried to figure out what was missing to get that slightly more unstructured look. After some experiments I noticed how breaking up the bowl-shape of the brim with a ripple or a bump could give the whole hat that much more personality. The wave was born.

Some of my customers prefer the more structured look of a hat without a wave so I decided to make it an option rather than adding waves to all my hats. If you are considering adding a wave to your hat here are a few things to consider:

Pros: Adds a new dimension to the brim and makes them look more organic and "lived in." Adding a wave does not change the structural integrity of the hat. It is just as durable as any hat without a wave.

Cons: Adding this customization option does have a cost. Check individual listings for details. Waves are done by hand (since my hats are completely handmade). They might not look exactly as they do in the listing picture, but I do not sent out any hat unless I believe they are perfect.

One of the biggest challenges for me when I make my wet felting tutorials is taking photos where people can clearly see what I'm doing. Hundreds of the photos I take while I work are useless because my shoulder is in the way, my hair sticks to the lens, or the whole picture is at a weird angle so that no one can really tell what's going on. Now that I'm beginning to put together video tutorials the problem is even worse. My husband has to try and keep the camera still, find a good angle to record at, and avoid bumping into me as I move all around the work table.

After weeks of setting up tripods all over my workshop trying to figure this out I finally have a solution. I purchased a small video camera and hung it up from the light fixture right over my work table. Now anyone who looks at my video tutorials will get a bird's eye view of the action without the camera moving around all over the place or being stuck at an odd angle.

We are still working some of the kinks out of this new process though. Since there is only one window in my workroom whenever I stand in front of it and block some of the daylight from getting in the camera goes a little wild trying to readjust. Lighting in general is a problem, making the video look grainy sometimes. The camera also swings a bit when the people above us start to walk around. But generally I am very happy with the results. When this new setup works well you can really see exactly what I'm doing as I make my hats.

Fantasy hat with mythical creatures and delicate details

Fantasy hat with mythical creatures and detailed designs in the style of Ruben Ireland

Way back in the year of 2017, my art was featured in its own exhibit in the lovely town of Berea, Kentucky. It was such a huge milestone for me to be able to display so many different facets of my art in one place and to show the real dynamics and extent of my portfolio as a felt artist. Since there's no way I could have gathered you all up in my car for a day trip to Berea (no matter how much I really wanted to) this is my way of bringing the exhibit to you! I hope you have as much fun watching as I had in making it for all of you! 

I hope that, in part, while watching this video, you all get to see a side of my art that maybe you didn't even know about before! Not only do I have hat making under my belt, so to speak, but the world of felt art is truly endlessly! Scarves, décor, fashion, everyday accessories, and the list doesn't end there! I have experience in turning wool into so many fun, interesting, and beautiful things and that's why I am so excited to share this video with you--as kind of a sneak peek of all the things you too are capable of making!

Lots of love, support, and excitement,