Dollar Store Hats I’ve Trimmed!

Yesterday I went to an Arts & Crafts store called Michaels. Wanted everything in the place. Spools of ribbon shelved according to colour, lots of it patterned, a bin of discards, lace, silk flowers, a whole BRIDES section with glowering young women stomping about comparing miniscule scraps of things in their hands – made me realize that the clerk’s extreme niceness must have something to do with all the bridezillas undoubtedly harrassers of the first order and returning items with snarls.

Bought silk flowers for 4 dollar store hats. Was wearing the blue & white one and curiously got a lot of respect, simply because of the hat, I decided later. And this was before I even trimmed it. Wearing it again today with blue India cloth dress from back room of the small Sally Ann which is cool in today’s humidity. Got lots of comments on it yesterday at the pool, untrimmed.

My upstairs tenant stuck her head out of the window as I was going to the car and yelled, ” Whatta GREAT hat!” Thanks. I thought so too. Someone in the locker room said, “She probably got that hat at the crafts fair on the weekend.” Those hats start at fifty bucks. I started warbling the delights of Dollarama. And yes, I AM against sweatshops and cheap imports BUT since they are nearly impossible to avoid, i try to be active politically to protest and not send the guilt meter ticking any higher. At least I DO do something when I can.

Back to the hats. The painted pink seems a crowning glory even though I had to stitch it back together after the second wash. Such delight comes from these small things. I also went to Canadian Tire for more glue for the renku and replaced my microwave and bought two fans, one of which is whirrying into the windowless bathroom with great success.

Tuesday is errand day and it went well.