Diana Cavagnaro – USA

Fly Me To The Moon

Description

My inspiration for this hat was the vibrant blue and gold macaws of Central & South America. A friend of mine raised these birds and would collect the gorgeous feathers for me as they molted. I was so excited that the birds naturally shed and were not harmed in any way. I took the feathers and jumped at the chance to reuse them for a hat.

The frame was constructed from blocked buckram. The crown was then covered with macaw plumage feathers. The brim is assembled with 36 Blue & Gold Macaw feathers. The crown and brim are joined by blue velveteen.

Blue and Gold are exact opposite on the color wheel. When the wearer looks up all you see is gold and when they look down all you see is blue. Although this hat has opposing colors it creates a state of perfect equilibrium. The onlookers see perfect balance and symmetry in this stunning one-of-a-kind chapeau.

Materials

• Buckram
• Millinery Wire
• Velveteen
• Taffeta (lining)
• Macaw Plumage Feathers
• Blue & Gold Macaw Feathers
• Shoemaker’s Glue

Techniques

• Block Buckram Crown
• Flat Pattern Brim
• Hand sew millinery wire
• Glue Plumage Feathers
• Hand sew velveteen fabric
• Assemble feathers between two layers of buckram
• Hand sew lining