Think Monster

It's creeping around the corner in high top sneakers (he's one of my favorites)
So here we are 3 short days until Halloween.  There is still the possibility of a couple of last minute orders getting out - with some additional shipping costs for any of you who are last minute costume shopping.  Anyone still need a fabulous witch hat for their costume? Let me know!

It's been a great first run at a holiday season - so far.  I figure Halloween is my primary season for hats but there are some new products in the works to extend my reach. I have ideas, I'm brainstorming and open to suggestions, too.

On another note... a Purple Monster Note
This Halloween I've been so occupied with making hats, I was having a hard time feeling inspired for my own costume... until I came across a link to this tutorial while researching sewing techniques the other day - How to make MONSTER FEET!  What? Easy to make fabulous MONSTER FEET??? Yes, really! It inspired me to no end, setting off a completely manic spree of Monster Feet making that lead to my inevitable conclusion... I MUST be a One Eyed, One Horned, Flying Purple People Eater for Halloween this year! Yes, definitely!

Now, how to pull this off?
Well, I learned how to make dreaded roving wool hair falls.

Then I made a Hat - because of course I have to wear a hat.

And I needed to have only one eye... so I made an eye patch

And I needed a horn, so I made two, but will only wear one of them for this costume. 

And I'd need some kind of Monster Fur Shirt - I added to a purple tank top I already had

 And I'd need arm and leg warmers out of Monster Fur too, of course!

But what to wear on my butt? Well a TUTU of course! With purple tights and fishnets over the top to look like scales and black bicycle shorts to make sure I'm covered. As I'm sure those who know me are aware, I already had the tutu. 

AND MONSTER FEET!!!!! Not the best picture, there will be more, but yes, my toenails are painted silver, because everyone knows that girly monsters like silver toes!

Oh, and one last thing to top it all off... I had to have some kind of Monster purse to carry for the night, a normal purse simply wouldn't due! (Covered a small cardboard box & made a lid & a chain shoulder strap.)

I think that does it. BUT just in case, someone might want to see... here are the MONSTER FEET we made for my husband & children.  Madelynn made her own in silver and Ely & I worked together on his (green) & Greg's (black).

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! 

Here's the latest & greatest - to date

So I've been working hard and have created some very glam new hats. And on a side note, it seems sales are continuing to come in - so YAY!

Heads up - For most US locations ORDERS PLACED BY MONDAY 10/25 CAN ARRIVE BY HALLOWEEN. Check out all of the latest designs at Etsy

And Now the GLAM:

Snow Leopard Mini Top - Front

Snow Leopard Mini Top - Back

White Witch Mini - Front

White Witch Mini - Back

Purple Stars & Dragonfly Mini Witch - Front

Purple Stars & Dragonfly Mini Witch - Back

Silver Mini Stovepipe Top - Front

Silver Mini Stovepipe Top - Back

Applying My New Skills

I'm so excited. I've been learning so many awesome new techniques that I just have to show off my latest creation. There will be much more to show on Monday but for now, just a small peak...

Allow me to introduce: MONSTER MELT (scroll down for the pics)
I've actually learned how to cover the frame/base of my hat with fabric. And even better, I've learned how to finish off the inside so it looks more professional. And making bows has always been a challange for me but i believe I've found a solution. Check out the listing on Etsy.

Coming Soon
In a couple of days, furry snow leopard print fabulousness AND the shiny is making an appearance! I am in the process of making a hat out of alligator print silver vinyl covered with fishnet that will knock your socks off. Tons of ideas and new hats in the works.  I've got plans for a true Steampunk inspired hat: brown leather with shiny brass gears and watch parts. It's going to be - well, fabulous!

Inowanna Iguanas and New HATS

I've been bad

So I lied. Time got away from me and I haven't had the passion the time, I would have liked to post here. Been struggling with the iguanas (iguana = anything you don’t feel like doing). Inowanna! (thank you Havi). Wasn't feeling very inspired to write or do much of anything for about a week there. So, bad me, bad creator and blogger! I failed immediately following stating my goal to my blog reading public. Hum, does that sound familiar? *long pause* Well at least I got that out of the way. I, however, am not going to stop. Because, I'm like that. I have finally pet the iguana and I feel much better now. And inspired again.



What's really inspiring?

Well, let me tell you. I sold 3 hats in two days this week! For a creator on the edge of loosing hope after only having one sale since mid-August, (and that one in August being the only one at all) I was beginning to get a teeny tiny bit discouraged. But yay Halloween! And Costumes! And fabulous mini hats! Time to make more!

New Hats

I have created some fabulous new Mini Witch Hats. The two seen in this entry have been posted to Esty and I have two more in the works. Tonight I'm working on a Frankenstein Green and Black one, with a veil/train thing - oh! and rhinestones - that will be fabulous. So much fun it's going to be hard to part with these little guys.

I've also found some new materials and have plans in the works for a black and white vinyl mini top hat as well as a blood red and black mini top covered in "Monster Melt"... I'll keep you posted on my progress. Since I'm using new techniques on almost every hat much of these creations are trial and error, which are then followed by fantastic mistakes - meaning mistakes that turned out fabulous!

