Ruby Lane's Creative Hands Newsletter for August 2005

Creative Hands
Ruby Lane's monthly newsletter celebrating the Arts & Crafts
community
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Welcome to Creative Hands!

IN THIS ISSUE:
o Artisan Shop Showcase: East Angel Harbor Shoppe
o Ruby Lane July Shop Sampler
o August Art and Craft Shows
o Share Creative Hands With A Friend

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ARTISAN SHOP SHOWCASE: EAST ANGEL HARBOR SHOPPE

Hi, I'm Darna of Victorian Hats East Angel Harbor Shoppe. I
began designing hats when I was fifteen years old. I had checked
out a copy of Seventeen Magazine from the school library and
there were photos of girls wearing outfits with matching
hats...I was hooked. I had already been designing and sewing my
school clothes and it seemed like a natural transition to design
hats to match my outfits. Today...I'm a Civil War re-enactor and
I'm still designing hats to match my gowns.

While in college, I studied art and design as well as taking
classes in history, including art history and US History. It was
during this study of history that I became captivated by the
changing styles of clothing during the Victorian and Edwardian
Eras and especially hats and bonnets; it was as if Europe, Great
Britain and the USA were competing for the most extravagant
styles. I have collected more that 100 issues of the Harper's
Bazaar (a weekly woman's journal) as well as several hundred
cabinet photos of women and children wearing hats; these photos
span the period between 1860's to the 1920's. I've also
collected various catalogs of clothing styles, hats and even
furrier catalogs. Just recently I began collecting issues of La
Mode Illustree (a French fashion journal)that dates back to the
Victorian era.

While studying these various publications, the most evident
impression is that it would be next to impossible for any
designer to come up with an entirely original design because
somebody has already thought of it and designed it...this is a
quote generalizing fashion design: "In hat fashion design, we
must remember there's nothing new, only what's been forgotten
and now re-created."

I have designed hats for weddings, theater, re-enactors of both
Victorian and Edwardian eras and also for Victorian photography
studios. I utilize my many sources of publications for design
ideas, but I add my own artistic touches to make the hats to
some extent unique. Whenever possible, I like to include an
antique photo of a hat with similar design characteristics so
the buyer will recognize that the hat is truthful to the period
from which it was copied.

I also design Victorian and Edwardian Era parasols, reticules
and hat pins. The trims on my parasols are completely hand sewn
and I usually design the reticule to co-ordinate with the
parasol. My hatpins are both decorative and utilitarian...it
requires a very sturdy hat pin to keep a large Edwardian hat in
place.

I use an assortment of ready made hat stock, but I also make my
own handmade buckram frames and I also block my own wool felt. I
use nearly all new fabrics and trims: the finest laces, silk
brocades and silk Charmeuse, velvets, and yes...loads of bridal
tulle (the ladies love it). I hand-dye most of my feathers and
occasionally I use antique feathers, especially if I find any
that are quality enough to flatter my hat design. Sometimes I'm
in a "whimsical mood" so I'll add birds, butterflies, bees,
grasshoppers, etc to the hat. My flowers are silks, organza,
velvets and even paper. I look for the most beautiful flowers
available...once again I prefer the new flowers to the vintage,
but occasionally I find vintage flowers that are quality. The
majority of my designs are "one of a kind" and although most of
the fabrics and trims are new, they're sometimes difficult to
repeat. I simply love designing so I put my heart into it and
each Victorian or Edwardian hat is mine until you buy it and I
design the hat with that in mind...if I don't "love" the hat, I
don't expect you to "love" it.

We invite you to visit Darna's shop: Victorian Hats East Angel
Harbor Shoppe.

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RUBY LANE JULY SHOP SAMPLER

We invite you to visit these Ruby Lane Fine Art, Artisan and
Artisan Jewelry shops:

Artistic Differences: Handpainted cloth dolls that look ages
old, polymer clay and bisque fairies, porcelain dolls. This
shop will capture your imagination.

