My Story
Hats© are made of silk fabrics, some of which were purchased on a trip to
China,
and unique vintage fabrics and trims. Before cutting fabrics, I must decide if
the design will be an original Leslie O'Leary or a traditional Chinese. The hat bases
have three to five pieces. The second decision is to choose the outside and
lining fabrics and because they are of equal importance, I put great thought
and care into the choices. These fabric pieces are sewn together and lined with
thin cotton batting, then hand-quilted. Finally, all the pieces are hand-sewn
together to make the hat base.
The third design decision is to
make each hat unique. My greatest pleasure is taking the time to hand-make
every ornament by incorporating vintage Asian fabrics and vintage trims. 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.”
Story Hays 2015© 2021© Leslie O'Leary-ROotie StudiO
Photography Mark Mortensen
Balance: Butterfly
Good Luck : Fish
Courage : Dragon
Harmony : Seahorse
Love: Lily
Perseverance: Lotus
Protection : Tiger
Snow Tiger
Black Cat
Loyalty : Happy Dog
Strength : Elephant
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. The legends are from the Chinese calendar; each year has an animal and its own characteristics. To that end, I structure a special traditional hat for each year and by intertwining symbolism and legend, the hat “tells” its own story.
