Out of the Garden - Christkindlmarkt

When we got up and about today I found that there was a thin coat of ice on the bird bath. Brrrrrrr I really didn't mind because it put me in the mood for what we had planned today. We went to a feastival in Ferdinand, Indiana called Christkindlmarkt. I am not one that usually goes to these types of events but I couldn't resist this one. Oh yes, it had the typical small town entertainment. The darling children's choir performed as well as a group of violin players. There was a nationally renouned marionette group performing. Of course the big draw was all the christmas decor. Not only that but this community was created by German immigrants. Some of them were my ancestors and I still have family that live in the area.

While I enjoyed the German foods , christmas trappings and the charming entertainment I really went to see the booth set up by my friend Patricia. She is a milliner. Millinery is an almost lost art form. Women don't wear hats as they once did, yet it seems that in this day and age there is a small contingent of women that still like to wear hats.

Since Patricia's children are out of college and have their own lives she has pursued her dream of being a milliner. She has been to Chicago and other places taking classes from women that are world renounded for their hat making. She knows what she is doing.

She usually goes down South to peddle her hats at juried Art Shows. Every one of her hats is hand made and no two are alike. She was invited to enter this show and decided to enter this show because it was so close to where we live.

It is such fun to be able to go to where she is selling her hats. Seeing her hard work fly out of the booth in its own little hat box. Ladies just delighted to find a quality hat that fits just right. She makes everything from tams to big picture hats.

She makes hats to match wedding attire or any other special occasion. All custom fit of course. If you have been to the Kentucky Derby or watch it on tv I am sure you have seen some of her creations there.

When she goes to a show she makes hats that she thinks will entice the community of women to buy. Of course you never know just what will sell at a new venue. So she had quite a few different styles and colors.

I took close up pictures of several that I particularly liked. We got there sort of at the end of the event so there wasn't as much of a variety in hats left in stock.

Of course I am not being paid by her to put this on my blog. I just had such a good time at the markt and I think her art form is so interesting I thought I would share it with you. I am so proud of her for following her dream to be a milliner.

I get excited when I see a large grouping of her work because I see them in all phases of creation. From being cut out on the work table, blocking, steaming, seaming, decorating and of course...

I can't resist a new hat from time to time.

If you would like to know more about the interesting community of Ferdinand and the Christkindlmarkt you can go here. Or if you would like a new hat I could sure put you in touch with a good Milliner.