Lazy Days of Summer Aren't Lazy Days Around Here

Yes, that's right.  No laziness here. We have been experimenting with our new product from Australia which arrive a little over a week ago. Grab the 13 yards of silk and begin playing Margie decided. The product is called Liquid Radiance and there are so many uses for all kinds of fiber artists. Immediately Margie began to mix a drop of this color and a drop of that color and she came up with some dynamite colors on her silk pieces.  Next time she will keep track of what colors she used.  It was sheer play for her as she couldn't wait to jump into the processes. Her sheep apron was the closest to her work space so now the sheep (yet to be named) has a nice little red dot on her forehead...soon to be removed!

Designs are always floating around in Margie's head so we need to get them out and implementing them.

She has been brushing up on some social media skills and she is so lucky that she has DoSpace and Metro Community College so close.  She also has taken advantage of some of the workshops provided by the Fashion Institute Guild, here in Omaha. She continues to mentor her star high school student Frank as he prepares for his first ever appearance in Omaha Fashion Week.

Photo Credits:
Hat Designer: Margie Trembley Chapeaux

Model: HaleyM Develop Model Management

Photographer: Heather and Jameson

Dress Designer: Leah Kareen Studios

Hair & Makeup: Kali Rahder

Stylist: Margaret Jow

She also is helping hubby Glenn with his new website greekglassusa.com. Springfield Artworks is now officially licensed to produce Greek sorority gifts. He is starting small but will progress to other sorority gifts as demand continues.  Let us know if you have a sorority connection you would like us to persue.

Good Bye for now and as Margie's

sister Judy used to say "See you in the funny papers."

Summer is here!

Yes, it hit over 100 degrees this last week so guess it's officially summer. Not being someone who loves to bathe in the sun, it definately means it's time to finish all those partially started projects.

Last minute panic calls for next week's wedding must be the norm for some. Reminding everyone 60-90 days out is preferred so that there is plenty of "creative time" and time to order special embellishments if necessary.

Derby season was filled with lovely hats, happy customers, and new friendships.  Thanks to all who contacted me about either making them a special hat or adding a few quick touches to an already fabricated one that I have here at the shop.

This is the first year in a couple of years that I didn't go to the Kentucky Derby. It was a good thing however, as I was able to be available to take care of my customers requests. We participated in the Omaha International Equestrian event by providing models wearing my hats during the Kentucky Derby Party.  They did a wonderful job and were also great marketers (a real plus).

Will share a couple of images of some of my hats at the Derby. It's very rewarding to see those happy faces and to hear about their experiences in Louisville. We were not represented in the Longines Fashion Contest at the Kentucky Oaks this year except by one of my customers, and I did miss being there in person. Maybe next yeat at least my selected hat will be there.

A Nebraska young woman will be the featured majorette starting next year for the University of Louisville. She was invited to be with the band when they played "My Old Kentucky Home." I am so proud of her. She too was sporting a Margie Trembley Chapeaux when she wasn't performing with the band. Katie Cole, the Iowa young woman who is the Miss Nationwide pageant winner just informed me that she too won another national pageant and she wore my hat I made for her for her Miss Nationwide pageant at that winning pageant too. That's special!

Think I could write a book about Derby hat experiences. It was fun seeing my hatboxes walk out the door with their new chapeau tucked neatly inside.

Springfield Days 2016 just happened last weekend.  That always brings in new people who have never been to our studio and shop. Always  a fun time.

Don't forget. We do Weddings! Bridesmaids, Mothers of the Bride, Mother of the Groom, and of course the bride herself. If you have a wedding coming up later this summer or next summer, feel free to make an appointment with us. We are eager to assist you.
Margie
Ps The photoshoot was completed in March. Still awaiting the lookbook from the printer. Anxious!!! Here are a few photos that were taken at that photoshoot. Credits are given to the fabulous team that I worked with on this project.

                                                      Photo Credits for first five photos:

 Hat Designer Margie Trembley Chapeaux

Model: HaleyM Develop Model Management

Photographer: Heather and Jameson

Dress Designer: Leah Kareen Studios

Hair and Makeup: Kali Rahder

Stylist: Margaret Jow

                                                                                          

Hat Designer: Margie Trembley Chapeaux

Model: HaleyM Develop Model Management

Photographer: Heather and Jameson

Dress Designer: Leah Kareen Studios

Hair & Makeup: Kali Rahder

Stylist: Margaret Jow

                                                                           Hat Designer: Margie Trembley Chapeaux

Model: HaleyM Develop Model Management

Photographer: Heather and Jameson

Dress Designer: Leah Kareen Studios

Hair & Makeup: Kali Rahder

Stylist: Margaret Jow

                                                                            Hat Designer: Margie Trembley Chapeaux

Model: HaleyM Develop Model Management

Photographer: Heather and Jameson

Dress Designer: Leah Kareen Studios

Hair & Makeup: Kali Rahder

Stylist: Margaret Jow

 caption

Hat Designer: Margie Trembley Chapeaux

Model: HaleyM Develop Model Management

Photographer: Heather and Jameson

Dress Designer: Leah Kareen Studios

Hair & Makeup: Kali Rahder

Stylist: Margaret Jow

                                            Hat Designer: Margie Trembley Chapeaux

Model: HaleyM Develop Model Management

Photographer: Heather and Jameson

Dress Designer: Leah Kareen Studios

Hair & Makeup: Kali Rahder

Stylist: Margaret Jow

Two lovely couples at this years Derby and the ladies wore a MargieTrembleyChapeaux. Great seats!

