Millinery.

This weekend I went to a Re-Enactor's Conference hosted at This is the Place. Aside from TITP people, there were also a lot of people from a Utah Civil War group and from a group that's about the American West. I can't remember their actual names. And some random people like me who aren't technically associated with any of those (even though half of my family is involved with TITP).

One of the classes I took was Millinery. This was less about actually making hats, and more about getting hats and transforming them into different hats (mostly bonnets), which is an easier process when you don't have the equipment/skills to make felt hats or to weave straw hats. This class got my little brain to start churning more than the other classes, and since it was the last class, it stuck around on my brain a lot longer. Of course, the bonnets they were making were circa 1860s, with tons of ribbons, flowers, lace, gathered fabric, etc. A little too opulent for my taste, but it gave me ideas.

Sometime recently, I purchased a hat from a vintage store in Provo (Coal Umbrella). I was a little unsure, because it's very plain, cream colored with a matching ribbon (which was starting to fray), but Jasie managed to convince me. The style of the hat is fabulous; it's felted wool from the 40s, with a large droopy brim. It reminded me of Ilsa's hat. (I'll put up a photo soon.)

I've worn it a few times, and I've always had the intention of getting some pretty ribbon to replace the current band. Now I've decided pretty definitely what I'm going to do with it.

First, I will take my leftover green satin from the 1941 dress and turn it into a wide hat band. At least I think I have some left still. If not, I'll have to get some other shiny dark green fabric or ribbon. Whatever.

Then I will make a fabulous brooch to pin up the brim where it's currently being held by the fraying ribbon. This brooch will start out with a pre-1982 penny. Pennies made previous to 1982 were made with bronze or brass, depending on the year*, and usually with 95% content of copper**. I will hammer this penny out into a thin, larger disk, using the metal-hammering skills I learned from The Golden Goblet, which I read sometime in elementary school (I also learned how to draw wire from this book). Hopefully I'll be able to hammer it out big enough. If not, I'll have to experiment with using more than one. I can file down the edges to make the shape more uniform, if necessary. Then I will put the bronze/brass disk in a solution of vinegar and salt until it turns green. After it dries, I'll glue a pinback on, and then fill the center of the circle on the outside with glue, and dip it into a mound of multi-colored seed beads to make a jewel-looking center on the brooch. I think it will look pretty shiny. If it turns out well, I might eventually make more to sell.

*except the steel pennies from 1943.
**the 100% copper and 88% copper are too old for me to have any of them. I'm not a numismatist, I generally just pick pennies up off the streets. No numismatist would do this kind of thing to their coins.