Queen Mab

WOW long time no see, huh? - she says to an empty room, where no one is waiting, because no one was following an inconsistent blog with only seven posts, whoops.

Anyway, Randolph College (my alma mater as of a week and a half ago WHOOO) has a tradition where all the seniors wear silly hats at various events throughout the year. I have a long time interest in big hats and flowers, so uh

this got a little out of control

Step one: Shopping

my haul from the local thrift store!

just so you understand how big this center flower is....

The little blue hat was either a raffle prize or a thrift store buy from high school I don't remember, and the ribbons came from my mom/grandma/great-grandma's stash (we....might hoard a bit.....), except for one trim that I was supposed to throw out at work but I didn't

Step two: Make a base

held together with hot glue

Step three: Hide the base

dried moss from Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores (tm)

Purple flower petals from local thrift store

ahhhh my glue gun is such a champ

Step four: PANIC A LITTLE

There is fear in my eyes

Step five: Add the flowers

You don't need any real pattern, just stick them in wherever to get the most "natural" look

I had to cut away a bunch of leaves and stuff so witness the carnage at the bottom

I'm definitely a flower-hoarder so all the flowers you see only one of definitely came from various small gifts I got when I was like 10

AW YEAH HERE SHE IS
(do you like how the light changed) (it's night now)

Step six: Panic again because it won't stay on your head

at least it'll balance for a picture

Step seven: Draw Inspiration from the late Edwardian era and the invention of cars

Made ties!

In high school I bought a whole bolt of this crinkle chiffon because??? my pre-frontal cortex wasn't fully formed???? idk

But I took some of the old ribbon and edged long pieces of the chiffon with it for stability and then hand stitched those suckers to the hat (through the cardboard and hot glue - not advisable)

Step eight: Selfie like there's no tomorrow

In case it wasn't clear, I LOVE THIS HAT.

Step nine: Make it appropriate for the occasion

Class of 2016, represent
(with your ill-gotten Jo-ann's trim, shhhhh)

Ta-da!!!! There you have it.

My parents went out of down for like two days, and when they returned this entire process had taken place and they were just staring at me like "what have you done?"

And, like all works of art, I decided this must have a title: Queen Mab.

I arrived late to the first senior event wearing her because she's so difficult to put on by myself, but being late gave me the benefit applause from the entire collected senior class as I walked past all of them oTL

<3 <3 <3