Author Archives: Carrie Cahill Mulligan

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About Carrie Cahill Mulligan

Park ranger turned fiber artist, out to change the world, one felt hat at a time.

Banjo – It’s Good for What Ails Ya

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Back before I ever learned to knit, I spent my first winter in Alaska in a small, Park Service cabin in Denali Park.

Quinn-dog loved to sing along every time I played banjo... at least, I think he loved it.

If you’re living alone in the middle of the frozen tundra, a banjo is a great thing to have.

"As soon as a child is born, he or she should be issued a dog and a banjo." ~ Charlie Brown

It’s cheerful, helps pass the time, and being alone, you don’t have to feel bad practicing your frailing technique over & over on the same three chords.

My nephew, Chad's first old time banjo lesson, 1996.

Once I learned to knit, I spent less time with my banjo. After all, there’s only so much fidgeting with your fingers a girl can fit into a day…

But last June, I went to Miles of Music Camp on Lake Winnepesaukee, and fell in love with my banjo all over again.

~
After 16 years, I’m still just a beginner, but I love me some old time banjo!

What about you? Do you play the banjo? (Or would you rather not admit that in public? 😀 )

Louisa’s Embroidered Felt Hat

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One of my hockey buddies, Louisa, visited my booth at the League of New Hampshire Craftmen’s Annual Fair two summers ago.

My felt hat booth in Tent 7 at the 2011 League of NH Craftsmen's Fair at Mt. Sunapee.

She’s been so supportive of me at the rink, and was equally enthusiastic about my work.

Louisa immediately fell in love with the absolute fanciest hat in the booth, and when she tried it on, it fit perfectly!

However, for most folks, my hats are not impulse purchases.

Louisa's chose mossy-green & rust with full embroidery for her custom felt hat.

It took nearly 2 years of thinking about it before Louisa decided to treat herself.

We found a hat that fit her just right, and she gave me license to embroider it as I chose.

She definitely wanted the works, though: all-around freehand embroidery with hand-cut antler buttons.

My husband, Andy, hand-cuts all the antler buttons I use in my embroidery designs.

I asked Louisa what she would tell others considering a hat. She replied without hesitation:

“My hat is beautiful, warm, comfortable & practical. It’s a work of art. Best of all, it makes me smile every time I put it on! How many things do you own that make you that happy? My hat is just ‘so me.’ I love it!”

Thank you, Louisa, for all your encouragement, and for helping support my hockey habit!

My Hanoverian Horse Felt Hat

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Once, when I was the Visiting Artisan at The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel, I got a special request to embroider a Hanoverian symbol on one of my felt hats.

I was unfamiliar with Hanoverians, but found the symbol online and did my best.

Freehand embroidered Hanoverian Horse symbol on felt hat #10 of 2008.

I can get nervous attempting a new design, especially one conceived by someone else.

Embroidering other people’s ideas can feel more like homework, instead of play, which is how needlework usually feels for me.

Play = fun. Homework = work. Who doesn’t prefer play?

I worked this Hanoverian Horse symbol freehand, as I do all my felt hat embroideries.

In the end, I was quite pleased with the results. Especially because I didn’t have to rip it out (much). It just came together, despite my initial misgivings.

And the customer was delighted! It was win-win, for sure. Nothing to fret about.

What about you? What are your emotions as you work on new projects or designs?