Heinous Hats

Pinwheel, Spinwheel

2013-05-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

Yes, I went the literal route with today's amuse-bouche. It's Friday--I'm allowed to be literal on Fridays.

P.S. The title of today's post comes directly from my personal litmus test of old-school Nickelodeon: If you can remember this show, you remember the early days of cable TV, in all their we-strip-mined-these-shows-from-Canada-and-Europe glory.

Now that we've got that covered, on to today's post, starting with this felt pinwheel fascinator:

Pretty, isn't it? And so perfect for the spring, too. It's just so fun and flirty, and those are both things that spring is known for and are things that it is okay to be.

Of course, pinwheels don't need to make up the entirety of the hat you wear; they can be a little decorative bit off to the side, like with this rather patriotic mini top hat (which'll come in handy for Memorial Day and Fourth of July if you happen to live in the States. In other countries, you don't have either of those holidays, so it probably wouldn't work for you.)

The pattern for this knitted beret features a very subtle pinwheel, which means that not only does it make it visually interesting, but also that it counts as part of today's topic, so INTO THE POST IT GOES.

However, don't get caught up in thinking that pinwheels only come in one style. As the above fascinator proves, pinwheels aren't always just squares folded in a fancy, wind-catching manner.

And just because the unofficial motto of this blog is "go big or go home", here is a pinwheel headpiece that took said unofficial motto, tattooed it on its hip and ran with it:

Well, that is if hats had hips, but you know what I mean: it went There. In fact, it lives There. It bought a house There. AND I LOVE IT.

And that's it for this week. Have a great weekend, and see you Monday!

Heroes In A Half Shell

2013-05-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

This watercolor print tickles me on a very nostalgic level. The only

way it be even more nostalgic is if it were made into a Shrinky-Dink.

You know what sounds awesome today, Internets? Looking at some Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle hats, that's what. Hope you agree, 'cause that's what we're about to do, starting with this one right here:

I mean, how can you not love this hat? It's so cute and charming (which, I might add, are not two qualities you could apply to the TMNT it's modeled after, Raphael.)

And before you start firing off the hate mail, check that statement again and be honest: did you detect any lies? Because you shouldn't have. Raphael was many things, but cute and charming didn't even begin to factor into it.

Next up is this knitted Donatello hat, which looks like it'd keep your head warm while you're working on some sort of machine in between bouts of whacking the crap out of stuff with your bo staff.

Of course, what kind of TMNT would this be if I didn't include a Michelangelo hat? A very poor one, that's for certain. And probably severely lacking in pizza, or would that be an intense surplus?

And I guess in the interest of fairness, I'll throw in a Leonardo hat as well, even though I have never met a single person who said that he was their favorite TMNT. He's the leader, but that seems to be all there is to him. He and Cyclops from X-Men have that in common.

And just because if you're going do a post about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles then you've gotta have all four of them in one place, here you go:

My only regret is that I could not find a Shredder hat to save my life. The Internet has let me down, folks. :(

See you Friday!

I Like Big Blossoms And I Cannot Lie

2013-05-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

For the curious, these flowers are actually some class of buttercups (AKA ranunculus.)

And here I was, thinking they were just some seriously cabbagey roses...#TheMoreYouKnow

And I would apologize to Sir Mix-a-Lot for tweaking the opening line to his iconic 1992 hit, but something tells me that he's an old pro at this and is probably okay with that, so I'm not gonna waste his time or mine. Just know that it's all out of love, Mr. Ray.

In any event, today's post is all about big 'ol floral headbands, because (despite how the weather is acting right now,) it is May, and May is supposed to be when we get all those flowers that are supposed to follow the showers from April. So let's get to 'em, shall we?

First up is this felt boho blossom headband, which is both springy is subject and summery in colors. And possibly a little autumny too, because if we don't have to abide by the rule of no white after Labor Day, then why not wear flowers in your hair in the fall?

Next up is this DIY headband, which will be perfect for you crafty types. Or even for you not-so-crafty types, as that this looks simple enough that even my craft-impaired self could pull this off. Maybe. Possibly.

Then again, if you'd rather play it safe and have somebody else make you a silk flower headband, you can't go wrong with a milliner who is willing to do exactly that.

If silk or felt flowers aren't your style, don't let that stop you from wearing a big blossom on your head. For instance, there's always alternatives like this beaded beauty right here.

And just because sometimes bigger truly is better, here's a bunch of big, beautiful blossoms:

Because if you're gonna wear flowers on your head, go big or go home.

See you Wednesday!

Queen Mothers

2013-05-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

Any time a post gives me the opportunity to check out Chicks In Hats

and find an image that will suit my needs is a good day IMHO.

So unnless the calendar and the sheer amount of related posts cropping up on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook are all conspiring to lie to me, it's safe to say that Mother's Day is just around the corner. As long-time readers of this little blog know, I am not a mom (I prefer the title of "confirmed auntie for life") but like most people in their early thirties, my social circle is increasingly made up of mommies. The same is just as true of my family: three of my four sisters have joined the ranks of the mothers, and I've been aunted six times by my assorted siblings-in-law, so Mother's Day is fast becoming one of those holidays where instead of buying just one card or making one phone call to one where I'm grateful for the invention of the mass text message.

