Sharon Lee Cahill, Spunky Mom Extraordinaire
1 September 2008 at 2:04 am | In All About CCM Hats, Artisans--Fiber, Family, Life | 1 CommentTags: Family, Mom, obituary, old photos, Sharon Lee Cahill, spunky
My mother was born October 30th, 1937, and just died the 11th of August, 2008.
It’s been an intense time for me, helping to sort out her little trailer in Folsom, California for the past couple weeks.
One of the best, saddest, happiest, most cathartic tasks has been to go through some family photos.
And this is one of my very favorites… the spunkiness of my mom, before she married, before any of us kids came along…
Stay tuned for more photos of Mom to come…
LNHC Sunapee Fair is 75 Years Old This August!
29 July 2008 at 5:56 pm | In All About CCM Hats, Art-to-wear, Artisans--Clay, Artisans--Fiber, Artisans--Metal, Artisans--Mixed Media, Artisans--Paper, Artisans--Prints, Artisans--Wood, Demonstration, Embroidery, Exhibits, Fashion, Felt Hat, Fine Craft, Fine Craft Galleries, Handmade, Knitting, Travel | No CommentsTags: lnhc, sunapee fair, new hampshire, League of NH Craftsmen, Newbury
The League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair is one of the finest, most prestigious craft events in the country today. This annual nine-day event features both traditional and contemporary fine craft work by juried members of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.
Join me and my hand knit felt hats in Tent 6, Booth 610! And don’t miss the CraftWear Exhibit…
A special Craftsmen’s Fair Birthday Bash will be held on Thursday evening, August 7, featuring dinner and entertainment by folk and blues singer Tom Rush, and a celebratory fireworks display.
Check out the new LNHC website for more details…
My Personal Photoblog
15 May 2008 at 12:59 pm | In All About CCM Hats, Life, Travel | No CommentsTags: blog, monotone, Noel Jackson, photography, WordPress.com
Before I ever started in the fiber arts, I was always a bit of a shutterbug.
Now, with WordPress.com’s recent release of Monotone, a chameleon photoblogging platform, I have taken the plunge and started a photo site of my own.
This spiffy platform, designed by Noel Jackson, is perfect for showcasing images, as it automatically resizes each page to fit the picture AND (after sampling the pixel colors) chooses a complimentary background color for each post.
So, if you find yourself dawdling in cyberspace, come visit and see what the world looks like from my point of view… (when I am not focused on hand knit felt hats!).
Spring Fever vs. Hockey Fever
23 April 2008 at 7:51 pm | In All About CCM Hats, Artisans--Fiber, Dartmouth, Gardening, Hockey, Home, Life, Upper Valley | 1 CommentTags: crocuses, intramural championship, spring fever, Thompson Arena
Well, after the second snowiest winter in New Hampshire history, spring seems finally to have sprung in Canaan, as evidenced by the lovely crocuses in front of our house.
You’d think I’d be over the moon, as nearly everyone here is, ready for all the fun of warmer weather.
The truth is, I am entirely torn. Because warmer weather brings the end of hockey season for me, and this winter I have played the best hockey of my life.
That’s me in the yellow helmet, playing in the women’s intramural hockey championship match at Dartmouth’s Thompson Arena last month…
And there I am, moments later, just after scoring a goal (something quite unusual for me, as I generally play defense…)!
Despite being born in Canada, I didn’t learn to play hockey until I turned 30 and was living in Healy, Alaska.
So I reckon I am making up for lost time… I have 5 hockey games in the next 5 days, and then the ice goes away for the summer.
If I seem a bit down, despite the sunny weather, you’ll know that hockey fever just won’t let me be…
Spring Snowflake Hat at NHPTV’s Virtual Auction
15 April 2008 at 6:15 pm | In All About CCM Hats, Art-to-wear, Artisans--Fiber, Embroidery, Fashion, Felt Hat, Fine Craft, Knitting | No CommentsTags: lnhc, new hampshire public television, nhptv, virtual auction
Each spring for the past couple of years, I have joined the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen participating in the Spring Auction for NH Public Television.
Along with other League artisans, I have donated my work for auction, and on Gallery Night, I have joined with Sunapee Fair Director, Terri Wiltse, and Marketing Director, Pam Sullivan, to help answer phones and take auction bids.
This year, I am tickled that my donated felt hat has been chosen to be part of the Virtual Gallery, starting today!
You can now bid on my Spring Snowflake Hat during the early online auction, from Tuesday, April 15th until noon on Tuesday, May 6th. The highest online bid will be posted as the hat is auctioned live on the air on Gallery Night, Wednesday, May 6th, from 6:00 p.m. - midnight.
This is a great chance to get yourself a one-of-a-kind, art-to-wear felt hat, and support Public Television at the same time, so visit the Virtual Gallery and place your bid today!
Big Green Felt Hat for Dean
8 April 2008 at 2:55 pm | In All About CCM Hats, Art-to-wear, Artisans--Fiber, Embroidery, Fashion, Felt Hat, Fine Craft, Knitting | 3 CommentsTags: big green, custom, Dean Christian, men's basketball
“This hat is The Bomb! It has totally revolutionized my relationship with winter!”
