Baa, Bah.

Whether you're in the market for decorating a nursery or not, you have to admit that this sheep print is effin' cute.

See?  I told you I'd be back with a post today.

So, ever heard that saying "in like a lion and out like a lamb"?  That's a phrase that generally gets used in reference to the month of March, in the theory that it'll start off snarly and nasty and wind down to something gentle and sweet.  When I was a kid, this little idiom was thrown around so much that--to this very day--if you were to ask me to think of a symbol that represent the month, I'd automatically think of a lion and a lamb.

The great irony of this is that (and maybe this is just because of where I've lived over the years) but I have yet to have a March where it went out like a lamb.  I'm not kidding.  Unless lambs are noted for being cold, damp and frigid, there is nothing even remotely lamb-like about how March draws to a close.  At all.

However, I don't hold this against lambs or sheep.  I blame whatever dense human came up with this aphorism in the first place, because it bears no resemblance to real life.  And just to prove how little I hold this against those of the species Ovis aries, here's some sheep hats.

Seeing as the weather has recently taken a turn for the cold despite it technically being spring and all, it only makes sense that we start this post off with a knit tasseled cap featuring a needlecrafted sheep.

Of course, if you're going to get sheepish with it, you may need to step it up a notch.

Like, for instance, a crocheted lamb-eared bonnet-hood-type-thing.   And since this one is a pattern, that means you can choose the color and the size.  Bonus!

But when it comes to full-on sheep awesomeness, you really can't beat this next hat:

...Internets, I have tried to come up with something witty and original to say about this one, but seeing as someone else said it better, I have to defer to them.

But since this post is really more about lambs instead of adult sheep, it is only right that I wrap this post up with a lamb hat.  And just because I am not adverse to killing people with cute, here's one modeled by an adorable little baby:

Whatever effect said picture has on respective folks' biological clocks is not my fault, either.

See you Friday!

I Need A Freaking Break

No, this isn't me, and I'm not quite sure who took it, but boy, does it illustrate how I'm feeling at the moment.

Ever get to the point where your brain has been running hot for so long that it doesn't work anymore?  I mean, obviously it's still working, as that it's regulating bodily functions and processing information and all that stuff, but actual thinking or using the old imagination is just not happening? That's pretty much where my brain is at at the moment, which means no post for you today.

Regular posting will resume on Wednesday.  Promise.  Pinky-swear, even.

By The Neck

If I had to wear a necktie to work every day, I know I'd want one with a voodoo doll on it.  Talk about a morale booster!

You know what doesn't get enough play on this blog?  Neckties.  You know why that is?  Because there's only so far I'm willing to stretch beyond my brief, seeing as this blog is technically about, well, hats.  Yes, there have been posts that have had absolutely nothing to do with hats (re: scarves, arm warmers, etc.) but generally not twice within the same week.  And seeing as the last post was about fanny packs, that means neckties are going to have to wait just a tiny bit longer.

Luckily, though, there's a lot of upcycling types out there who have taken the necktie and repurposed the rayon lining out of them.  And even more luckily, some of 'em even made head gear out of them.  Which is great, because that's what we'll be looking at today.

Hey--what better way to celebrate Casual Friday than with a necktie hat?  That's what I thought.

First up, we've got this fancy-schmancy little gray number.  It's got kind of a flapper feel to it, I think.  All that's missing is a big 'ol feathery plume sticking straight up in the air.

...Well, if you're going to upcycle a necktie into something for your head, it only makes sense that you make it into a big hair bow.

Of course, if you're thinking that the "bow tie" angle is not your style, there's always the rosette option, as illustrated above.

Or, if you like your floral things a little bit more on the embellished side, you could always go with one that features a button like this one.

And on an added note, that sucker is made out of an old suit and shirt, too.  So basically, it's like wearing an entire business ensemble on your head.

