Flapper Hat with Diane Keeler, NIADA Member
Making a Cloche Hat
Start Date: December 8, 2011
Class: Flapper Hat
Instructor: Diane Keeler
Cost: $45 for 4 lessons
All Skill Levels
In this project we will be learning how to make cloche hat. The roaring 20’s were a transition in fashion. This was a time that women broke ther bonds of tight corsets and multilayer clothing. Hats became sleek and simplified. Cloche is French for “bell”.
Often, different styles of ribbons affixed to the hats indicated different messages about the wearer. Several popular messages included: An arrow-like ribbon which indicated a girl was single but had already given her heart to someone, a firm knot which signaled marriage or a flamboyant bow which indicated the wearer was Single and interested in mingling. Think about you message as you create these wonderful hats.
Come join me in this fun adventure of creating a Cloche hat.
Lesson Plan
Lesson 1 - Learn how to make a hat block.
The Block will be for about an 18 inch doll.
But once you have the technique down you
can make any size hat.
Lesson 2 - Creating a felt hat.
Learn how to work with wool felt to shape
and create a cloche hat.
Lesson 3 - Creating a straw hat.
Student will learn how to make a beautiful
straw hat
Lesson 4 - Variations of design.
How to embellish your hat and other brim
shapes to create different styles of hats.
The supply list will be sent to all registered students two weeks before the class starts.
Diane Keeler Bio
Curiosity is the force that has driven Keeler all her life. Born in Duluth Minnesota in 1950 to parents that nurtured this curiosity. “When I was growing up, my parents were always doing something, always trying a new hobby or pursuing a new interest. They encouraged all five of us girls to do the same thing.” Keeler reflects when asked about the source of her curiosity. “We never heard the words ‘You can’t do that’.”
In 1987, while engaged in her then current passion of miniatures, she discovered polymer clay. This was it; she knew immediately, the medium she had been searching for. Keeler immersed herself in her “new” passion. Even though she had never sculpted before, the faces came relatively easy, right from the beginning.
Keeler honed her skills, and in 1990 started doing art shows with all polymer clay figures. Gradually she started winning awards for best of show and best sculptor. As she began including one of a kind dolls into her stock, they sold. Galleries started calling her asking to purchase dolls from her.
In the spring of 1994, Keeler became a full time artist.
1998 has seen another facet of Keeler; she began to teach. This added a whole new dimension to her art and “has made me a better artist”.
2001 elected into NIADA
2002 elected into ODACA
Her philosophy is to keep searching and learning. In doing so, she helps to promote the doll as an accepted art form.
Diane Keeler
Flapper Hat
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