And to be quite honest, I'm alright with that. I mean, just because reproducing isn't on my list of Things I Wanna Do So That My Life Will Be Complete doesn't mean that I'm clueless as to why or how it could be really important to others. Besides, it's kinda hard to be a confirmed aunt if nobody is willing to commit to being a mom; especially since moms are the ones who come and take the kids away when they start crying or throwing a tantrum (well, dads will too, but moms are much quicker on the draw.)

So it is with all these moms in mind--friend and family alike--that today's post is about crowns. Because if you can't be a queen for a day on Mother's Day, when can you?

First up is this gray crocheted crown, which strikes me as both appropriately regal and comfortable. Because it's your day, ladies--be as comfy as you wanna be.

Of course, if you prefer something a bit more fancy-looking, there's always crowns like this crystal-studded leather crown. I think either one would work for Sunday brunch, though.

There's something about this button-studded tiara that just tickles me. It has a somewhat "tea party" vibe to it that I just love, and I didn't even do tea parties when I was a kid.

Of course, if you're the crafty type, allow me to point you in the direction of this knitted crown pattern. That way, if you want, say, a chartreuse crown, you could totally make one and stud it with whatever kind of buttons or beads you like.

And now, just because it's just so danged pretty, here's a little crown made from vintage lace:

Because as I said earlier--it's your day, Moms of the world. And if you're gonna be queen for the day, you might as well go the full nine.

And that's it for this week. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, whether it be birth, adopted, step, grand or anything in-between, and for the Confirmed Aunts and Uncles, learn how to mass text. For real.

See you Monday!

Of Spiders and Prizes

2013-05-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

Two things: Anytime I think of spiders, this post always comes to

mind, and I really miss Hyperbole And A Half. Get well soon, Allie!

And no, that is not a joke. If your arachnophobia is such that even spider-shaped things freak you like none other, you might wanna take it easy with today's post. Do whatever you need to do--grab yourself a soothing herbal tea, maybe snuggle up with a comfy quilt or blanket, possibly even scroll with one hand held up in front of the screen so that you can hide the offending images (that's what I do when it comes to pictures of creepy-crawlies.) But whatever you choose to do, do it now, 'cause this post is about to get underway and I want to you to stick around to the end.

You see, last Thursday, Katie at BodyUpholstery shared this black widow beanie (as modeled by her niece) over at the Facebook page:

Pretty cool, isn't it? Even as you're trying to suppress the natural desire to stomp on it with steel-toed boots, you've got to admit that it's exceedingly well done.

And then (because life works in funny coincidences like this,) on Friday reader and art teacher Jane also shared a fantastic spider hat she'd originally made as a costume for a play but brought to live in her classroom:

And even though my aversion/borderline violent hatred of all things arachnid is pretty well documented at this point, I have to admit that as much as this thing makes my skin crawl, it is a freakin' marvel and a half. And it's educational to boot, so BONUS.

Thank you, Katie and Jane, for sharing your amazing spider hats! You two rock with the force of an angry god, and I mean that in a good way.

And now, to business: Remember Monday's post? Well, the raffle is going live today, and if you'd like to join in for your chance to win a Marvin the Martian hat as done by Kay Dee Street, here's what you need to do:

Head on over to Facebook and like both Kay Dee Street's Facebook page (and Heinous Hats', if you haven't yet.)
Find the link to today's post on the HH FB page and hit that shiny blue "Like" button.

And that's all you have to do. You have from today until 9 AM next Wednesday to enter the raffle, at which point Kristin and I will ~~activate our wonder twin powers~~ get together and draw a winner at random.

So what are you waiting for? Enter now, and see you Friday!

Let's Get Ready To Raffle

2013-05-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

Just a picture of some old-school raffle tickets.

But you could totally buy them if you want to.

Y'know, this whole "gimme something to write about" thing has been going over far, far better than I could have ever imagined. Really, it has, and today's post is yet another idea submission; this time, from a milliner that has been featured here before--Kristin from Kay Dee Street.

Sound familiar? Well, maybe if I show y'all one of the hats of hers I featured before, it'll jog your memory:

That's right--a couple of her dragon hats appeared here back in January. And as you can see, Kristin does rad work.

The reason I bring this up is because Kristin PM'd me over at the HH Facebook profile, and she made me an offer that I could not refuse: she offered to make up any hat I could imagine, and then we'd hold a raffle so that one lucky reader could win it for their very own.

Yes, you read that right. Kay Dee Street and Heinous Hats are gonna do a raffle for a hat that I specifically request to have made. Pardon me as I walk away from my computer to simultaneously squee and happy-dance like an idiot.

...

Okay--I'm back. And in case you were wondering why this is making me so freakin' deliriously ecstatic, allow me to share some more of Kristin's wares.

For instance, there's this crocheted Rainbow Dash hat, which pleases my My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic-loving heart so very, very much.

Then there's this Batman cowl, because as the old meme says, if you can be Batman, then you should always choose to be Batman.

And then there's this Despicable Me minion hat (which reminds me that the sequel should be coming out this summer and is thus far the only kids' movie I'm interested in seeing this year.)

So as you can see, I'd have to be an idiot not to be all sorts of excited about/grateful for this opportunity. And that is why, after much careful consideration, I have decided that the hat I would like to see Kristin make is a Marvin The Martian hat.

