Hats- From the Land

This is  my last of this series of postings on my Story Hats. I hope that you have enjoyed these hats as much as I have love sharing these stories with you, my dear readers.

There will be more to my Story Hats coming in the next year!

Butterfly

In the Chinese culture, the butterfly is symbolic of the undying bond as each mirrored wing is connected in the middle at the heart. As Butterflies float from flower to flower, this represents a good social life for the young at heart, joy, and the essence of happiness. The Chinese give a jade butterfly as a gift to newlyweds. It is their belief that a butterfly symbolized a wedding of souls.

 

 macro close-up of butterfly

Dragons

 

The Chinese dragon traditionally symbolizes potent and auspicious good fortune. It is also a symbol of power, strength, and good luck with protective qualities against evil. 

There are four types of Chinese Dragons. These include the Celestial, Spiritual, Earth, and Underworld dragons. The Celestrial Dragon is said to protect the Gods and palaces in which the God’s live. The Spiritual Dragon controls the rain and wind. The Earth Dragon is in charge of all the water and rivers on the Earth and the Underworld Dragon guards all the precious gemstones and metals.

As you can see, I have chosen this below image of one of my Dragon hats to be my header. I love the below meaning as I interpret it to mean that the dragon can go anywhere- from the heavens to the seas- that is where I believe my hats belong- with you giving you a story, a reassurance and protection- wherever you are!

The Chinese Dragon is also the symbol of Mother Nature, which is the most important divine force on Earth. In addition, the Chinese Dragon means vigilance, divine protection and is seen as the Supreme Being across all creatures as is able to live in the seas, in the form of mountains, it can also fly up to the heavens and it also protects people against evil spirits.

The Dragon is male and needs a female balance- as the Phoenix. So, I fussy cut the two of the Dragons (mirrored) for the sides and one of the Phoenix for the front to fit within my Dragon hat.

Elephant

The Elephant 象is a symbol of stability, strength and wisdom. The word for Elephant in Chinese is pronounced and written the same as the word for “sign” or “things to come”. Some Asian cultures also believe the elephant is a cosmic creature, and carries the world upon it's back. The elephant also has immense determination and loyalty - always standing up for others and always defending members of the group in its natural habitat. Elephants also express advanced sensitivity and social connection.

Detail of the Elephant.

Each embellishment is hand-made...even the fringe-y eyelashes!

Crown is from Chinese silk brocade trimmed

with vintage metal cording.

Hats- From the Sea

Many of you know my love of the Ocean...the Sea.

 I find it one of the places on earth that I can totally peacefully relax. It has the flow of the current that holds and sways the marine life...and like life there are always those things that you must respect and keep a watchful eye on.

These Story Hats are my design that I have taken from the sea and hopefully bringing to life up here on the land but still holding true to the flow and peacefulness.

 photography: Mark Mortensen

Fish

I will say in the hats, the fish is one of my favorites to make! Mostly because this design is of my own creation...not the legend but if I were to make a hat for a child with protective qualities put into it- it would be this! 

The fish symbolizes a word for plenty, surplus, and enough to spare. It is an essential food. The fish is a homonym for jade. It is also a symbol for happiness, good luck, and abundance. Also the fish is able to beat all odds because it is able to swim against the current.

Blue Fish

 

My delight in making these Fish Hats in the fabric the fish are made from- silk. Some of the fish bodies are made from vintage shibori fabric. The way this fabric was made was from tying tiny rice kernels into the fabric and then dying that fabric- like an ancient tie-dye! When the rice is removed it produces a small square of white with a slight pucking. It is beautiful and now, very hard to find!

 

For the backside of the tail, I love to use a pop of color. Sometimes, I may have just enough of a vintage fabric to squeeze one tail onto!

 

Interiors of the Hats are just as important as the exteriors, following the precision of design and in color choice to bring out the best in each hat!

Koi Fish

 

Two Gold Fish

SeaHorse

I believe this to be one of the most fun hats to design, the reason being when we are diving it is a great find to actually spot and see a seahorse or two! The live in grassy areas under the ocean and blend in so well to their environment. They are delicate and gentle little creatures.