And just in case you all were thinking this post was going to be nothing but fascinators, here's a cloche made entirely out of neckties:

Pretty snazzy, ain't it?  And there's a bunch more over there, so you should definitely click on that link and go check them out.

And that's all for this week.  See you Monday!

Straight From The Hip

...Yeah.  After you read this post, these sports shorts will make sense.  A LOT more sense.

So seeing as it's finally spring and all, I figured I'd give the Google Search a whirl and see what we could look forward to for Spring/Summer 2011 sartorially-wise (and hopefully, haberdashery-wise, too.)  And as I was looking, I came across a bit of news that literally short-circuited my brain for five minutes.

What was it?  That--allegedly--the hot accessory for the warmer seasons this year is the fanny pack.

*cue the lightning and the thunder*

Except they're not calling it that; they're calling it stuff like 'traveler bag,' 'waist purse' and 'hip bag,' but DO NOT BE FOOLED.  It's a bag that is made to cart your stuff around by slinging around your waist instead by your arm or shoulder, and therefore is a fanny pack.  So let's not waste our time arguing semantics, okay?

Getting this back on track; why did this make me momentarily experience The Blue Screen of Death?  See, for those not quite keeping track, I was alive during the late 1980s-early 1990s.  I was around when these things first hit the scene--heck, I may have even owned one, although I probably repressed the crap out of that memory for my own good--and I remember all too well how fantastically ugly they were.  Sure, they were practical little suckers, but when it came to aesthetics, they failed hardcore and soon became the go-to bag for middle-aged middle-class adults traveling abroad.

So why, in the name of all that is fluffy and good, are these things staging a comeback?  Personally, I'm blaming hipsters.  Yes, I just typed the dreaded h-word, but at this point I am beyond caring.  The only reason I can think of why these suckers would ever make a comeback is because somebody enjoyed "ironically" them way too stinkin' much.  It's the same reason why I think gold lamé ever came back.

But, just to ease my mind a bit, let's take a peek to see what the latest developments in the fanny pack market turn up, shall we?  Maybe this won't be as bad as my flashbacks are leading me to believe.

Well, first up, we've got this utilitarian-themed one.  Which I suppose is great, if you're going to be doing a lot of hiking.  And it's kind of subtle, too.  For a fanny pack.

...Of course, if you'd rather call all sorts of attention to the fact that, yes, you are wearing a fanny pack, you might as well get a big ruffly one.

Then again, if you find yourself somewhere between the two extremes, there's plenty of fanny packs like this one; subtle enough in design, but the pattern makes all sorts and kinds of statements.

My honest first opinion of this fanny pack?  "It's a fanny pack, and it's made of flannel.  It's like the unholy lovechild of the '80s and the '90s!"

...And yet, now it's starting to grow on me.  I'm chalking that up to the fact that it's green.

Well, as you can see, there have been a lot of developments in the fanny pack department, so maybe this whole fanny pack renaissance isn't a harbinger of doom.  But I reserve the right to remain skeptical, and skeptical I shall remain.

Oh, and personally?  If you're going to wear a fanny pack this spring/summer, you might as well go with this one:

Because really, who gives a crap what other people think when you've got a purple monster strapped to your hip?

And on that note, see you Friday!

Fields of Gold

Y'know, for being a weed, dandelions have always struck me as being rather photogenic.  Apparently I'm not the only one, as Through the Viewfinder seems to think so, too, seeing as they've got this print for sale and all.

Yesterday was the vernal equinox, AKA the first day of spring.  Which means that--while the weather may not always reflect it--winter is finally freakin' OVER.  Any snow that happens from this point on until the first  day of winter is entirely out-of-bounds and should be treated as a foul and that spring is entitled to some free throws.

But forget that noise--it's springtime now.  That means birds and flowers and warmer temperatures and longer days and all sorts of stuff that winter totally sucks at.  Oh, and it means the return of dent de lion, AKA; diente de león, dente-de-leão, dente di leone, dant y llew, Löwenzahn, Løvetann, Løvetand--all of which are just the same thing translated into different languages.  Y'know, that butter-yellow bane of yard-proud people since the existence of the yard; the dandelion.