Where Did the Summer Go?

Wow, I find myself heading out to find the prettiest mums for the front of the store and I think I got lucky.  While wondering through Sam's Club on s Saturday (G was minding the store) I found the most gorgeous yellow mums to plant in our planters out front of the studio/gallery/boutique./hat shop. We also have some great willow that we retrieved from our willow at home.  We decided we would just put it out in front and put a for sale sign on the branches....Who knows? Someone may see the beauty of those gorgeous twists and turns of the willow branches and decide they should make a purchase.

Now to hats. It has been a whirlwind of a summer...from a TV interview in Lincoln,NE to providing hats for models for the fundraising event for the Fashion Institute Guild event and finding just the right clothes and accessories to match the fur felt safari hat and the aubergene velour hat that were featured there. It was quite fun putting it all together.  I must say the models from Develop Model Management look fabulous in my hats.  Thanks to all the hard working members of the guild who put this fabulous fund raising event on to assist designers with some of their needs, like educational opportunities, etc.  I was one of the recipients this last year and eternally grateful for their help.

The big news is that our hats have been selected to be in a Louisville,KY store prior to the Kentucky Derby.  A visit there earlier was delightful and I was so happy that they loved my hats.  This will be the only place in Louisville where my hats can be purchased. The high end store is called Rodes for Him, for Her.  If in the area, check them out.  They carry fine merchandise.

Finally, the finishing touches are being added to the blue hat that was pictured in the Omaha World Herald article about our Derby hats, back in April. You may not recognize it. When it's 100% finished I will post pictures...for now, you will have to wait.

Oops, guess that isn't finally. Yours truly signed up for a cowboy hat making class in Elko, NV to be held in conjunction with the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, held yearly in Elko.  Having met Meg Glaser, Artistic Director of Programs for the Western Folklife Center, at The Trailing of the Sheep Festival, held yearly in Hailey and Ketchum, Id. and seen her involvement in preserving the stories of the West, I am sure it will be a fabulous event.  Here's hoping the snow will be light and the wind calm during that time. Not sure who will get the hat, Glenn or me....Seems like a long way off.  I have plenty of time to think about it.

If you are thinking of going to the Kentucky Derby next May, now would be the perfect time to come in so we can plan for that perfect hat, just for you.  Appointments are necessary for measuring, etc. Hope to see you soon.

Margie

Wow, Kentucky Derby is Over

Great opportunity to attend the Kentucky Derby 140th Running for the Roses. More importantly for me was the chance to be in the Fashion Contest for the Kentucky Oaks on Friday of last week.  My hat was ready, I was ready and the long line began.  I was about #7 in line to walk the pink carpet but ended up being #51 to actually strut (did I say that...LOL!) across the runway. Sooo you can see how anxious all of the ladies were to get in (or should I say push their way in front of me and others). There were enough numbers for 200 of us. It was fun taking pictures of all the lovely hats.  Miss America was the emcee and she introduced all of us...(big job) without a break! There were three judges...will post their names later. I met each of them, not sure if that was what we were supposed to do but I wanted to know who they were.  Lots of photographers were taking our pictures and a couple of them had me stop so they could take my picture....guess they liked my hat....haven't seen it on the front page of anything so maybe I was just dreaming.

Another man stopped me to make nice comments and got out the smart phone and took a pic of my hat.  Maybe he stopped everyone.....

The closest we got to the real action was seeing the jockeys come down the stairs to head to the paddock and jump on their horses. It was fun seeing them up close.  The oldest was 47...Wow, gutsy guy.  Of course it was also fun seeing a gal participate.

Hats, hats everywhere. Lots of color, lots of great people watching.  Only celeb I think I saw was Josh Elliot.  They were far from where we were.

Hats, Hats and More Hats

The wheels are turning thinking of new creations in my mind...We have materials for three potential hat designs in little white boxes, awaiting just the right creative moment to put them together.

Yesterday we had the pleasure of meeting a milliner from Minneapolis.  It's always fun to chat with others in your field and to share "war stories".

Can't tell you how much we enjoy chatting with other milliners about similar topics.  There is a lot of talent out there and we have found, much sharing of information. We are always grateful for that.

Recently Margie Trembley Chapeaux entered a contest with 100 other milliners.  It is an annual contest and Margie just heard about it, so said give it a try.  Two of our hats were entered.  The judge is a well know milliner from LA area, Arturo Rios, incredible talent and creator of hats for Lady Gaga and others.  Just to have our pieces looked at by him is an honor!  The winners will be announced soon. There are lots of great hats in the contest.  Here is the picture of what we entered.  We had to submit photos of the front, back, sides, inside and the hat being worn in some special way.  Of course our special way was on models during our first ever runway participation at Omaha Fashion Week....Exciting.

If you haven't found it yet, please check out our boutique window.  Here's the link.

https://springfieldartworks.boutiquewindow.com

All the latest arrivals in the gallery, both art to wear, glass and consignment pieces will be featured.  Enjoy!  Let us know if you need a special hat for a special event, wedding, tea, Mother's Day or Easter.  We are here to please.