Louisa’s Embroidered Felt Hat

Posted on 20 March 2012 by Carrie Cahill Mulligan

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!

The Story of My New Dragonfly Embroidery – In Katie’s Words

Posted on 29 February 2012 by Carrie Cahill Mulligan

“For 3 years, I eyeballed Carrie’s hats at the Artisans Craft Fair at Mount Sunapee. Not only are they beautiful pieces of art, they are solidly constructed with the finest quality materials.

Every time I talked to Carrie, she seemed to remember me (whether she did or not I am unsure, but she certainly gave me that feeling!). Every year, I would ask if she had any hats with dragonflies on them, but she never did.

Finally, in December of 2010, I was able to purchase a hat – beautiful chartreuse green with a chocolate brown brim and a beautiful off-set single flower with a deer antler button in the center of it:

Katie's 1st Felt Hat: #90 of 2010, with freehand embroidery & antler button embellishment.

It is so beautiful, complete strangers pull me aside to tell me how amazing my hat is. I always give a shout out to Carrie.

This is THE MOST AMAZING HAT EVER!

There is no type of weather I haven’t tested this felt hat in and it has NEVER failed me! Once during a below zero nor’easter, I was snow-blowing and the wind was blowing every which way, almost suffocating me. Never once was my head jeopardized from the harsh winter weather – in fact, it was overheating and dry!

In the summer of 2011, Carrie told me that she was thinking about doing a dragonfly hat and wanted me to have the very first one. I just received hat #2 of 2012 with her first-ever dragonfly. She exceeded my expectations (which were high, might I add!) and I couldn’t believe the detail:

My 1st-ever dragonfly embroidery, with turquoise & jade beads.

I couldn’t be happier about my 2nd Carrie Cahill Mulligan Heirloom Felt Hat! I’m excited to see how many people stop to tell me how cool my dragonfly is! More shout outs to Carrie for certain!”

—Katie F. of Springfield, New Hampshire