Yes. This is my plan, and as plans go, I'd say it's a pretty good one. So stay tuned, Internets, and thanks again to Kristin of Kay Dee Street for being so completely and utterly awesome, and see you Wednesday!

Hats Off To The King

2013-05-03T09:00:00.000-04:00

The best thing about this pic is that the original, unaltered pic is the header image

over at His Royal Dudeness' Wikipedia page. That just cracks me up for some reason.

Before I get into today's post (suggested by reader Ish Abunny,) let me take you back in time a bit.

Last summer, when Psy's "Gangnam Style" was all the rage, Internet reviewer Todd In The Shadows talked about it in his usual hysterical-yet-informative manner. The reason I bring this up now is because of one major point Todd brought up in his review, which was in regard to the satire intended in the song as opposed to the humor gained from the sheer surreality of the video. Basically, what it boils down to is that you can be intellectually informed about cultural significance and so forth and so on, but there's some things just don't translate very well outside of its original context.

Why do I bring this up now? Because for some reason that I just don't get, the people of Sweden seem to really, really love PhotoShopping hats onto the head of their reigning monarch, His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden.

Seriously--this boggles my brain a bit. Why do the Swedes like to do this? No idea. Considering at the time that most of these were made, His Kingness had a pretty nice approval rating, so I just don't understand why his subjects would feel compelled to shoop all sorts and kinds of hats onto his royal noggin. Maybe it's because when political figures in America get the PhotoShop treatment, it's rarely done in the spirit of kindness, but maybe I'm just looking at it from the wrong angle. Maybe it's like that one .gif of President Obama and Vice President Biden's heads C+P'd onto Jay-Z and Kanye West's bodies; it's done out of respect and love, with just a little bit of silliness involved. Or maybe he just has a head that the Swedes find irresistable for shooping hats onto.

Eh, I don't know, and I could speculate forever, but I've gone on long enough. Let's get to the shoops, shall we?

The best thing about this one is that King Gustaf's facial expression goes so well with the hot dog hat he's not actually wearing.

The same could also be said for his expression with this not-really-there spiky orange hat thing. It just looks like he's thinking to himself, "I have no idea what you just said, but I'm wearing a Koosh ball on my head. Let's move on, okay?"

Well, if you're gonna PhotoShop onto a reigning monarch's pate, you might as well go with a hat that just screams national pride, like this flag-waving pork pie hat. Not sure what the building is supposed to be, though.

Or you could just make him wear a Viking hat. Those are always good, and the Vikings chilled out in Scandiwegia, so it still counts as representing your country.

And finally, here's His Majesticness wearing what I think is a Medusa wig:

Again, it's the facial expression that sells it. It just works so well with the snakes sticking out every-which-way.

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

Of Poppies, Whimsy And Frippery

2013-05-01T09:00:00.000-04:00

The hardest thing about today's post was picking an amuse-bouche

that would sum it all up. So I went with this sampler done by Poppy herself.

Well, Internets, I asked for you all for things to write about, and y'all did not disappoint in the slightest, for which I feel intensely lucky and blessed. Seriously, I do. Because--as I might have mentioned before--sometimes this blogging thing is a lonely business, and it's hard to tell if I'm actually reaching anyone with my silly sentences and so on. So it's nice to know that this isn't just an exercise of fruitlessly shouting into the void, and it makes me feel all happy inside. So thanks, folks, really.

And as promised on Monday, I am going to share with the rest of the class, starting with the works of a milliner who emailed me who goes by the name of Poppy, starting with her hat of Ludo from Labyrinth:

As you can see, she does work that would be best be described as "pure amazeballs". And that's not just my Labyrinth-loving self talking, either--that's just a tiny sampling of her millinery output.

For instance, there's this melancholic dragon hat...

...Which actually has a prodigious tail that you can't see in this pic, so you should do yourself a favor and go click that link up there so you can check it out in all its somber majesty.

Then there's this wampa hat, which I think looks a bit befuddled. Which just makes it even cuter, in my opinion.

And for you Monty Python types, how's about this Black Beast of Arrrgggh hat? Best of all, you don't have to worry about the animator suffering a fatal heart attack while you're wearing it.

And finally, here's the Poppy herself, wearing a murloc hat she made:

Thank you, Poppy, for all the hats you shared. That was awesome and you should feel awesome.

See you Friday!

All Blocked Up

2013-04-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not, it's not easy to find art that

represents writer's block. But this print comes fairly close.

Internets, I need your help. You see, I seem to have come down with a nasty case of writer's block, and I'm having a hard time coming up with ideas for posts for the blog. I have tried everything, from taking walk-away breaks, scanning the usual haunts and even picking at TH's brain for ideas.

Suffice to say, none of that worked very well, so I figured now would be an excellent time to ask you, O readers of this here blog, if you have any ideas or actual hats you'd love to share with the world. 'Cause if you do, you can either

Email them
Tweet them, or
Facebook them

And I will post them here on this very blog. Promise. Because frankly, I got nothin', and the alternative is that I take a week off and hope my brainy batteries recharge enough by next Monday, and I really don't want to do that.

