Cartoon Horse with Ha-ttitude
Posts and images from Hattingdon’s Classic Hat Collection.
Hello, and happy Monday. It is time for a classic hat, and this one . . . . is a new one. Vivian named the hat Daisy, and you are about to see why.
We were not too sure about the black, but it turned out lovely. The blue and green are so fresh and fun. But the peach! We are all in love with it here. How about you? Which one do you love most?
by ©Vivian J Grant
Updated 09.22.22 at 12.20 am.
Hello there. Vivian has whipped up a brand new classic hat. In black & white. It features a splash and drip paint pattern inspired by the work of renown artist Jackson Pollock. She named the design Splash.
What do you think? We love it and Vivian does too. She is a huge Pollock fan. Let’s learn more about this fascinating artist.
Jackson Pollock was an influential American painter, and the leading force behind the abstract expressionist movement in the art world. During his lifetime, Pollock enjoyed considerable fame and notoriety.
Jackson Pollock’s greatness lies in developing one of the most radical abstract styles in the history of modern art, detaching line from color, redefining the categories of drawing and painting, and finding new means to describe pictorial space.
Even more than a century since his birth, American “splatter artist” Jackson Pollock still provokes heated debate about the very definition of art. Was a man who placed a canvas on the floor and dripped paint straight from the can actually creating a work of art? Watch WBUR.org »
Here are a few examples by this exciting, groundbreaking artist.
He worked in black and white as well.
Have some fun. Create something of your own. Go to Interactive Paint-Drop Animation at http://www.jacksonpollock.org/»
Happy Classic Hat Monday.
© Vivian J Grant. All Right Reserved.
How about some cheery hats to distract us for a bit? The happiest color we can think of is yellow. So this week — from Monday 25th July through Saturday 30th July, we will feature Hattingdon in happy yellow hats.
It is Classic Hat Monday, so let us kick off the festivities with Hattingdon’s “Lacey” hat.
Yellow symbolizes happiness, warmth and sunshine in most cultures — characteristics of the yellow sun and its effects.
© Vivian Grant. All Rights Reserved.
Hello there and welcome. It is Monday and that means classic hat time. And this classic hat is one of Hattingdon creator Vivian’s all-time favourites. Design name: Eden.
The hat is comprised of a teal dome with white leaf motif, a slim sky blue hatband, and olive green brim also featuring the white leaf motif.
So there you have it. Wishing you a “hatful of smiles.” See you again soon.
©Vivian J Grant. All Rights Reserved.
Good day to all you Hattingdon fans. For classic hat fans — Monday is your day.
Without further ado, we present this Monday’s selection: Deidre.
There is something so chic about the combination of black and white with a touch of red for drama. And the houndstooth on the brim . . . . rather unexpected and oh so handsome.
Just in case you are curious about houndstooth like we were, here is just a bit of background.
“Houndstooth check is a two-toned textile pattern. At its beginnings it was a wool cloth weaving white sheep wool for the lighter checks and a darker wool for the contrasting black ones, usually from a naturally tinted wool weaving or simply from a black sheep.”
“Houndstooth, or as the French say pied de poule, is one of the most recognizable iconic prints.” writes SeeRoseGo. Houndstooth is right up there with Prince of Wales plaid, stripes and polka dots, and known for its black and white timeless appeal.
“It is made with alternating bands of four dark and four light threads in both warp and weft – two over and two under the warp created a sort of broken check or jagged shape giving the woven its name.”
“Because of the abstract four-pointed shape the pattern was referred to as “shepherd’s check,” ‘dogtooth’ and ‘puppytooth’, eventually being called, as it is today: houndstooth.”
According to “The Costume of Scotland” by John Telfer Dunbar it was worn by Scottish shepherd’s for protection, because from a distance, the pattern colors blend together making the figure appear afar. Chic camouflage!
See you again soon.
© Vivian J Grant
Well, here we are . . . . late again. What is it about Mondays? Sigh!
Just the same, here is a treat for you this Classic Hat Monday. It is one of the very earliest classic hats that Vivian created (2008?), and the design is so imaginative. She named it “Donna” — after Donna Karan of course, who uses rickrack in her creations.
We love how the black and gray stripes are set off by the multi colored “rickrack”. Speaking of rickrack, check this out.
Invented in the mid-19th century, [rickrack] took its modern form and current name around 1880.
During the 1890s, American home sewers used imported European rickrack as decorative edgings for dresses, aprons, and lingerie. Rickrack was also stitched into lace elements, which were then used to decorate bedding and other home linens. Between the 1890s and 1910s, rickrack experienced a decrease in popularity. Then, during the 1910s, rickrack experienced a resurgence in popularity, and American manufacturers began producing rickrack to supply to the domestic market.
In rural America in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, rickrack was used to decorate flour sack dresses. These dresses were worn as everyday attire, and were constructed from the large cotton bags that flour, chicken feed, and other goods were shipped in.
Since the food had to be shipped in fabric bags anyway, the flour mills competed with each other by using attractive, colorful fabrics that the buyer could either resell or upcycle into dresses, aprons, nightgowns, dishtowels, and other clothing and household items. Adding trim like rickrack was a way to reduce the stigma around needing to use whatever fabric was available, rather than buying it from a store.
Thank you for spending time here with us today. We hope you enjoyed it, and Hattingdon gave you a hatful of smiles.
©Vivian J Grant. All Rights Reserved.
Updated 2:29 pm
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