Fat Cat Hats and Sacks: events and news about my hat and purse designs

Fat Cat Hats and Sacks events and shows:

Once a year there is a charity event here in Portland called "Power of the Purse" to raise
money for Girls Inc Northwest. Local celebrities are paired with local designers and each
team creates a handbag that is auctioned off the night of the event. I've been pleased
to participate several times:

In 2009 Arielle Schnitzer and I created a color-
ful and fun fuschia faux fur handbag decorated
with silver sequins and metallic glass beads.

In 2008 Ann Edlen and I designed a very fancy
evening bag made with pleated silk organza and
a sterling silver handle with over 270 swarovski
crystals. What a thrill when it sold for $4000.00!

In 2006 Tracy Barry of KGW-TV and I designed
an Asian-inspired purse made with a beautiful
mudsilk fabric and fresh water pearls

For more info on Girls Inc and Power of the Purse
go to: www.girlsincnworegon.org

Fat Cat Hats and Sacks now has a blog...check it out:
www.fatcathatsandsacks.blogspot.com

Crown Royale, my entry in the talenthouse competition

I just entered one of my hat designs in a Talenthouse competition hosted by Dillion Wallwork and HATalk e-magazine.
Milliners from around the world were invited to create a hat inspired by the Queen of England's Diamond Jubilee. The
entries can be seen on the Talenthouse website and viewers can vote for their favorite from May 4th-11th to help it
receive consideration by the judges when they pick the final winners. Winners will be announced on May 14th.

My entry was inspired by the Crown Jewels...and the Imperial State Crown in particular. I incorporated elements of the
Royal Collection to create a modern day tiara-styled cocktail hat that can be worn in celebration of the Diamond
Jubilee...I used royal blue velvet, a cross pattee brooch and a "royal sceptre" hat pin. I made everything by hand...from
the wire frame inside that supports the hat to the brooch and hat pin that I used to trim it. Here is a peek...and you can
go to my entry page for more info and to view the other milliner's creations: Crown Royale by Suzanne Sherman

I'm excited to announce that my hats designs will now be available at Bonnet here in Portland. I just dropped off some
summertime hats for women and in a few weeks I will add some for men...and today we talked about including some of
my handbags as well! The first round of hats now available are fabric sewn hats with the top stitching and color accents
that I love to do. I made them light and airy for a summer day...I even used tulle on a few of them as my foundation rather
than the heavier materials that I generally use. Here's a peek at one of my favorites...a rosey shantung cloche with a 6
sectioned beach hat crown and an asymmetrical brim that has a split on the side. I trimmed the bow with a piece from a
vintage earring:

Bonnet is located at 412 NW 11th Avenue in the Pearl District. Everyone is super nice there and they carry a wonderful
selection of hats and other accessories for men and women. I hope you'll pay them a visit...and perhaps buy a hat!