New Orleans Museum of Art presents: "Art in Bloom"

I was so excited to be asked by the New Orleans Museum of Art to participate in their annual Art in Bloom exhibit. Art in Bloom will showcases spectacular floral designs created by garden clubs, floral designers and creative talents from across New Orleans. The theme of the exhibit was “Home Grown”.

The hat was handmade using all natural straw materials including the flowers and trim.

Enjoying the fruits of my labor at the opening reception on May 05,2021

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My submission title: Uniquely Resilient

Inspiration: To live in New Orleans we have to be "uniquely resilient" like the Camellia blossom. Camellia’s also enjoy a long blooming season just like we enjoy a long season of festivals and celebrations.

Materials: cream sinamay straw wide brimmed hat with silk abaca, handmade and hand dyed Camellia flowers and trim. 

Botanical: Manila Hemp (sinamay and silk abaca straw), Philippines

My initial sketch. I new I wanted to use Camellia flowers for the trim.

I think this is the first time that one of my hats looks very similar to the sketch!

Bespoke Louisiana Inauguration 2020

This past winter I had the privilege to be hired to create a bespoke hat for Mrs. Donna Bel Edwards. She would be wearing the hat to her husband’s inauguration on Jan 11, 2020 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I met with Mrs. Edwards at her home in the Governor’s mansion before Christmas and discussed a hat shape, material and flowers for her custom hat.

See full inauguration images here

We agreed on a royal blue felt color and I proposed custom flowers that would have an ombre color effect that would go from teal-royal blue. I was super pleased with the outcome and Mrs. Edwards. I also tried to buy all my materials in the US.

We got very lucky because it stopped raining right before they came out for the event. Which made all of us very happy.

Materials:

• Velour royal blue felt

• Handmade custom flowers from M&S Schmalberg

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