Happy Mad Hatter Day

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October 6th is a day set aside each year to bring out our silly side while celebrating National Mad Hatter Day.

Hattingdon loves wearing silly hats. In honor of Mad Hatter Day, here she is modeling the hat made especially for this day.

Midge Mad Hatter Hat 2016. Featured Image.
Midge Hattingdon.

The fictional character, The Hatter (also known as The Mad Hatter) from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is typically acting silly, and that is how the creators of this day decided on their theme of silliness for National Mad Hatter Day. Sir John Tenniel illustrated The Mad Hatter and all of Lewis Carroll’s colorful characters beginning in 1864. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was first published in 1865.

The phrase “mad as a hatter” comes from the late 18th and early 19th centuries when haberdasheries used mercury nitrate. The exposure to this metal over time caused the tradesmen to develop symptoms making people believe they were mad.

Updated 10.08.22

Hattingdon Horses

“A Hatful of Smiles”

©Vivian J Grant

Aida

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By Vivian Grant

Hello and welcome.

I love Verdi’s Operas. One of my all-time favourites is ‘Aida’.

I created a scenario in my head that Hattingdon had been given a part in the chorus of ‘Aida’, and therefore would need a costume. Being a hatmaker (a cartoon one, of course) I imagined a headdress for her in two colour schemes.

Aida Gold
Aida Teal

How fun are they? I am leaning toward the teal, but also love the gold. What you think? Which one should she wear?

The snake symbol

In Egyptian mythology, the snake symbol represented royalty and divinity. It symbolized the pharaoh’s role as lawmaker and maintainer of order, protecting the Egyptian people from the forces of chaos. The snake was also a symbol of protection, both for pharaohs and for everyday people.

The Opera

Set in Ancient Egypt, Aida is a timeless story of love and betrayal set against the backdrop of war. The story is a roller coaster of emotions told through Giuseppe Verdi’s powerful music.

Aida is an Ethiopian princess who is the captured slave to Amneris, daughter of Pharaoh. Both women are in love with the victorious Egyptian general Radames, but he loves only Aida.

The father of Aida, Amonasro, invades Egypt to rescue her, but is defeated and captured. Relentlessly jealous of the lovers, Amneris decides she will kill Aida and disgrace Radames. He is subsequently condemned as a traitor and buried alive in a dungeon tomb.

Aida joins her lover in his death chamber to die with him while Egyptian priests celebrate the country’s victory in the temple above them. A desperate, remorseful Amneris attempts to save Radames but her pleas for mercy are too late.

Thank you for spending time with us! Warm regards, Vivian.

Hattingdon Horses

Cartoon Horses with ‘Hat-titude’

Featured Image: Fashion and Beautify in Ancient Egypt

©Vivian J Grant

Classic Lacey

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Greetings and salutations. Welcome to another Classic Hat Monday.

Today’s selection is bright and beautiful . . . . in a luscious yellow. Let’s take a look.

Lacey Hattingdon of Hattingdon Horses.
Lacey Hattingdon.

Yellow is associated with the sun. It is known as a happy, positive color. Yellow symbolizes optimism, energy, joy, happiness and friendship. 

The ‘Colors Explained’ website tell us more:

Open Quote

The brightest color of the spectrum, yellow is associated with sunshine, sunflowers, canaries, and bees.

But what does the color yellow mean? Yellow is an upbeat and cheerful hue that is enlightening. It evokes pleasant feelings, captivating and charming with ease. It’s an effective communicator and provides clarity.  Read more »

Yellow Hat Parade

Want to see more yellow hats? We featured a Yellow Hat Parade earlier this year in July. Lacey was featured on Day 1.

» Day 1 | » Day 2 | » Day 3 | » Day 4 | » Day 5 | » Day 6

Thank you for stopping by and spending time with us.

Hattingdon Horses

‘Cartoon Horses with Hat-titude!’

©Vivian J Grant.

Flashback Bubbles

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Hello.

We received emails recently asking why we have not been posting some of the earliest Hattingdon cartoons on Fridays like we used to.

We used to post them on what we called “Flashback Friday”. But there was very little traffic. We were hardly reaching anyone. Let’s see what happens today.

Do we ever have a flashback for you. This is one of the earliest Hattingdons Vivian created. She got the inspiration literally while taking a bath. The bubble bath she used at the time came in a big pink plastic bottle. And from that she created “Bubbles”.

Bubbles Hattingdon. c.2008.

Isn’t she sweet?

Thanks for stopping by. See you again soon.

Featured Image: Stylecaster.com »

Hattingdon Horses

‘Cartoon Horses with Hat-titude’

by ©Vivian J Grant

Lights on with Cara

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Greetings and welcome. We are “lights on” with this collection of gorgeous Cara lampshade hats. The silhouette of this hat is oh so stylish, and Hattingdon looks oh so darling.

The Cara hat comes in five luscious hues. Let’s take a look.

Cara in Sunny Yellow
Cara in Sky Blue
Cara in Minty Green
Cara in Lipstick Pink
Cara in Classic Grey

We love them all, but are especially in love with the minty green. What do you think? Which is your favorite?

Thank you for spending time with us. We hope it brightened your day. Wink!

Hattingdon Horses

“A Hatful of Smiles”

©Vivian J. Grant

Deidre Classic

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Greetings and salutations on this Classic Hat Monday. Today we have a fabulous classic hat for you, called Deidre.

The Deidre classic hat is a black hat with a striking red hatband. The hat’s dome and brim features a line of white houndstooth on them. Coordinating red ‘nosebobs’ complete the look.

Deidre Classic.

By the way, we are often asked how we came up with the word ‘nosebobs’. Easy. We modeled it on earrings being called ‘earbobs’, a term used in the Old South of the United States for earrings or eardrops.

The classic hat

The classic hat is very, very popular and has been from the day it was launched in 2009. There are still many Hattingdon fans who prefer the classic hat to any other hats that she wears. How did it come about?

After a year or two of making a wide variety of hats for Hattingdon, Vivian created a basic hat silhouette with a round dome and medium wide brim. Then she started designing for it, and it ultimately became a series with a big following. She named it the “classic hat.”

The classic hat became popular right away, and enjoys a dedicated fanbase that is still going strong today, more than a dozen years later.

Hattingdon Horses

Cartoon Horses with ‘Hat-titude’

©Vivian J Grant. All Rights Reserved.