Happy Spring!

Imagine lush greenery, vibrant flowers and the thrill of a fresh new season.

Top it off with one of Gwendolyne's stylish Fascinators and you're ready to go.

At Gwendolyne Hats we're always thinking ahead. Our Boutique also carries an

exciting array of unique accessories designed to uplift your spirit.

Last month our sunny downtown Atelier felt like a garden of earthly delights.

While the light streamed in our windows Gwendolyne created a stunning collection

of handmade Hair Fascinators.

All this beauty and more is available in our Boutique right now.

Spring up and celebrate life with a dash of fabulous!

We look forward to your arrival.

Spring Buds!

Happy Spring from Gwendolyne Hats. Come on up and share the enthusiasm. We celebrate your spirit with magical things you love and enjoy everyday. Great friends inspire us and make our world go round. Thank you for bringing our art to life.

In Toronto Spring is budding at Gwendolyne Hats Boutique. Our designs are fresh and the colours sing. We're right on Top of the award winning Creative arts building at 401 Richmond St. West. If you love Art, Music, Dance & Design ... This is where it's Hat!

Here our best buds dance the latest sensation; the Spring Tease. "Red light, green light, stop and go. First comes spring and then there's snow." Soon this courtyard and the amazing Roof Garden will burst with Green. All this and more happens everyday, in and around our Atelier.

This Topper transports you with great style and grace. Here in the creative center of our city we frequently receive guests from around the globe. Now this hat full of positive energy is going to Japan. May it help bring renewal to that great nation.






Hold on to your Hats

Gwendolyne has a fabulous new line of whimsy Fascinators. These Earthly Delights are in our Boutique right now for the celebrations ahead. Wonders from our sunny Atelier never cease to amaze. And they're all made right here in Canada.

Smile!

Spring in ancient times was celebrated by the gods of fertility who rose up from the under world with the keys to life.

Living here in Toronto just north of the 49th parallel, our eagerness for the warm weather is heightened by a longer wait. It’s always such a magical time of year. Nature’s a powerful force that never ceases to amaze. I often remind people that our Canadian Maple Syrup is the result of our unique temperatures. That's why it tastes so sweet.

Spring is the eternal optimist. She can lift your spirits; bring a skip to your step and a flutter to your heart. The desire to open ourselves to the new life ahead is everywhere we go.




Here in our Atelier Gwendolyne has been busy birthing many new designs for the shop. With a fresh palette of colors, her reversible Hairbands will be delighting many faces this summer. Made in all sizes, from cotton prints, these colorful bands will brighten and cool any hot summer day.










This year we’ve added to our scarf collection. Loving silks and color, Gwendolyne has collaborated on this limited edition of exquisite shawls with an artist in Australia. Hand dyed with the themes of water, earth and fire the touch and finished edges of the silks are divine. They are perfect for the many outdoor celebrations planned in the months ahead.

Gwendolyne's button collection has inspired a new line of chokers. Made from Japanese ribbons and braids the adjustable sizing allows great comfort. Here is one decorated with antique vegetable ivory turned buttons. The subtle details of these buttons are set off brilliantly from the background. New to the shop they are selling fast. You can ask about one to be made for you as Gwendolyne is also taking custom orders.


Recently a customer dropped by and shared her daughters’ love for buttons. I think many of us have this fascination. Especially if your grandmother had jars full of them. Today there are few button producers in the world that create the beautiful styles that were made in the past. The Czech Republic still produces molded glass buttons. It’s nice to see this art and craft tradition continue. It is important to celebrate the good things in our world. After all you reap what you sow. Money is a vehicle that defines our worth and values. How we circulate it is the determining factor of what we want our world to be. More then ever before we must understand what we are buying and look closely at the energy invested in it. We decide what will be created today and cherished in the future.

In Gwendolyne's latest line of Button Love bracelets she has brought her cherished glass buttons from the 20's to 50's era to life on the wrist. The colors are vibrant and the base beads simple to set off the detail and color of each button. Many people love the magnetic clasp as it allows for easy closure when putting them on. We have sizes for everyone, come see them soon. I know you'll love them.

Last year many new bag designs were created and produced in our studio. Gwendolyne is always determined to bring function and beauty together. She is truly enjoying bag design, as it is both technically challenging and a perfect canvas to display her love of detail and artistry.

