Site currently under a  rebuild,

so only 3 pages!

      I am a one person studio, specializing in hats constructed on antique straw machine.  Most of my hats are created from strands of braid 5 to 12 mm wide.   This requires a specialized antique chainstitch sewing machine.  I start with a tight spiral, overlapping as I stitch, creating the shape using tension with my hands.  There are some technique pictures within my website.

       I am also doing a new line of winter hats out of pieces of wool or fur felt sewn together (raw edges out) that I am very excited about exploring as my new winter line.

       My pieces range from the basic sun or cap style hat to abstract or representational  sculptural cocktail hat. I approach each hat as I sculpture as I do not use any blocks or forms to create the shape as I stitch.  This gives each hat a uniqueness and vitality.  

      I market my hats through high end craft shows, such as the Smithsonian Craft show, American Craft Exposition, Lakefront Festival of the Arts, the Des Moines Arts Festival, St. Louis Art Fair, etc.  

      I participate in about 8 to 12 shows a year.  About 10 % of my sales are wholesale to stores, I will keep that list updated here at the site. 

     The big news is:  last summer I purchased a new studio in my town for work and retail.  It is a tiny, beautiful workspace with the entrance set up for retail.