So that's pretty much all I've got at the moment, but just so this doesn't feel like a complete waste of time on everybody's part, here's a knitted viking hat for you:

The majesty coming off this thing--you could bottle it.

So...ideas, please?

Bring On The Bumbershoots

2013-04-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

No, this is not an exploded umbrella store--this is actually a work of art. Although I have to admit,

I did almost think that maybe Italy was growing umbrellas instead of ivy for about a minute or so.

Quick question, Internets: Has it been rainy where you are? It has been here. Not extremely so, in that it hasn't been forty days and forty nights of this stuff, but it's safe to say that it's been pretty dang damp here in Centraliana. Which is all well and good for the farmers, but it's been getting this blogger down a bit, and I'm placing the blame on rain accessories.

I mean it--rain accessories tend to be some of the most dour, sad-looking stuff ever. As I type this, there is a sober, black umbrella tucked into my shoulder bag (where it usually is in case of surprise precipitation) and I'm willing to bet that there's a good chunk of you out there who have a similarly basic umbrella stashed somewhere equally handy for just such emergencies.

Well, screw that noise. Let's look at some fancy-pants umbrellas today, because weather events shouldn't mean having to settle for being boring.

First up is this DIY umbrella, complete with tips on how you can make your own umbrella a whole lot cooler with a little help from stencils and waterproof paint.

Is ombre still a thing? If so, then chances are this ombre umbrella should go over every well. And it's vintage, so it's got two-for-one coolness going for it, too.

These next two umbrellas come from the same shop, but I couldn't choose which one was best, so you folks get to decide.

So which is better: This peeling paint umbrella...

...or this birds-on-a-wire umbrella?

Seriously--you make the call, because I can't choose.

And lastly, just because it's so perfect, so absolutely perfect that I'm amazed I'd never seen one before now, here's a yellow submarine umbrella:

Admit it--it's so perfect, you don't know how you've managed to go this long in your life without one. I know exactly how you feel.

That's it for this week. Have a good weekend, keep dry and see you Monday!

Packing Paper

2013-04-24T09:00:00.000-04:00

All I can say about this pic is that I wish I knew more about. Because as well

as being rather apt in regards to today's post, it's also a very interesting shot.

Let's see--it's Wednesday, and I'm in the mood for a little whimsy to get me over the hump of this week. So how's about we look at some paper hats, shall we? Does that sound good to you? I hope so, because that's pretty much all I've got at the moment.

First up is this ginormous tissue paper flower, which I absolutely adore. Not just because of the vastly big bigness of the blossomy thing (although it certainly does have that in its favor,) but because tissue paper doesn't get nearly as much play as it ought to, if you ask me.

Meanwhile, this paper flower hat opts for lots of relatively smaller but more colorful blooms instead of concentrating all its awesomness in one flower. The results is admittedly different, but by no means is it the lesser of the two.

And now, just because at this rate it's impossible for me to write a post about paper hats without posting some of her work, here's two pieces by Alyn Carlson:

And if you're new to HH, I think those two pics do an excellent job of explaining why her work keeps popping up whenever I post paper hats.

And finally, because nothing quite encapsulates "whimsy" like kids do, here are some kids wearing the fanciest paper hats you've ever seen:

By the way, there's tons more where that came from at the source, so you should definitely go and check it out. It is the essence of amazing over there, I'm telling you.

See you Friday!

AKA Bob Hat, Derby, Billycock and Bombin

2013-04-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

Well, if you're gonna write a post about bowler hats, you might as well kick it off with a

picture of a magnet of one on a chick featuring the most Snidely Whiplashesque mustache ever.

And no, I did not made up that third one up. Either that is a real term from Norfolk or Wikipedia has lied to me. In any case, it doesn't change the fact that today's post is all about bowler hats, starting with this straw one right here:

Because wanting to wear a bowler doesn't automatically mean you have to settle for a hat made of heavy, sober black felt. Unless that's what you're after; then by all means, have at it.

And just because it's felt doesn't mean the rest of the above statement has to be true, either, as this trio of kitty-eared bowlers amply proves.

This sunny yellow bowler has got to be the antithesis of what everybody first thinks about when they picture a bowler hat. It might even work as the photo negative of an average bowler hat, now that I think about it.

This seagrass straw bowler combines everything I love about bowler hats (the rounded crown, the small brim, the wide banded ribbon) and what I love about straw hats (the way the can dapple your face with light.) The turquoise flowers off to the side are a nice touch, too.

And now, just because it's awesome, a kraken bowler:

Tentacles: A surefire way to make whatever you're wearing at least 20% cooler. Or so I believe, anyway.

See you Wednesday!

Out Of The Frying Pan

2013-04-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

For some reason, this print makes me think back to my Home Ec days. The style, I mean--not

the omelet. We never made an omelet (but I did make some passable puppy chow, so there is that.)

After nearly four years of this blogging-about-hats thing, you would think that there would be very little I would be very little that I could find that would surprise me. I mean, I've often said (even on this very blog) that it's very nearly a rule of the Internet that if you can imagine it, chances are somebody's made a version that you can park at a jaunty angle on your head, and it might even have a nifty little birdcage veil if you're lucky. So it stands to reason that a person might just get a little, well, not "jaded" per se, but definitely start to feel like they might've just seen it all.

