This Weekend in Ottawa: CCM Felt Hat at Labrador Society Auction

Custom knit felt hat for the Labrador Society of Ottawa's silent auction.

Custom knit felt hat for the Labrador Society of Ottawa's silent auction.

Lately, I’ve been reading books about Labrador: Woman of Labrador by Elizabeth Goudie, Northern Nurse, and True North by Elliot Merrick being some of my favorites. These memoirs of rugged northern trappers and adventurers from a century ago are fascinating.

Labradad Reunion

Why the sudden interest in Labrador? Well, if you happened to read my 25 Random Things about Me, or watch my TV interview, you know that I’m adopted, and that I was recently found by my birth father.

Who happens to be from Labrador. My Labradad, if you will.

Suddenly, I have a whole new culture to learn about and understand. (Although, having lived in subarctic Alaska for 10 years, I feel like I’ve got a head start!)

So, this Saturday night, May 2, 2009, I’ll be at the Labrador Society of Ottawa’s Annual Dinner & Dance. There will be the unveiling of the new Labrador tartan, as well as a silent auction.

And, just for the occasion… I’ve custom designed the above felt hat.

My Labrahat, if you will!

Great great grandfather, Joseph Michelin of Traverspine, Labrador, ca. 1910.

Great great grandfather, Joseph Michelin of Traverspine, Labrador, ca. 1910.

Great grandfather, Allan Goudie, near North West River, Labrador, ca. 1900.

Great grandfather, Allan Goudie, near North West River, Labrador, ca. 1900.

Big Green Felt Hat for Dean

“This hat is The Bomb! It has totally revolutionized my relationship with winter!”

So said Dean Christian, the Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Dartmouth College when I delivered his custom embroidered felt hat last month.

Dean moved to Hanover from Texas last summer, and quickly became interested in the warm hats I make while checking ids at the Dartmouth gym.

After assuring him that men do wear my hats, and agreeing to attempt a new freehand embroidery design in the form of the Dartmouth “D”, I set to work.

Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire, Dean Christian is psyched abouth his toasty new felt hat, with custom Dartmouth embroidery worked freehand by fiber artist, Carrie Cahill Mulligan, of Canaan, New Hampshire.

“I had no idea how cruddy my old hat was, until I put this one on…”