This year she has continued her search for the perfect carry all. The Raven wristlet is designed to carry the essentials. It can be worn on the wrist or on the shoulder. I think it's all the rage these days as it allows women to carry their core goodies. Some tell me they carry it in their bigger bags during the day and later when they go out at night all they carry is their wristlet. It would certainly make it very easy to dance the night away.

As always we have many beautiful hat designs for the season ahead. Come down to our shop and try one on or watch for the next blog.

Several weeks ago we both had a wonderful bike ride down by the lake to Humber Bay Park. With the wind at our back the going was easy. On this bright Spring day many people were out walking, riding, and roller blading. Everywhere we went the birds were also enjoying the weather. The freshness in the air and the excitement that winter was over was all around us. We saw a lot of mating rituals that day. In fact these two majestic swans did their dance right before our eyes. Afterwards they leaned in for a kiss and their graceful necks formed the shape of a heart. It was a beautiful moment and a reminder that Spring is a time for new beginnings and a lot of love.

Spring it on!

Written by William
The warm sun has been streaming in the windows of our cozy Toronto Atelier, making us feel like Spring has arrived. These beautiful bright days keep the spirits up and our creative juices flowing. We're very focused, creating new work to change with the weather. While sweet sap flows from the maple trees here in Canada, our urban sugar shack is cooking with gas. With birds singing outside and the orchids blooming, our sunny studio is an inspiration for the season ahead.





Of course we only have to step outdoors to realize it’s still quite chilly. But, it’s the thought that counts.

Spring is a time of growth, renewal and of new life being born. Gwendolyne and I are very excited this year about creating new products that expand our vision. We intend to try our hand at new things. So keep your eyes open and ears to the ground.

Our Abbey Road is a popular hat. I've certainly enjoyed mine. It's charming, stylish and I find the peak very practical. This season we’ve created a fresh look with some wonderful new colours. There is also a lighter weight version for the warmer weather; shown here. Remember, each one of these beauties features a luxurious lamb leather peak with a magical vintage button accent.





Zoë means life
and this limited edition of pocket-sized messenger bags, is definitely full of spirit. A lot of care has gone into making them. They are long lasting as well as beautiful. Each Zoe is one of a kind. I know Gwendolyne is very proud. Miniature masterpieces, they are just big enough to carry the essential things. Perfect for when we take off all those layers and want to travel light.



Good things come in small packages and each one of these beauties comes with a signature, edition number and their very own box. If you need one to match a special outfit there's more choice available in our shop.












Gwendolyne adores antique and vintage buttons. Attracted by their attention to detail and celebration of craft, she is also fascinated with the stories that surround them.

Like Gwendolyne designs, collectable buttons are practical things invested with meaning, that celebrate life. Buttons are a type of jewelry. Which leads me to yet another wonderful new addition to our shop. One that reflects Gwendolyne's passion to create beautiful things that resonate.



Button Love Bracelets sparkle in the light.






In our shop we have a treasure chest of choice and a variety of sizes. Every button a is piece of history and each bracelet has it's own story. Fastened with a sterling silver magnetic clasp, they're easy to get on and off. These buttons are all late 19th century antiques.




Pretty exciting!

Spring rituals

Happy Spring!
It was the eve of the Spring Equinox. When the day light equals that of the night. I took this photo of the moon just after dusk on the 20th. Earlier in the evening the planet Venus was also making a visual guest appearance. It is always fun for me to see. I am lucky for I have a friend who is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to astronomy and he gives me the updates about the sky from time to time. This one being a very special.

Lately we've been bringing the Spring indoors with a daily bouquet of fresh cut flowers. People experience an energy shift amongest flowers. Our bodies become calm and our minds open to uplifting sensations. Flower power, that's what it is all about. Perhaps that is why the Spring season is so revitalizing.



My new Abbey Road design is exciting. It's the first time I've had the opportunity to showcase my antique vegetable ivory buttons (circa early 1900). Filled with colors of a new Spring garden, this cap will surely brighten anyone's day.

Made from in boucle plaid wools from France. All are lined with silk and have lamb leather peaks. The edition is limited, each one is unique.




My quote for this day:
"We stand at a place, knowing there was a past, knowing there will be a future"