The sea horse symbolizes unity, harmony and love. This tiny creature also represents balance in life and in nature. It is the only known species that the males give birth to the babies. They encompass all that is nurturing and giving. In the wild, they are masters at blending with their surroundings. They move with a gracefully slow and steadfast pace. Find one and you will have harmony of soul and mind that day.

  

One of the Seahorses I designed

The pair on the hat

 Seahorses are unusual in that

the male carries and delivers the eggs.
So I made a pair- notice the entwined tails!

FYI

One of my favorite snacks to eat while I am creating my dolls is Annie's Seaweed...I know... I know... that could be just a little too much for some! But it is TASTY!

 

Hats- Flowers

Flowers...It is these series of hats that I feel are created with a quiet contentment. How can you not look at a flower and not see it's soft and delicate beauty?

My goal is to create these hats with that essence of peacefulness and beauty. 

I find it facinating the symbloism with the many flowers within the Chinese culture. Each has a strong and distinctive meaning while visually speaking with such tenderness. Flowers pass on the flourishing and nourishing flow of positive powerful energy.

I feel that I am at the beginning of discovery on where these flowers will take me and you~ the reader! 

photography: Mark Mortensen

 莲花

The Lotus flower starts as a small flower down at the bottom of a pond in the mud It grows towards the waters surface light.

On the surface the lotus flower turns into a beautiful flower. The Lotus flower stands for purity and beauty.

 

 

百合

The Lily is a symbol of summer and abundance, and some believe it represents "forever in love." The lily is used as a lucky charm and maintain that it averts the effects of the evil eye upon them.

 

 

 

One of a kind Silk Dolls and Hats~Leslie Molen

Flowers Place in China's Culture China is a culture of flowers. Its traditional art and customs are infused with symbols and habits that pertain to flowers. Even the name of Chinese people, hua ren, when spoken in a different tone could mean “flower people”. Most ancient paintings depict flowers of some kind, most often the plum blossom and tree peony. Orchid, chrysanthemum, bamboo, water lily, Chinese rose, azalea, camellia, osmanthus, and narcissus all also have strong associations in Chinese culture and feature on various occasions. Each flower carries its own particular symbolism based on the plant’s health, heartiness, delicacy and color, among other factors. When you talk in general about the Chinese symbols of flowers, the basic ideology is the representation of the natural nectar.  It brings growth as well as nourishment to fulfillment and the most innovative prosperous starts for our lives. It is because of the very fact that the healthy plants that flower will manifest such good positive energy.

 

 

Hats- Cats

Over the next three weeks, I will be sharing with you my Story Hats.

These hats speak to my heart so clearly that I am compelled to make them. I am enchanted with their symbolism. My Story Hats are made of silk fabrics, some of which were purchased on a trip to China, and unique vintage fabrics and trims.

There’s always a story...

To be successful, a story must have a reason to be—a symbol the author wants to convey. There are four ways symbolism is used in these hats: To call upon good fortune, to outwit evil forces, to produce social achievement and to wish for happiness and longevity.

I love the idea of taking thoughtful stitches in fabric, inspired from the depths of my heart, to create with my hands a story for you filled with the symbolism and legends of ancient Chinese culture.

This week, I will be showing my Cat Hats ... 

photography: Mark Mortensen

黑猫 Black Cat 

Unanimously, the symbolic meaning of Black Cat is that of protection and guardianship. Stoic, silent and mysterious, cats fit the bill of for being expert guardians of homes and people.  They are also master secret keepers, and are a symbol of hidden knowledge.

 

雪虎 Snow Tiger

The spirit of the White (Snow) Tiger combines the courage and fierceness of a soldier with an ethereal, magisterial dignity. Tigers will protect you from evils. Tigers are used as a mark of protection and assuring peace for those who have passed.

 

虎 Tigers 

The Tiger is king and has majestic dignity. He will ward off demons. The strength of the tiger combined with feline stealth makes this animal a fearsome enemy but a tremendous ally. He symbolizes courage and fierceness.

Green  Tiger

 

Red  Tiger

A marvelous feeling of serenity and satisfaction comes with sitting and hand sewing. It’s also a vital part to completing a story. I call it mind sewing and my way of sharing what is in my heart through these stories in fabric.

