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!

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.

Application In for OFW August show

Today I filled out my application to be considered for Omaha Fashion Week in August. Exciting new collection in the thinking process.  It's amazing to me what attention OFW can give a designer.  I received a message from the executive producer of the Santa Fe Fashion Week wanting me to fill out an application for their event. There is a $2000 entry fee so that probably won't happen, at least this year.  The publicity afforded Margie Trembley Chapeaux has been amazing. Thanks to all the great photographers, writers, videographers who made it happen.  I am truly blessed.

Please stop in and see the March collection.  A couple of the pieces will not be there as they went to their owners, but there's still a lot to see.

Am looking for  a couple of volunteer who would like to assist me with a little hand sewing. Any takers?

Just was informed that I received a scholarship from FIG to perdure additional education in millinery.  That makes me very happy. :)

Stay tuned.

Visit to Lincoln

Today is a much anticipated event in Lincoln, NE. Jay Rich will be lecturing on Referencing and Replicating Japanese Kimono Design at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.  We have used naturally dyed fibers in some hats and look forward to learning more about the history and processes used.  We got a taste of natural dyeing last weekend at the studio of Dan Klima and Nancy Lepo in Omaha.

My experiences have been with using kakishibu, a rust colored natural color from fermented juice of the unripened astringent persimmons from Japan, Indigo dyes from Japan & India and cochineal, a scale insect from which the crimson-colored dye carmine is derived.  I have also experimented with yellow onion skins and walnut hulls.

Soon I hope to use more natural dyed fabrics in my hat creations. Below is a photo of some of my cochineal dyed wool. Will post more of the pics from Jay's exploration class soon.

One More Day!

Avalon Huddleston

Only one more day! We are busy doing the final preparations for Margie's hats to be on the Omaha Fashion Week runway tomorrow evening!

Final touches are being put on the hats, friend Avalon Huddleston from Nashville will be coming in later this evening in preparation for watching the models and designs on the runway Friday and Saturday evening, and hats will soon be loaded up to make the trip to the Omar Bakery tomorrow.

We have been preparing for tomorrow evening for months and are looking forward for the Margie TrembleyChapeaux Couture 2014 collection to make their debut!

Friend Avalon Huddleston and Molly the Fire Safety Dog