Learning Stuff - Lots

In other news, I have started my classes in how to make straw hats and it's very interesting. Next step is to take the plunge and buy some vintage hat blocks off of Ebay. This is very exciting! I'm looking forward to finishing my classes and starting some adult sized hats. But where will I ever find the room for the blocks? May need to move up to a larger storage shed.
In addition to this I've been researching a ton of new hat accessorizing methods and implementing them in my new designs. The coolness is getting cooler. And more fun for me to try out new stuff. Fun is good. It keeps me motivated and moving and happy.

So here's to happy and another blog posted... if only a week late.

It's my Birthday...

Hard to believe I am starting the last year of my 30s.  Weird. I don't feel almost 40, well except my knees but that's a different story.

And things have been crazier than usual for the past few weeks.  All should be back to normal for a while so posting can get back onto a somewhat regular schedule.  My goal is to post 2 times a week, that may not always happen, but it's good to have a goal. So there it is!

Some things coming soon - or here now.

• I've started making Mini Witch Hats!  They are super cute and are a blast to make. I've completed three and one is already listed on Etsy - go look, go look!  I'll post the other 2 I've finished in the next day or two.  I've got 3 more in the works and we'll go from there.  Any fantabulous witches out there? I've got the hat for you! 

• I've also got mini derby hats... but unfortunately they are a few inches smaller than anticipated... Okay so an inch and a half smaller but that makes a huge difference, they are more of a 4" hat as opposed to my regular mini tops at 5.5" or the witch hats which are 6" (witch which, witch which, hee hee).  These are more doll sized... or maybe child-infant sized.  I'm going to play with them and see what my twisted mind can come up with;  earmuffs, hair bun covers, a hat themed bra? Maybe hats for cats?  It's a work in progress. 

• Post coming soon on How I make Mini Top Hats with lots of photos of the process. Maybe someone will enjoy seeing how these mini creations come into being.

• New Styles - I am also toying with some other new hat styles, looking into mini versions of cowboy/girl hats, padre hats and stovepipe top hats.  Any other suggestions?

• For that matter, any suggestions on hat themes? Anyone? McFly?  I'd love to hear any suggestions, challenges, or ideas. 

• Also, my fabulous husband got me for my birthday, classes in making "real" (adult sized) hats - most likely without a glue gun even. I will be starting out with making straw hats and progressing from there. I am super excited about learning true millinery skills. I've always loved hats - at one time even had an extensive vintage hat collection hanging on my apartment wall. What ever happened to them? Now I get to learn how to make them. Yay!

So I think that's it for now. Lots of fun new stuff coming this way.

Changing the Way I Spend My Money

Having just recently entered the handmade business world, I have been thinking a lot about how I spend my money. I've always given handmade gifts - handmade by me - but now is the time to expand that beyond just my own crafts.


I LOVE to shop. Retail therapy is my friend. I am a shop owner's dream; impulsive, given the resources I have great taste and there's no such thing as too many. What's that? It helped me to survive college and bankrupted me by graduation - I did learn my lesson I swear.  


I have to say - while not excusing the behavior - this is an inherited trait from my mother; THE Supreme Shopping Queen. She starts buying the following year's holiday gifts DURING the after Christmas sales. For her it is her expression of love. For me, it helps to calm the chaos and fill the void for a time.  


Over the years, I finally figured out some self control. Having my son really helped to put such things into perspective. This was especially true for the 5 years following my divorce, when I was doing it all, and I mean everything, on my own, until I met my fantastic husband and everything got better.  


Given my new circumstances (handmade shop owner), I find myself feeling more guilty than in the past when buying from big box stores.  So I am in the process of changing my behavior. My goal? To spend much more of my money locally, in independently owned shops and on handmade items. I also want to inspire and teach our children to value handmade items. I believe this is important to pass along.  


My inspiration for this post is Tara from Scoutie Girl's recent post called:
change the world with your money 


I love what she has to say here: 

You know I think buying handmade is one of the best ways to change the world with your money. Your hard earned dollars go directly to people who make the thing you’ve purchased, the money stays in your community longer, the profit helps a mom stay home with her kids or an artist realize the dream of creating for a living.
Hopefully, you also know that I think paying what things are worth and earning a good income are important too. It’s hard to change the world with your money when you don’t shell enough out… or have any to use. 


Great food for thought.  I'll report back on how I'm doing in this endeavor as I go along. Setting goals is good. I like it. 

More New Hats...

Peacock Blue Green - Back

Peacock Blue Green - Front 

I've been working my way through creating those 15 new hat designs I brainstormed two weeks ago. I have made 5 of them so far.  Here are some photos.
 These have all been listed on my Etsy site, I would love for you to check them out.

Eternity Blue - Front

Purple Pirate - Back

Pink Rock n Roll - Front

Pink Rock n Roll - Back

Purple Pirate - Front

Eternity Blue - Back

Peace Pink & Purple - Front

Peace Pink & Purple - Back