Uncommon Artifacts: A collection of contemporary artisan
ceramics in rich, earthy colors like oxblood, Chinese blue and
experimental purple. A variety of form and finish make these
functional items truly works of art.

La Villa Victoria: An enchanting array of unique items for you
and your home. Gourd luminaries and ornaments, corn husk art,
basketry, floral swags and wreaths, greeting cards and much,
much more.
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AUGUST ART AND CRAFT SHOWS

Here is a list of upcoming art and craft shows throughout the
Continental United States:

4/1/2005 to 12/31/2005 - Serving Those Who Serve Ft. Leavenworth
KS Mall at the Post Exchange - inside kiosk setting or outside
tables - depending on weather. Mon-Sat: 0900 - 1800; Sun:
1000-1700

8/5/2005 to 8/7/2005 - Frederick MD 24rd Annual Country Peddler
Craft Show Frederick Fairgrounds. Indoors. Fri: 4-8pm; Sat:
9am-5pm; Sun: 10am-4pm

8/6/2005 to 8/7/2005 - Evanston IL - 33rd Annual Evanston
Lakeshore Arts Festival Historic Dawes Park - on the lakeshore
at Church St. & Sheridan Rd. Evanston is the 1st suburb north of
Chicago on Lake 11am-6pm

8/6/2005 to 8/7/2005 - Dodge City KS - Dodge City Days Arts &
Crafts Fair Downtown sidewalks & parking lots. Sat: 9am-5pm;
Sun: 10am-4pm

8/6/2005 to 8/7/2005 - Santa Fe NM - 33rd Annual Girls
Incorporated Arts & Crafts Show The Plaza, downtown. Outdoors.
9am-6pm

8/6/2005 to 8/7/2005 - Park Falls WI - 53rd Annual Flambeau Rama
5th Street North - park setting. Outdoors. Wheelchair access.
10am-4pm both days

8/6/2005 to 8/7/2005 - Wauwatosa WI - 19th Annual Firefly Art
Fair The 1 1/2 acres of Victorian Gardens surrounding the
historic Kneeland-Walker House & Gardens.10am-5pm

8/7/2005 - Racine WI - 36th Annual Racine Art Guild Starving
Artist Outdoor Art Fair City Park on a bluff overlooking Lake
Michigan. 9am-4pm

8/10/2005 to 8/11/2005 - Manteo NC - 24th Annual New World
Festival of the Arts Downtown streets surrounding Manteo's
Waterfront. Wed: 10am-7pm; Thurs: 10am-5pm

8/11/2005 to 8/14/2005 - Nappanee IN - 43rd Annual Amish Acres
Arts & Crafts Festival Amish Acres Historic Farm (listed on the
National Register of Historic Places). Thurs & Sat: 9am-7pm;
Fri: 9am-8pm; Sun: 10am-5pm

8/12/2005 to 8/14/2005 - Sun Valley ID - 37th Annual Sun
Valley Center Arts & Crafts Festival Sun Valley Resort - lower
esplanade. 10am-6:30pm

8/20/2005 to 8/21/2005 - Columbus OH - Offinger's Handcrafted
Marketplace Veterans Memorial Building - Sat:9am-5pm;Sun:9am-3pm

8/26/2005 to 8/28/2005 - Chicago IL - 47th Annual Arts
Experience Plaza of Americas- outdoors on the sidewalks on North
Michigan Ave -Magnificent Mile Area 8am-6pm

8/27/2005 to 8/28/2005 - Somers NY - 17th Annual Lasdon Fine
Arts & Crafts Fair Lasdon Park & Arboretum. 10am-5pm
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SHARE CREATIVE HANDS WITH A FRIEND

Did you enjoy this issue of Creative Hands? Do you know others
who would enjoy receiving it? We invite you to forward this
issue to those you know who also appreciate and enjoy arts &
crafts.