Doll #3 Lotus

Lotus

 

Grown in the mud and the muck, the Lotus must rise to the surface to bloom to its remarkable beauty. At night the flower closes and sinks underwater; at dawn it rises and opens again. Untouched by any impurities, the lotus symbolizes purity of the heart and mind and represents long life, humility, honor and tranquility.

photography: Mark Mortensen

The Lotus is always one of my most favored. I think in part because of the Lotus Flower and how it must go through darkness in the mud to find its way to the sunlight to blossom...not unlike ourselves and our lives.

This year, this doll has its own story with her hat but also her own life story...

I must preface this with my joy of making this piece. I loved the idea of a large glorious flower on top of one of my hats. With that there is also 12 hour days, weekends, and weeks and weeks with focused concentration to make them as wonderful as my hands and heart can create.

 

Her Story:

During the NIADA Gallery Night, Lotus was standing on top of her pedestal. It was very hot and crowded. I was standing with my back to Lotus, talking with friends, Neva and her husband. You know when everything all of sudden goes in slow motion...their faces went from happy smiles to wide eyes and NOOoo! coming from their lips...in my peripheral, I saw another dear friend, Heather, come running in from outside towards my piece. As I turned, I saw Lotus face down on a tile floor...someone had bumped my pedestal and knocked over Lotus...crack! I picked her up and looked at her. Her cheek was damaged. 

 

With my friends around me, I placed her back on top of the pedestal to inspect the damage...breathe. Do you cry, do you scream? 

 

This is the point in life, where all your grace you have needs to come into your spirit. I stood back and as things started to carrying on again, everything in my own personal space was quiet...still...there was no sound, no others...just me looking at my doll and she looking back at me.

 

It came to me, I can always fix my student's dolls, I surely can fix my own doll! Breathing again. At that point, in my mind, I returned to the going ons at the event.

 

Several people had witnessed this event and yes, saw who did it. The old adage "you break it you buy it" could very well apply. I personally, am just not comfortable with that. I make my dolls with all my soul and would not want someone to be forced to buy one of my pieces. That is not what my dolls are about. I want the person who purchases my doll to have a positive connection and receive the joy in which they are created.

Side note: Thank you to all who expressed such dear sentiments to me that evening. You are cherished.

So I made it through the evening, without crying or screaming. As I was walking back to the hotel with my friend, Pam, and we where talking about what had happened...I realized...who she was- LOTUS! She had blossomed and had gone back into the mud...only to (be repaired) and to blossom again! She really is strong and pure in her own beauty!

Lessons:

1. I can fix my own doll!
2. I want my dolls to go to people who connect with the joy in them.
3. There are always people there to support you.
4. Things may not look good- but nothing is permanent, you can blossom again!

  Overall View:

Doll:Jointed -posable Head from hand-sculpted clay overlaid with silk crepe.
Body armatured, silk crepe lined with cotton batiste.
Costume: For the individual costume, I choose the fabrics of 
varied silks  to bring forth the best for each piece. 

 

Details:

The Lotus flower close up. For this flower, I hand-dyed the fabric for the interior using an obre effect of light yellow to orange to tips of magenta. The exterior was sewn with yellow dupioni silk also used for the lining if the garment.

Close up of hand painted eyes and (my love) of the textured silk fabric which overlays her face.

Close up of jacket with brocade fabric collar line and glass closure. Under garment is of silk brought back from Germany by friends of mine!

I thought this Chines yellow brocade with the medallions worked beautifully to mimic the hat! Here is a close-up of the embroidery of the pants.

 

The Lotus

Surrounded by various myths and legends, the lotus is considered divine and one of nature's mystical creations, that represents the purity of the mind and soul. 

In the Asian religions and cultures, especially, in Buddhism and Hinduism, lotus is the embodiment of perfection. It defines the capacity of the soul to expand and embrace the beauty of life with a clear conscience.

The lotus flower sheds its seeds and blooms at the same time. In Buddhism, it is said to represent the principle of cause and effect, wherein every action or thought is believed to cause an effect or reaction, that can be experienced either in this life or in the future lives.

This magnificent flower emerges from the dirty and unclean bottom of a pond, but still remains untouched and unstained by the dirt and mud surrounding it in the pond. This unique quality of the flower is believed to represent pure spirit, rebirth, beauty, fertility, transcendence, and resurrection.

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