Visiting My Grandmother's Hat Shop
Hey, it's Gabs here! I am currently in Jo-Burg, South Africa and I just came back from visiting my grandmother's (Dolly is her name) hat shop.
My granny is a famous milliner. Everyone in Johannesburg who has ever worn a hat knows her, not just for her hats, but for her outright comments, and her eccentric views about hats and the people who wear them.
She is 88 years old and still works 6 days a week. She has been in the same shop, Broadway Milliners, for 65 years. Can you believe it?! Studying fashion myself, I feel a strong connection to her, and the skills that she uses every day – she sews , makes pleats, moulds straw, cuts felt, ties ribbons.
When I went to visit her in her shop, She took one look at me and said , ’23 centimeters’. Next minute there was a tape measure around my head , and 23 centimeters it was, my hat size, that is.
Before I left she gave me a wide brimmed black felt hat – Funny enough it’s the very hat I have been searching for! Lucky I have a granny as a milliner !!
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| Here I am trying on one of her creations. |
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| Hat heaven |
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| My new hat !! |
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| I don't think there is another work room as eccentric as this one! |
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| All my grandmother's ribbons and hat moulds |
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| Thread GALORE |
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| This is my grandmother's sewing desk which is around 65 years old! I don't believe there is another sewing desk like this one. If you notice there are two sewing machines yet only one works however my granny refuses to remove her Singer vintage machine.....which is very typical of her character. |
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| Here is my granny fitting my hat to my head......dare I put on my own hat. This is true to her controlling behavior HAHA |