...Yeah, I probably didn't need to type out all those words in different languages, but I thought it was kinda neat that they pretty much translate into the same thing, and that thing would be "lion's tooth."  Besides, I like accumulating useless knowledge.  At best, it could serve me well on Jeopardy! one day; at worst, it'll at least make for interesting bar banter.  At this particular moment, it's a lead-in for a post about dandelion hats.

And if you think I'm kidding, you must be new to this blog.  

Ever get the feeling that some people's philosophies on life can be boiled down to "if you're gonna go, go big"?  I think that could be applied rather easily to this lacy metal fascinator.  Just look at it--that is one honkin' huge dandelion.

Of course, if metal isn't your thing, you could always go with something a little softer, like this distressed linen fascinator.

And if you're not a fan of going with the straight yellow thing, there's always fascinators like the one above that  have different colors and some funky feathers as well.

And just because we all know that the yellow will eventually fade to white, here's a hat that reflects the most useful purpose of a dandelion:

Hey--figured maybe if I was going to remind you all that eventually those dandelion seeds are gonna get all over the place, I might as well illustrate the point with a cute baby pic.  To soften the blow, as it were.

And that's it for today.  See you Wednesday!

Internets, Can You Spare A Dime?

Really--it only makes sense that a post about donating for Japanese relief would be kicked off by a donation print.

For a week now, Japan has been struggling to cope with the aftermath of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that killed nearly 6,000 people, injured over 2,000 and separated 9,500+ from their loved ones.    As  if the burden of the lost, hurt and dead wasn't enough, of the living roughly 4.4 million households have been without electricity and an estimated 1.5 million are without water. Oh, and their nuclear reactors are in danger of getting out of control, too.

In short, this is a country in dire need of help.  And if you can, you totally should help.  In fact, here's a handy little list of organizations that are willing to take donations so they can help Japan.  But if you're feeling a little too financially strapped to shell out a donation, don't sweat it.  There are ways you can help the people of Japan, if you're not afraid to be a little creative.

See, the notable thing about today's post is that these items have been donated for fundraising for the people of Japan; not for person profit.  Mind you; they're just a small sampling--check out the Etsy search for yourself--but these are from sellers that I've featured on here before.  And I think that definitely earns them some recognition.

Crafts2Cherish offers up the proceeds of this sweetly simple cream-colored angora beret, via group Europe for Charity.

Meanwhile, Honey Pie Headbands are donating all the proceeds from these adorable hairbow headbands to the Red Cross.

And as for this last one, well...I admit it; I've never featured this shop on here.  But even so, once I saw this, I knew this post wouldn't be complete without it:

Yes, it's a ninja keychain.  But it's not just any ninja keychain; it's a glow-in-the-dark keychain.  You can't beat that.

But in all seriousness, Internets, Lilley is giving 50% of all of their ninja sales to Japanese relief efforts, and they've got a lot of ninja things, so you should go and check them out.

In the end, I guess what I'm trying to say is that it doesn't matter how you help others, what matters is that you help.  So, please help.

Viva Verde Day

This photograph is actually one of a set.  Check it out, and check out the rest of Grainyman's shop as well; it's worth it.

As much as I may have complained in the past (and will most likely speak unfavorably in the future) about living in NW PA, I am forced to admit that there is one thing I did find rather enjoyable about living there, and that was how they went all-out for St. Patrick's Day.  It didn't matter how cold or dismal the weather was; people were out in force, thronging the sidewalks, laughing and dressed in just about every shade of green imaginable.  It was rather impressive.

Granted, this probably had to do with the fact that there were no fewer than four different universities in the area, as well as the fact that the place was noted for having more bars than churches.  Add the fact that it's a drinking holiday to those two, and it's no small wonder that St. Paddy's went off as well it did.  In all honesty, that city was made for March 17th.

