Lori Crane

@Rusty_Owl_Hats

Disciplines

Millnery

Contact

Lives and Works

76109

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About

I'm officially retired from a career in creativity. I am grateful for the journey of being a hairdresser of 27 years. Now, I'm embracing this next chapter with my supportive husband, our twin teenage girls, and our two beloved dogs. In early 2021 I ran across YouTube videos of people making hats the old millinery way. They would shape them and light them on fire and I was enamored from the start. I started to reach out to these hat makers from all over the world for advice on what's next. Traditional wooden tools are hard to come by and very expensive. So, I found an alternate route and procured my tools from a 3D printing specialist. After several trial and errors, I finally made my first (perfect in my eyes) hat. It was amazing and got my creative juices flowing. Fast forward to now 2026 and I have over one hundred hats sold and several markets under my belt. Its still a learning process but I now have confidence I can make unique, custom and beautiful hats for everyone.

Artist Statement

For me, hat making isn't just about fashion- it's about creating wearable art that carries character, confidence, and a sense of identity. It's a statement piece that is timeless. Each hat is made slowly, with intention, honoring the traditional techniques while using new technology with 3D printed hat tools. Handcrafting these beaver and rabbit blend hats is not only a lot of fun, but a personal expression for anyone who wears it.