This week in the studio...Nora the Fedora.

It’s not really the name of my new Panama straw Fedora hat. My husband who rhymes names regularly (he says it’s a British thing), came up with Nora the Fedora. Other names he rhymes often is my sister Alice in the palace, or electricity Felicity. Maybe rhyming names might be a fun challenge for my hats huh? I named my new hat Plumb after the fruit, and please don’t remind me what rhymes with Plumb because I will feel sad about my new hat.

Last two weeks were tough for me. The weather went bonkers, and I found leaks from my new roof, and misdirected new gutters. The roof is finally fixed, but the gutters are still off. The bulk of the rain water lands on my deck, spilling into my back porch area, which in turn nearly floods into my family room. It was nail biting.

All these were excuses to not give hats any attention. But the truth is, I had hatter’s block. That’s when milliners can’t squeeze out any creative juice. Instead, I just concentrated on improving my diet and shedding a few pounds. I was so dry with ideas that my effort to lay out all my blocked and wired hats on my work table didn’t even spark a flicker.

Then out of sheer desperation, I went back to my garden hat that has been such a pain. After several attempts and wasted sinamay, I blocked a perfect tall round crown with three layers of sinamay. It was a freaking miracle. So I just went ahead and finished that hat even though I trimmed it about half a dozen times (with flower, without flower, with ribbon, without ribbon, you know the drill), and came up with the unexpected angular spiral. I kept it simple, and highlighted the piece with silk dupioni-trimmed brim and matching pleated band for the crown. I named her Blue Garden, even though I felt there was something more statuesque about the hat. It’s not just the spiral and leaf decor, the crown itself is very tall and exaggerated. There is plenty of height on her. It’s a perfect fit for a 22 inch head, and a necessary hat pin for windy days.

Both Plumb and Blue Garden are classic pieces I haven’t focused on lately. I was really into my vintage phase, which is mostly passed now (until next time). I hope to finish up some more wedding pieces this week, including a vintage-inspired one (oh there I go with the vintage again). Then its American Independence Day—colors that can easily work for United Kingdom and France. Feeling a little patriotic? Come back and see me in a week or so.

On a side note, when I was sewing clothes regularly, I used to dedicate one outfit in memory of Frida Kahlo. Her birthday was July 6, so if I have enough energy left in me, I might sneak in a piece just for her. But if not, I will light a candle instead.