Luckily for me, though, that hasn't quite happened yet. Or at least, if it was about to, it was stopped in its tracks by the fact that I found--I kid you not--not one, not two, but three frying pan hats. And now, I'm gonna share 'em with you, starting with this one:

What--did you think I meant a real frying pan? Nope. The frying pans you're about to see are not likely to be found on the shelves of the kitchen supply section of the Housewares Department. These suckers are all made out of various textile-type-things. The one above is made from felt (obviously,) and has a bacon-and-eggs breakfast going on.

This one is made from faux leather, and just has one little egg in it, though. But it's a shiny one, thanks to the gold lamé bit. Makes a bit of a dressy hat, I think. It'd be perfect if I ever manage to get that whole Broads Who Breakfast thing off the ground.

And finally, because it just makes me giggle with delight every time I see it, here's a frying pan hat, complete with a nice, fluffy pancake:

And one day, I'm going to know even more about what's going on in this picture. But until then, I'm kinda enjoying making up my own reasons for why this gentleman is wearing a frying pan hat and a Pi name badge so big that it could double as a small picture. It gives me something to pass the time.

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

Cloudy With A Chance Of

2013-04-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

Pics like this just further proves to me that rain is

a lot prettier when you're looking at it from a distance.

Not sure what the weather is like in your neck of the woods, but around here, it's been a bit on the overcast/rainy side. Which is fair and all, since it's April and April tends to be known for being a bit on the gray and damp side, but it does get a little irksome when you can barely recall the last time the ground was dry or you could see a clear sky.

However, in the interest of taking this lemon of a weather pattern and making some lemonade out of it, I'm feeling inspired to post some cloud-related hats, so that's exactly what I'm gonna do, starting with this crocheted beauty right here:

Pretty nice, ain't it? I particularly like how the stitches on the hat and the clouds are two different types. It just makes is a little more fancy, IMHO.

Next up is this fascinator, which is described as being "sunshine and rain". However, I just have two words to say: DEM BUTTONS.

Then there's this adorable little pointy gnome hat, which while I don't think it's something you'd see on reruns of The World of David the Gnome, it's still pretty snazzy. I think Swift the Fox would approve.

For those who like their accessories to make literary references, this knitted cloud hat is modeled after the cover of John Green's The Fault In Our Stars.

And finally, just because this post wouldn't be complete without one, here's a fleecy thundercloud hat, complete with lightning bolt:

Because it just wouldn't be spring without one good thunderstorm, dang it. And if Mother Nature has anything to say about, there will never be a spring without at least one.

See you Friday!

CUPCAKES (For No Reason At All)

2013-04-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

Truer words were never spoken.

Or put on a poster, for that matter.

Ever have one of those moments where you went against your initial impression of someone or something, and were greatly rewarded for it? It doesn't happen much, and most of the time when we do muscle past our hesitance, we generally wind up with what would be best described as a "could've had a V-8" moment (meaning, we could've done something else and been better off for it.) So it's nice when we take a step outside of what we're used to and it turns out well.

The reason I bring this up is because the other day, I was goofing around on YouTube (as I am wont to do,) and I came across videos for Kid President. At first glance, I thought it was probably some stupidly precious dreck and wasn't sure if I wanted to watch it, but my gut instinct said to give it a chance. And Internets, I'm so glad I went with my gut, because I became a fan of Kid President in less than three minutes.

Seriously. Kid President is freakin' rad, and if you haven't watched any of his videos, you need to. Not just because the kid is cute ('cause he is,) and not just because the videos are funny ('cause they are,) but because at the heart of every single one of those videos is a nine-year-old kid who, frankly, has way more faith in his fellow human beings than most people do, and is on a mission to make the world a better place.

Admittedly, his methods of going about that are those of a third-grader, but they're just so crazy-awesome that they just might work. For example: Kid President's idea for mediating conflict? Cupcakes. His rationale for that? Everybody likes cupcakes, and if they can't agree on anything else, they at least can admit that they have that in common.

See what I mean? It's just so sweetly inspiring, it inspired today's post:--cupcake hats, starting with this crocheted one:

Out of curiosity, what flavor would blue icing have? Would it be blueberry, mixed berry, blue raspberry or cotton candy? And do they even make icing in those flavors?

These are the questions that fill my mind when looking at hats like these. To my way of thinking, that's a pretty dang good compliment to the hatters.

Next up is this cupcake fascinator, which I love not only because of the sparkliness of the sprinkles, but because it hits that sweet spot of where it's so pink that it can only be described thus: PANK.

Speaking of sprinkles, I like the rainbow colors of the sprinkles on this knitted beanie, which is described as a "purple velvet cupcake." Admittedly, I am not a foodie by any stretch of the imagination, but I thought there was only one color of velvet cake and that it is red.

So level with me, baker-folks: Is this purple velvet cake a real thing in the world, or would looking for the recipe be like the snipe hunt of Pinterest?

Speaking of red velvet, I did find this red velvet cupcake fascinator, which even features a whole heaping lot of cherries (and yes, "a whole heaping lot" is the correct terminology for that particular measurement.)

And now, just because it's been a while since I tested BuzzFeed's theory, here's a pug in a cupcake hat:

I think Kid President would approve. Or at least I hope he would.

