About Lisa I began making hats in boston in 1988. As a self-taught hat designer I spent the next 15 years making flat-patterned, fabric-built hats. After moving to Cape Cod I eventually began exploring straw braids to make warm-weather hats that would be an alternative to my fabric pieces. The qualities of toyo worked for me: without sizing or blocking I found ways to create shape using only sewing techniques. After months of experimenting I decided to put my hat-making energies solely into the toyo-built work. I hope you get the same pleasure I do from the simple beauty of this fiber. . . . . .
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DESIGN NEW ENGLAND
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July 2, 2017, Cape Cod Times Story about Lisa Ventre
. . . . . Cape Cod MagazineApril 2015 features Lisa Ventre's work here page 1, here page 2
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American Crush's mission is to share with you how to live beautifully with American made. They feature Lisa's hats here... . . . . . See feature about Lisa's hats in July/August 2007 UK textile magazine Selvedge - here
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What is toyo? The raw material, from Asia, is tough, thin, and fibrous. The end product is a 1/4" thick straw braid, light-weight and flexible. I begin each hat in the moment by sewing the braid around and around to itself. Decisions about shape are made as the hat grows. There are no patterns and no two hats are exactly alike. Adding fabric-draping skills to a shape created in this way takes the work to another level. Working with toyo in this manner has inspired my most lively and organic forms. Have a look at the 'HATS' page to see a portfolio of these designs.
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