It is her...

This is Mary Debono of whom I spoke in the pevious post..

Not only was she talented, she was also blessed with a pair of gentle eyes and an approachable look. That's a face one could so easily trust. I wish I had that.

By way of correction: In the previous post I meant to say that I've met this woman's grandaughter not great-grandaughter!

It is said, if a milliner leaves a pin in a hat...

... then it will return to her!

I'm back with a story and the spoils of generosity at its finest.

ONOBED is the shop that once stood proudly in Rahal Gdid square, the life of creative entrepreneur and HATMAKER Mary Debono; a creative livelyhood earned, a name secured and another reason for me to cry over the fact that I was born too late. A woman whose refined sense for detail, quality materials and style extended to encompass most aspects of her life, so much so that she seldom showed up in her shop, an extension of her house and home, without her hair and make-up in place. The shop in itself was a hub for fashion-loving locals (and by locals we really ought to include several localties) and friends who depended entirely on Mrs. Debono's hat-making skills and suggestions. Her extensive travelling related to her craft, the trips abroad in search of specific materials (plumage, flowers and the like) made her and her five daughters, for whom she also sewed clothes, a reliable point of reference in a time where Tv and Fashion magazines in Malta were all but scarce.

I came to know one of her great grand daughters, a most lovely and generous woman indeed, who happens to remember her 'granny' fondly. A while back she kindly got in touch with a most wonderful proposal.. I was at work when I recieved her call amidst cries from seven year-olds who insist on holding duels with their scissors and paint-dipped brushes.. I was as far away from the blissful weekends that followed her lovely offering of many of the remaining pieces of (even more generously, washed and dried) felt from her grandma's workshop. How could I, a hat lover and wearer and aspiring-maker say no!? In gratitude I decided to blog about this lovely woman and her progeny, post photos of some of her creations which her granddaughter kept for herself and four hats I executed in an inspired feverish weekend in her honour. I can now safely say I love making hats as much as I love making shoes and dresses.. and that is worrying indeed!

Here are two of MaryDebono's hats, a blue felt one with a crochet trim and a pink one with prettily cut and threaded leaves forming a band around the head.

A lovely heavy blanket with a crocheted trim, a suede and felt (if I remember correctly) vest in a geometric design and a leaf border matching the hat above as well as a beautifully crafted crochet over-dress.

Here's a very small part of the aforementioned donation, spools of coloured thread and shaped felt pieces in several colours. By shaped I mean steamed and head-blocked.

And following are the four hats I had promised myself and the hat gods I'd carry out; they're a tribute to the lady with so many talents as well as the best excuse to start materializing some of the 100s of designs I've carried out in the past few years.. I'd like to think that every hour spent sketching historical hats from costume and fashion encyclopedias didn't go to waste.

Here's a purple, stiff-felt hat inspired by the loose cuts and natural flow in turn-of-the-century hats often made out of textile. Purple and pearly and a serious case of pin-pricking.

A brown furry-felt cloche hat (I've been informed that Mary Debono used to refer to this material as rabbit's wool) with peacock green threaded trim, feathers and a pair of my aunt's earrings from the early 90s.


Red rabbit's wool dome of a hat with a grey trim. Inspired by the tasselled Moroccan Fez hat I had promised a friend but never ended up buying since I had spent all my pennies on streetfood.

And the fourth, a playful grey hat with a hole for those occasions when big hair simply won't fit underneath your hat. I have spent many a bus ride contemplating possible ways in which to solve this problem and consecutively how to introduce such a radical-'hole'-in-a-hat.
This hat came out of the residue left behind from casual but ongoing reading about russian constructivism from heavily illustrated books and sites.

So yes, I've been keeping uber busy, tending to old lingerie, Stephen Fry's chronicles and furry cats with a penchant for curling up in an unmovable ball on my sewing chair. Ah well, half days, glorious half days!

You may view each hat in detail on my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/babettopolis

le journal ...

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110528/local/Creativity-at-Babettopolis.367684


someone's delighted (and slightly shy!) ...

This Saturday...

... even if your stockings are laddered.

Swappity Swap

Here's an equation for you. An equation which works.