And that's it for this week. Have a good weekend, and I'll see you Monday!

...

Not cool, Robert Frost!

In A Puff

2013-04-10T09:00:00.000-04:00

I like to think that this print as proof that even things we consider

of being utterly useless nuisances (however rightly) can be pretty.

Judging by the presence of one stubborn little clump of them in my yard, it appears that it is once again dandelion season. And since it's been a while since I posted some dandelion hats (about two years or so, if the archives are any indication,) I'm thinking today would be a good day to revisit the subject. Particularly since I managed to find some really lovely hats based on the subject, such as this one:

Hey--if it's warm enough for dandelions to start sprouting up out of the lawn, then it's not entirely out-of-season to start thinking about wide-brimmed straw hats, either. And this bad boy is just about big enough to shade a person's shoulders, I think.

According to the description for this bridal fascinator, it's supposed to be reminiscent of the sky, but I'm thinking it looks an awful lot like a bunch of airborne dandelion seeds. And frankly, I think I like it better when viewed that way.

Speaking of dandelion fluff, check out this arty little headpiece. Isn't it pretty, in one of those "want to touch but probably shouldn't 'cause it'll mess it up" sorts of ways?

Meanwhile, I think this chiffon dandelion puff is a bit more touchable, and therefore far more forgiving to the wear and tear of everyday life.

And just because I am well aware that just because it's acting all springy right now does not necessarily mean that this spring-like weather is going to last, here's an earwarmer featuring a cross-stitched dandelion:

Because there is something to be said for hedging your bets, even in April. And that something is either "smart" or "spent way too long living in the Midwest."

See you Friday!

I Ride My Bike, I Roller Skate, Don't Drive No Car

2013-04-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

All I have to say about this pic is that I am intensely

jealous of the headlamp this bike has. That is all.

Well, Internets, after nearly two weeks of radio silence, I'm back! And today's post is all about bike helmets for two reasons:

Judging by the change in the weather/seasons, it might just finally, finally be bicycling weather again, and
The following DIY disco ball helmet (that I actually first shared on the HH FB wall) inspired me to no end.

Admittedly, I imagine the above helmet might be a bit of a distraction on the road (particularly if the sun is out,) but I found a bunch of other helmets that are worth taking a peek at, starting with this one:

Yes, it is an actual kid's bike helmet. Because only a kid could get away with wearing a helmet that appears to be a hipster bunny suffering from chicken pox (although I would give it an honest try, if it looked like the sucker might actually fit.)

For those of you who like your helmets a little bit more on the arty side, you could always go with a hand-painted bike helmet like this Klee-inspired mamma-jamma above.

Admittedly, I'm not entirely certain that these would work while bicycling, but even so, these DIY X-Wing pilot helmets still get two thumbs up from me and the girls modeling them are freakin' adorable.

And now, just because it's been a long time since I even thought about this movie, here's a helmet in mold of The Rocketeer:

My only regret is that the only thing I know about it is that it exists. But I suppose that's better than nothing. I mean, your day is better for knowing that this is a thing in the world, isn't it?

And on that note, see you Wednesday!

Adjust The Bunny Ears For Better Reception

2013-03-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Considering the subject of today's post, this print is so freakin' apt that it hurts.

Yes, you read that right--today's post is all about bunny hats. The reason for that is a two-parter:

Easter is just around the corner, and
I'm going away this weekend and won't be back until next week, so if I'm gonna do a post on bunny hats, it's gonna have to be today.

So without further ado, let's hop to it, shall we?

First up is not just a fleecy bunny hat; this is an Eleventh Doctor fleecy bunny hat. Because geekery never takes a day off (which is as it should be, if you ask me.)

The best thing about bunny hats is that they are invariably quite cute. This little fuzzy bunny-eared hat just helps drive that point home a little bit more.

Of course, if you prefer your bunny hats to be made of yarn instead of fleece, you can't wrong wrong with a nice, chunky, crocheted one like this. I particularly like how it's all spring-colored, too.

However, if your bunny hat simply must have long, luxurious ears, then of all the bunny hats you're liable to see, this one is going to suit you best.

And finally, because we all know what everybody's really looking forward to this Sunday, here's a hat in the form of the crowning piece of anybody's Easter basket, the chocolate bunny:

Although I will admit, the season premiere of Game of Thrones is a very, very close second, if not an outright tie.

And that's it for this week. Here's wishing a Happy Easter to those who celebrate it, a Happy Passover to those who celebrate it, and a peaceful weekend for those who celebrate having a long weekend. See you next Wednesday!

For A Change

2013-03-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

It ain't easy finding art that has something to do with pouches, so it's a good thing I found this print of an old

Mail Pouch Tobacco barn. Especially since those barns are becoming as rare as See Rock City barns these days.

Well, Internets, it's the last Monday of the month, and that means that this is the last of the series of Awesome Shop With Awesome Stuff posts for a while*. So in light of that fact, today's post is going to be a bit off the beaten path (or, at least as far off the beaten path a blog about quirky hats and other accessories can get, anyway.)

That's right--today's post is about shop Misala Handmade, and about my most favorite of their wares: their cute little clutch pouches (or as I like to call 'em, change purses.) And after today's post, I'm thinking you'll be thinking the same, too.