So said Dean Christian, the Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Dartmouth College when I delivered his custom embroidered felt hat last month.
Dean moved to Hanover from Texas last summer, and quickly became interested in the warm hats I make while checking ids at the Dartmouth gym.
After assuring him that men do wear my hats, and agreeing to attempt a new freehand embroidery design in the form of the Dartmouth “D”, I set to work.
“I had no idea how cruddy my old hat was, until I put this one on…”
Hat of the Week: Last Hat of 2007 (#175)
11 February 2008 at 4:08 pm | In All About CCM Hats, Art-to-wear, Artisans--Fiber, Embroidery, Fashion, Felt Hat, Fine Craft, Handmade, Knitting, hat of the week | 2 CommentsTags: design, flower, freehand, french knots, New York, NY, pink, ribbon, spiral
(Drumroll, please…) Here it is! The final hat (#175) in my 2007 Collection.
Finished with custom, freehand embroidery last night, and sent in today’s mail, this pink-on-pink beauty is now heading to Christine S. of New York City.
I sure hope this warm felt hat gets to Chris in time for Valentine’s Day. We’ve had some cold, snowy weather here in the Northeast, lately…
Felt Hats at the Fuller Craft Museum’s Body Bazaar
19 January 2008 at 8:33 pm | In All About CCM Hats, Art-to-wear, Artisans--Fiber, Embroidery, Exhibits, Fashion, Felt Hat, Fine Craft, Fine Craft Galleries, Handmade, Knitting | No CommentsTags: Body Bazaar, Fuller Craft Museum
I am proud to have my Heirloom Hand-knit-felt Hats included in the 2nd Annual “Body Bazaar” at the Fuller Craft Museum, in Brockton, Massachussetts this winter.
This spectacular holiday boutique features unique handmade, wearable art:
handbags, scarves, jackets, hats and jewelry to name some of the artisan-made items available.
The Body Bazaar runs from:
November 23, 2007 to
January 20, 2008
open daily 10-5 p.m. (Wednesdays ’til 9 p.m.)
Folks can shop without paying museum admission. Parking available on-site.
For more information:
455 Oak St.
Brockton, MA 02301
tel.: 508-588-6000
Felt Hat Fan Club: Grandfather Rights for the Houlihans
14 January 2008 at 8:49 pm | In All About CCM Hats, Art-to-wear, Artisans--Fiber, Artisans--Skincare, Embroidery, Fan Club, Fashion, Felt Hat, Fine Craft, Holidays, Home, Knitting | No CommentsTags: Fan Club, Susan Houlihan
About 2 years ago, I received my all-time favorite holiday greeting…
Susan Houlihan, owner of Alpenglow Skincare in Homer, Alaska, chose this wintery photo of her family, featuring one of my very earliest spiral embroideries.
What fun to see my handiwork gracing Susan’s smiling face as she wished Peace to all her friends and loved ones!
So, thank you Susan, for making my hat a part of your life… And welcome to the club!
Knitted Felt Hat Class this Weekend in Canaan, NH
8 January 2008 at 6:11 pm | In All About CCM Hats, Art-to-wear, Artisans--Fiber, Demonstration, Embroidery, Fashion, Felt Hat, Fine Craft, Home, Knitting, Upper Valley | No CommentsTags: Canaan, class, lnhc, new hampshire, studio
New to knitting?
Interested in knitted felt?
Want to learn the secrets of felting from someone who’s made over 600 knit felt hats herself?
Then consider joining me for the 5th “Ancient Art of Felting–with a Modern Twist!” class at my home studio in Canaan, New Hampshire, this Saturday, January 12, 2008, from 10 am - 2 pm.
This 2-day class is part of the Hanover League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Winter CraftStudies Program, and they handle the registration.
On the 1st Saturday, we will discuss color and design, review the pattern and get knitting.
Over the next two weeks, class participants will finish knitting their own oversized, pre-felted stocking caps.
Finally, on the 2nd Saturday, January 26, 2008, we will breathe deeply together and toss all the hats into the washing machine to see what happens!
Please see the classes page for more info… I hope you can join us.
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Art-to-Wear for Every Head
Each of my Heirloom Handknit Hats begins as a giant, over-sized stocking cap, knit by hand of llama and wool.
Next, it is shrunk into a thick, durable felt in the washing machine, which is then shaped by hand and air-dried.
Finally, each hat is lined with a silky ribbon to keep it's shape and provide lasting comfort. Many are finished with freehand embroidery, as unique as the wearer.
All are signed, dated and numbered by hand.
With less than 200 made each year, these hats are truly limited-editon, art-to-wear pieces that will provide years of warmth and comfort for the lucky owner.
Want to know more...
-about the hats (& pricing)
-about me, or
-about this site?
Read on... and then let me know what you think! -
My Goal
I strive to create highly functional, exquisitely handcrafted art-to-wear Heirloom Handknit Hats.
Winter is wonderful... but not if you are cold. That's where a lovely, warm hat fits in!
If wearing one of my hats helps you get outside and enjoy yourself, then I will have played my small part in making your world a little warmer and brighter.
Your head is sacred. I aim to create original art-to-wear hats that are worthy of your head. -
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