Category: New Designs

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

Daisy Monday

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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.

Daisy Hattingdon Blue.
Daisy Hattingdon Green.
Daisy Hattingdon Peach.
Daisy Hattingdon Black.

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?

Hattingdon Horses

A Hat Full of Smiles

by ©Vivian J Grant

Red Shoe Day

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In “Well Dressed. Well Said. Well Read.”, its author Heather writes the following about Red Shoe Day:

“Red Shoe Day is actually a day of remembrance where those who suffer and/or pass away from invisible illnesses are recognized.”

“The day was created in remembrance of Theda Myint, who died of Lyme disease, but it has since been expanded to include all illnesses that don’t exhibit obvious physical symptoms.”

“For me, that includes mental illness. As a lifelong sufferer of depression, I can attest only too well to the stigma and struggle of battling an invisible illness. So on this day I will proudly wear my red shoes in solidarity with the countless others who struggle as well.”

Hattingdon

We were determined to support Red Shoe Day. But how could we besides wearing red shoes — which we, and our staff and families and friends, are doing.

Hattingdon is of course a hat wearing cartoon horse. So the challenge was to create a Hattingdon, in some way shape or form, wearing a red shoe to help draw attention to this issue. Vivian chose a red stiletto — not knowing how in the world she was going to make a hat out of it.

“My dear colleagues (ahem) reckoned that even I could not make a hat for Hattingdon from a red stiletto,” says Vivian. The challenge was accepted. And met. “They will be singing from that Beatles song — I shoulda known better with a girl like you. That I would love everything that you do. And I do. Hey hey hey. And I do.”

Vivian named the design . . . . Theda. Here is the hat.

Theda.

Is this, or is this not, crazy and wonderful? Now that should grab some attention! Which is what we want — to draw attention and raise awareness for Red Shoe Day / International Red Shoe Day. We have agreed that you can download the image and share it on social media using the hashtags listed below — in support of this important cause. Thank you!

Links and tags

Red Shoe Day and International Red Shoe Day, July 25th, since 2013.

Founded by Global Lyme & Invisible Illness Organization

Hashtags #InternationalRedShoeDay, #RedShoeDay

Source www.globallymeinvisibleillness.org

Hattingdon Horses

Cartoon Horses with “Hattitude”

Hello Dolly

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UPDATED with corrections.

Well, we just had Hello Honey. Now we have Hello Dolly. It comes in six gorgeous colours. Take a look.

Emma Hattingdon in Gray.
Dolly in Gray.
Dolly Hattingdon in Orange.
Dolly in Orange.
Dolly in Pink.
Dolly in Purple.
Dolly in Teal.
Dolly in Yellow

It’s a sweet, darling hat, don’t you think?

We apologize for the confusion with the hat’s name. This hat’s name has been Dolly from day one. Which “Dolly” is your favourite?

Thank you for visiting with us. Come back and see us again soon. Bye for now!

Hattingdon Horses

“Cartoon Horses with Hattitude”

Hello Honey

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Updated: July 16, 2022

You have heard of the beehive hairdo. How about a beehive hat? Hattingdon wears just that in a rich golden yellow, accompanied by two curiously darling little bees. The hat design name is — perhaps just a touch predictably — Honey.

Honey Hattingdon.

Isn’t the updated shape bee-utiful? We really love it.

In addition to the updated hat silhouette (now seen above), Vivian also added two tiny eyes to her bees. She was a bit startled to learn on the British Beekeepers Association website that bees “have six legs, two wings and five eyes: two large compound eyes and three smaller ocelli eyes in the centre of its head”. In light of this surprising revelation, she is still sticking with two eyes!

Just a bit more

The National Wildlife Federation tells us that, “There are over 20,000 bee species worldwide, including the honey bee, which originated in Eurasia and has been imported around the globe as a domesticated species. Wild bees species live on every continent except Antarctica. In North America there are approximately 4,000 native bee species occupying ecosystems from forests to deserts to grasslands.

Bees feed exclusively on sugary nectar and protein-rich pollen from flowering plants, unlike the carnivorous wasps from which they evolved.” [italics added]

Learn more about the incredible bee at the NWF website.

Hattingdon Horses

Cartoon Horses with Hattitude

©Vivian J Grant