In any event, since we've got about 15 hours or so before the verdant madness kicks off, it's only right that I post some green hats today.  Which is exactly what I'm gonna do, starting with this one:

Hey--just because it's St. Paddy's Day doesn't mean I have to play it straight.  And as long as *Fairly Enchanted* Designs keeps making funky little hats like the one above, I will never have to.

Of course, if you're not feeling like going that far out on a limb for the day, there's a few more sedate hats coming up.

Like, oh, say, this one.  And as an added bonus, it's a fascinator, so it'll be perfect for heading out to the local bar for green beers.

If you're looking for something that would be more suitable for day wear, though, you really can't go wrong with a sweet little beret like this one.  Not only does it fulfill the color requirement, but it's got some pretty snazzy cables.

Then again, who wants to be subtle when you can rock an amazing emerald-green cloche?  Be festive and fabulous all at the same time!

And just because I'm feeling generous, here's a hat that actually features one of the symbols most associated with the aforementioned holiday:

Yep, it's a shamrock.  And I've nothing against leprechauns, but elf hats are just better.  Don't argue--just accept it.

Here's wishing you and yours a Happy St. Patrick's Day, and please, remember to drink your green beer responsibly.

See you Friday!

Hoo, Boy.

Regular owl art not enough for you anymore?  How's about an owl painting that was once part of a major art instillation?  If that strikes your fancy, then IDILLARD Functional Designs has definitely got your number.

...So, you might have noticed that today's amuse-bouche is of an owl, which is generally a good sign that today's post is going to be yet another one about owl hats.  That's because it is, and before you get annoyed and hit the back button on your browsers, Internets, I would like to say that I have a very good reason why today's post is about owl hats.

See, a lady by the name of Charlotte runs a shop called Hoo Hats, and she actually sent me an email about it. And since it says somewhere off to the left that pretty much guarantees that submissions will make it onto the site, I'm honor-bound to do so.

Also, it helps that her hats are rather cute.  Just take a look:

See what I mean?  And they're upcycled to boot, so they're, y'know, environmentally-friendly and stuff.  You should definitely go click over to her shop and check it out.

And since it would be really lazy of me to post one lonely little hat and call it a day, here's a few others I've come across recently.

Not only do I like the cheerful color of this one, but I particularly like the level of detail on the owl applique.  And by "detail" I mean "OMG BUTTONS FOR EYES--SO EFFING CUTE."  And yes, that required Caps Lock. 

Yes, I know this is actually a headband.  But seeing as I managed to get away with doing an entire post on those, I feel totally okay with posting this singular one.  Particularly since it fits in so well with today's theme and all.

And speaking of headbandy-type things, after seeing this fascinator, it felt only right to close up today's post with it, as you will shortly see:

Because dang it, there need to be more fascinators with googly eyes.  That is something I could totally get behind.

See you Wednesday!

Brought To You By Gru Laboratories

This just might be my favorite minion ever.  What?

As an adult who has no children, it's pretty safe to say that I tend to not pay attention to recent development in children's entertainment.  This is also out of sanity-preservation, as that despite the fact that I just kicked off my third decade of life on this planet, I have been cursed with the mother of all baby faces, so I avoid stuff that is liable to lead people to believe that I just entered puberty.  And since I don't like being mistaken for a minor as much as most people think I should, I avoid the kid stuff to the point of being virtually oblivious to it.

I'm not kidding--the last big thing I heard of that was considered Primo Kiddo Stuff was the Harry Potter series, and I was in still in high school when the first book dropped.  Oh, and Finding Nemo.  Kids still like Finding Nemo, right?

...Yeah, I have no clue.  However, Rufus likes to stay in the kiddie-entertainment loop and has zero problem sharing the latest things with me (even if it does occasionally involve dragging me, kicking and screaming, to the thing in question.)  Her latest kid-oriented thing to show me?  Universal's Despicable Me.