See what I mean? This bitty hippo change purse is just too freakin' adorable, and I'm not even that big of a fan of the color pink. And yet, this thing is winning me over in spite of myself.

Next up are these whale clutch pouches, which are just as polka-dotty as the above hippo, but a bit less on the pink side. Also, they are just as cute, but I think that went without saying, so my saying it just now is kinda superfluous in the grand scheme of things.

Note To Self: Add this teddy bear change purse to this year's Christmas Wish List. Sure, you might not actually get it, but at least go on the official record of saying "I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE."

These heffalump clutch pouches strike me as something one of my sisters-in-law would like, as that I seem to recall her having a fondness for elephants, and I imagine she's not the only one.

And finally, just because it's the one that made me decide that this shop truly deserved a post today, here's a red squirrel change pouch:

It's just so cute, isn't it? Kinda almost makes me forget that the real things have a nasty habit of lobbing twigs and nuts at you from the tops of trees.

See you Wednesday!

* Unless you want ASWAS to become a weekly staple of the blog. Do you? Let me know either here, on Facebook or on Twitter.

EX-TER-MI-NATE!

2013-03-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

Believe it or not, this is actually a piece of wall art meant for a child's room.

Because you've got to start instilling the awesome early on, obviously.

So I was looking around the Internet for robot hats and sadly, I didn't really find all that many. However, I did find a bunch of dalek hats (because an octopus-like mutant cyborg alien race = robots, I guess,) so today's post is all about hats in the form of those roboticized salt-and-pepper shakers that give The Doctor so much trouble.

First up is this knitting pattern, which is rather subtle with the design. Honestly, if you weren't looking for a dalek hat, you'd almost take this for a simple geometric patterned hat, which makes this hat stealthily rad.

Next up is this stripy dalek beanie, which is described at the source as being Drone Red. So if these suckers are color-coded, then I'm guessing that the one in the first pic would be a Supreme White? I'm just guessing, since what I know about Doctor Who is what I've learned ~~off the street~~ on the Internet.

Of course, if you have a yen for dalek-bumps, never fear: there is a hat for you, too. And in Strategist Blue, too!

Then again, if you prefer your dalek hats to be kicking it old-school (and by "old-school," I mean sometime around 2005,) then perhaps you would be interested in this Time War-era model.

And for those who just want to let their telescopic manipulator arms boldly show, here's a selection of crocheted dalek beanies that should suit your needs just fine:

And yes, I know that last bit sounded like a euphemism. Blame Davros.

And that's it for this week, as that I'm taking Friday off for a little R&R. See you next week!

I Will Show You Cuteness In A Ball Of Yarn

2013-03-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

Speaking as somebody whose failures at crafts is a many-splendored thing,

I only which it was as easy to make a cute hat from yarn as this print portrays it.

Somewhere in a church in Somerset, England, T.S. Eliot's ashes are probably doing an impressive impersonation of a snow globe over the title of this post. Which would actually be kinda neat to watch, honestly.

In any event, for this week's Awesome Shop With Awesome Stuff, we're gonna be taking a look at Etsy shop Jackthemanabouttown, which is loaded to the brim with cute knitted hats of various critters, as you are about to see.

First, there's this pink pig hat, which might look a bit simple at first, but if you embiggen the above pic, you'll see how much detail went into this sucker. It's impressive, and fills me with the desire to boop its snout.

Next up is this carrot monster hat. Or as I like to think of it, Bugs Bunny's nightmare come true in hat form. But, y'know, still on the cute side.

Believe it or not, I'm actually posting this red-winged blackbird hat because I like it; not because of the dog that's sitting next to it. However, I will admit that the dog is a nice bonus.

How awesome is this shop? They made an owl hat that I, someone who has a well-documented dislike for owl hats, feel honor-bound to share with others, because it is just too well-done to ignore.

And finally, because if you're trying to illustrate cute you had best go hard or go home, here's a Fortune Cat hat:

If you can look at this hat and not let loose a squee, you are probably TH or somebody who is as immune to cuteness as he is. And frankly, that's just sad and I therefore pity you a bunch.

And on that note, see you Wednesday!

Looking A Little Green

2013-03-15T09:00:00.000-04:00

They say not to judge a book by its cover, but I would totally patronize

Shamrock Dinners based solely on the sign in this pic. At least once, anyway.

A quick look at the calendar informs me that St. Patrick's Day will be happening tomorrow (well, it's technically Sunday, but I'm betting that any/all celebrations involving things that blue laws tend to prohibit will be happening Saturday,) so it would totally make sense to look at some holiday-appropriate hats today, wouldn't it? I mean, I could do this Monday, but it'd be a day late and buck short, so there you go.

So that's what we're gonna do, but just because I feel like ~~making this harder on~~ challenging myself, I'm going to go with some decidedly fancy-looking hats in the green family. Because while Saint Paddy's Day is generally delightfully tacky, sometimes it's nice to class it up a bit.

So without further ado, here we go:

Well, if you're gonna wear green this March 17th, you might as well go the full nine and wear a mini top hat made of moss. Y'know, go hard or go home and all that stuff.