Yep, you heard me.. and it is coming form one who usually shuns large scale gatherings of the female sex. Maybe it was due to that secret ingredient in the punch, maybe it was my 'skillful' selective process when it came to inviting people (eqqhemmm!) or maybe ladies I know happen to be very nice indeed.. but the Swap Party was a success (save for a minor metaphorically-meteorological phenomenon) Yes, this is one reason why I've been putting my sewing aside for a while.. socialising takes so much of one's time and energy heh!

Here's the lowdown if you're interested in organising one yourself..

Make sure you provide some nibbles and a punch :)

Make sure those invited bring something along, home cooked or otherwise, because swapping requires a constant flow of fuel. It is a chore.

When selecting your guests make sure you have a healthy mix of temperaments.

Encourage even those who have few or no items to participate.

Throw strict rules out the window, swapping is best once left to grow organically.

Leave enough display space for your invitees' wares.

Throw in an amusing cat for good measure.

Start early, time passes by really quickly when you're swapping.

Have fun.

(P.S: Ideally you make sure no one suffers from cat fur allergies and make it a point that everyone shows up at a particular time to avoid disappointment.. but you know.. we have the 'first-time' excuse on our side!)

Here's what I managed to get out of le grand swap!

A lovely mix of costume jewellery which I've already put to use.

Loose flowery cotton dress (ideal for watching a football match in the sun or anything really), a white wool dress which took a whole room of people to convince me it somewhat suited me, and what we've baptized the 'Potential' blazer.. I'm adamant I'll bring every ounce of said potential out of it next autumn.

A communist-party worker coat in blue and a beautifully fitting leather coat from Morocco.

A grunge farmer's shirt plus stripey scarf (especially lovely once teamed with pink french knickers some three sizes too small qheqqheemmm!) and a polka dotted red shirt which fits like a glove.

A flowery skirt ideal for travelling for 10 days, hand-luggage-only, to Italy, in July.. you see, it doesn't crease and it's fancy enough to mask Bolognese sauce stains and ice-cream spatters... and a folksy dress to which I made some minor alterations (namely removing an extra strand of braiding from the edge of the skirt, which I shall in turn use for another project).

Oh and an assortment of (more) stuff.. a pair of prim shoes, a flowery pendant and matching pair of long cosy socks, a statement perspex neckpiece and a sequinned belt which needed only some minor adjustments...

So yes, I am a happy girl.. and so is Gustav.. who had a whale of a time exploring bags, piles of clothing and the odd fur hat. Dear Gustav.. you've just made 'Furry Snail' the definite look of the season. x

Dear April and May ...

The gods of all things jumble have been very good to us lately.. following a long stretch of rainy sundays, hawkers are now out with a vengeance and stock they've been hoarding all winter.. making every sunday morning flea market almost impossible to pass on. Also I happened to come across a charity shop in Bormla and surprisingly enough I've been making sure it's on my way to and from work of late.

So in a bid to compensate for the lack of personal-work related posts I am here submitting a couple of photos of items I consider myself lucky to have come across in charity shops and markets across the island.. and although I am fully aware of the possible implications that such a post might have (i.e. many will follow suit and seasonal yield will deplete :...( ), I just cannot not bring to attention what a wonderful thing it is to find a new home for unwanteds.

Earrings. Many of them, and in very good condition. They're too darn beautiful, all detail and miniature charm.. they also (usually) come in pairs.. so double the love! I exhibit a particular weakness in the face of oriental pendant shapes, but being generally so tiny and non-space consuming makes it difficult for me to draw the line at just one type. I think I might as well speak of myself indirectly as a collector.

Same goes for brooches.. am a sucker for them as well. Recently I was lucky enough to meet an ex-collector who happens to be in the process of selling her box-fulls. Amongst these please note an eight pointed cross with skyblue stones that may also be worn on a chain (genius) and a flower basket terrine of-sorts.

A Made-in-Malta ('Calypso' label) starched collar shirt just out of its packaging and a Thierry Mugler inspired jacket in a dubious colour combination which I think I like.

And from a charity shop in Sliema: a badly sewn pleated shift dress in a lovely muslim-mosque print, a charming hit of a blouse made out of strategically placed pieces of patterned material, and a woollen blue and white dress for the winter.

As well as a pair of bedside slippers in a favourite colour combination which matches my Moroccan shift dress and square heeled two-tone beauties with gold trim.

Dear April and May... honestly you've spoilt us all!!

...