If you haven't seen it, I would definitely recommend it.  The plot is cute, there's a lot of humor in there that would sail over kids' heads but adults would enjoy, but most importantly, there are minions.  Adorable, sweet, loyal little minions, and I am not kidding when I say that they are the best.  Thing.  About the movie.  PERIOD.

And I want one.  Which I know is totally impossible, seeing as they are fictional animated characters and all, but I still think it would be awesome to have an anthropomorphic Kinder egg creature or two of my own to do my bidding.  But since that's not possible, I guess that means I'll have to settle for something else.  Like, maybe a minion hat.

And guess what?

I FOUND ONE.  And if you're not all that fond of ear flaps, there's a flapless one available, too.

And what could be better than one kind of minion hat?  A variety of minion hats, obviously.

Although, this post would be rather remiss if it didn't have one of the most notable hats in it represented, now wouldn't it?  So it's probably a good thing I found Edith's hat, isn't it?

They even got a blonde kid to wear the darned thing, too.  If I were that kid, I would totally make this my Halloween costume, just because it's that simple.

And while it's not a hat, it's only fair that I show a little Agnes love:

Yeah, it's not so FLUFFEH, but you have to admit that this unicorn looks a lot like the one won at the midway game.  And as an added bonus, I don't think you'll need a blaster gun to win it, either.

And since it's Friday, I'm going to post the best thing ever: minion cake pops.

Because as I've said before, there are few things in this world that can't be improved upon by putting them on a stick.  Especially if they're cake and minion-shaped.

And on that note, that's it for this week.  See you Monday!

Springtime: The Blossoming

It might be a bit early for cherry blossoms and bees, but it's never too early for a springy print like this from Sixth & Main.

You know how sometimes you spend your entire day thinking it's Thursday, only to get wildly disappointed to be reminded that it's actually Tuesday?  That's pretty much how I'm feeling at the moment in regards to the weather.

See, every morning when I wake up, I get this feeling that it's spring outside.  I don't know why; there's something about the light and the sound of the birds chirping outside my window that manages to convince my sleep-fuzzed brain that winter is over and done and spring is well underway.  And I feel pretty good about that until the coffee kicks in and I remember that it's only the beginning of March; that there aren't even buds on the trees, let alone flowers, and that it's probably going to be another month or so before it's springtime around here.  And that's at best; at worst, it could be well into May before things get a little less wintry around here.

And yet, without fail, my brain tricks me into thinking it's spring every morning.  So basically, I've been having that feels-like-a-Thursday-but-it's-only-Tuesday feeling happening every time I open my eyes.  If this isn't proof that my brain likes to punk me, I don't know what is.

So seeing as my brain seems to be in the mood for spring, I might as well roll with it.  So how's about some cherry blossom hats, huh?  Does that sound good to you?  It sounds good to me.

First up, there's this lovely little cocktail hat, complete with birdcage veil and the aforementioned cherry blossoms.  Because sometimes the best route is the vintage one.

Of course, if that's not fluffy and springy enough for you, there's always feathery-yet-flowery fascinators like this one to help get you in the springtime mood.

Then again, there's always something for the funky folks, like this quirky little cherry blossom fascinator.  I particularly like the use of the buttons, but that might just be because I'm a sap for buttons.

Hey--at least I admit it.  Just like I'm going to admit that these two felt fascinator headbands come from the same store, and that I'm posting both simply because I couldn't decide which one I liked better:

You have to admit--they're both equally pretty, aren't they?

And just because if you have cherry blossoms you'll eventually get cherries, here's a fascinator that features both, in all their blazing red glory:

Well, if my brain is going to try and trick me into thinking that it's already spring, I might as well start getting excited about summer.  If I'm going to dream, I might as well dream big.

And on that note, see you Friday!