Is it just me, or is this felt fascinator giving off a decidedly Auntie Mame vibe? 'Cause honestly, it takes zero stretches of the imagination to think of Vera Charles wearing this as she breezes past everybody in the room towards the spirits, and thatt just makes it that much more awesome to my way of thinking.

It's been a while since I shared a vintage hat, hasn't it? Well, allow me to make up for lost time with this sweet little forest-green number.

I particularly like the bow--it gives it sort of girly-mod look.

Before I start getting complaints that this hood is by no means dressy, allow me to point out that this sucker is made from some sparkly material, and therefore is a dressy hood. Ergo, into the post it goes.

And now, just because I'm sure somebody out there who deeply wants/needs to see a hat that references a mythical creature who is closely associated with the color green and is notable for their magical powers as well as their tininess, here you go:

According to BuzzFeed, pugs wearing hats will never get old, so just consider this my putting the theory to the test.

And on that note, have a good/safe weekend, and I'll see you Monday!

Everyone's Favorite Robotic Mailbox

2013-03-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

Aw, it's okay, R2-D2 print--we kinda figured that out by how C-3PO reacted.

So the other day (for the curious, that would be Monday,) I posted this customized bike helmet over on the HH Facebook page:

To say it went over pretty well would be a bit of an understatement, and since I am occasionally prone to logical thinking, I thought to myself "hey, why not make a post of R2-D2 hats?" So that is exactly I am going to do today, starting with this one right here:

Also, do yourself a favor and click that link so you can check out the other Star Wars pillboxes available, because they are all sorts and kinds of rad. Just sayin'.

Of course, if you prefer your droid hats to cover a bit more of your scalp than a pillbox is capable of doing, then I heartily suggest this R2-D2 crocheted beanie.

Then again, if you're not all that fussed about your cranium and would just rather keep your ears warm, that's okay--you can get R2-D2 earmuffs.

And finally, because I'm pretty sure that even pets love the shorter half of The Robotic Odd Couple (even if they can't actually say it,) here's a R2-D2 hat for humankind's best friend:

R2-D2 hats: Making your dog exponentially cuter than they already were.

See you Friday!

Handing It Out

2013-03-11T09:00:00.000-04:00

As thematically-appropriate art goes, when you're about to write

a post on wrist warmers, you just can't beat a hand print flower.

It's Monday, so that means it's time to showcase another shop in our Awesome Shop With Awesome Stuff, and this week, we're going to be looking at some of the wares of Casey Storm, AKA Tinybully.

Now for those of you do the Facebook and happen to have liked HH's profile, you've seen that Casey's hats are flippin' rad (and if you haven't, you should definitely go and check 'em out,) but today I'm gonna shine a light on a little something else over at the Artfire shop: the sheer abundance of wrist warmers/fingerless gloves she's got on offer.

Because seriously? These are some of the best fingerless gloves/wrist warmers I've seen. Not kidding, and once you take a look at a few of 'em, I think you'll agree.

First up are these piranha plant wristies, which are great for any gamer who wants to keep their hands warm. And since they're fingerless, they won't obstruct your game play. SCORE!

For those of you who love yourselves some Alice In Wonderland (particularly the Disney version,) then I'm thinking that these Cheshire Cat wrist warmers will be right up your alley. I particularly love that they've got little paw prints on the palm side of the glove.

These Klingon insignia fingerless gloves are great, and I will no argument against them. Worf, son of Mogh, would approve.

Note: As a kid, Eldest Sis had a little Cheer Bear toy, so when I see these wrist warmers, they make me think of her.

Also, for reasons I can't recall, I had a matching Birthday Bear. I'm guessing a birthday might have had something to do with it, but like I said--can't really remember.

And finally, because these are the ones that give me the biggest case of The Wants, here's a pair of fingerless gloves that evoke that most popular of X-Men, Wolverine:

It's the little studs that represent the adamantium claws that makes them, if you ask me.

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

Play The Game

2013-03-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

If there is a poster that ever gamer truly needs

to have on their wall, it's this print right here.

As you might have guessed from today's amuse-bouche, today's post is all about hats that take their inspiration from video games. Because frankly, it's Friday and nothing quite says "two days of jack-all to do" like video games.

Well, "sleeping in" works a little, but not quite as well as video games. Don't know why--it just doesn't. So it is with those in mind that the hats for today's post were chosen. Let's get to them, shall we?

My obvious Nintendo bias notwithstanding, this fireflower slouchy beanie is the perfect accessory for a gamer, particularly of the old-school stripe. And if you have a soft spot for the other iconic bit of flora from the Super Marioverse, there's a piranha plant beanie as well.

Of course, if you're not all that enamored with Super Mario Bros, there are plenty of gamer hats out there that have nothing to do with a certain portly little plumber. For example, there's this Halo beanie, which even takes its description from the game literature. However, I can't vouch for whether the hat has the same properties as the helmet from the game.

For the Portal fans, there's this GLaDOS potato hat. Because if you're going to wear a beanie modeled after a game villain, you might as well go with one that can be powered by a simple potato battery.

Note: I know very little about StarCraft, but if these overlord hats are any indication, it's got some pretty nifty graphic design going on.

And finally, because it's awesome as well as bringing this post back around to where we started, here's a Bob-Omb hat:

It's the wind-up key in the back that is the icing on the cake, if you ask me.

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