Powderhouse as seen on Channel 6

Powderhouse Hill as Seen on Channel 6

South Berwick on TV? Amazing! Virtually everyone that comes into The Little Hat Company raves about Powderhouse Hill. I woke up this morning brought my last free trash load to the dump for the store, sat in line (learning the virtue of patience), and decided it was time to suit up the girls for a day of sledding. Libby's first time on the sled hill and it went pretty well till she decided she wanted to go all the way from the top...but Anna and Kayla had a sweet time going off the mogul and catching air time.
It was absolutely beautiful and saw a lot of friendly faces there. Mike even watched Libby walk around so that I could catch a couple of runs with the kids. Thank you Mike & Linda.

Something worth reading

A friend just emailed me and said "good for Molly - check out the diner tonight" 236diner

Admittedly I haven't visited in awhile, overtaken by the holidays and making sure there is some balance with a toy store during Christmas and a young family with three children. When I went tonight and I strongly urge you to visit yourself I let out a huge sigh as I finished reading Molly's statement.

It takes a lot of guts to say what you truly mean in life and it takes a whole lot more to put it down on paper or upload to the internet. Molly is a communicator and while staying articulate and to the point she fills her blog with a personal truth that is just well...good. I've always known Molly to be a kind hearted person, caring citizen, and active business person but until tonight I had no idea how deep her personal strength and courage runs.

I'm so thankful to have met her and been able to work with her and I'm even more thankful to know that she is a part of South Berwick, Maine.

What a great place to live and raise a family!

Celebrate Tofu at The Seacoast Science Center and keep your head warm too!

What a unique gift for the little whale lover in your family. The Seacoast Science Center in Rye asked us if we could create lids to celebrate their new exhibit coming next year. Deb took up the challenge and designed three whale lids which are all available in the gift shop at the science center. They are our original loope lids - soft, warm and very cozy with an extra special touch - tofu the whale swimming along. If you would like special lids for your company or organization please email us friendlyperson@thelittlehatcompany.com. We would love to come up with something special for you and yours. Happy Holidays and Warm Wishes from The Little Hatters in South Berwick, Maine.

Marshwood Fleece Lids are in for the Cold Weather Ahead!

Deb Knowlton made it her personal mission for The Little Hat Company to have Marshwood fleece lids in black and also in purple embroidered with a black M. We love them and are very proud to have them in the store. The purple hats are super cute ( cool if you are a boy) and a perfect way to show some support for our amazing school system.

Elf Lids popping up everywhere this holiday season!

Little Brooke looks absolutely "elfish" in her Loope Elf Lid by The Little Hat Elves in South Berwick, Maine. Just in time for the Holidays there are elf lids of all sizes for babies, toddlers, tots, and little kids. Jane Cowen Fletcher local renowned children's author and artist graciously adorned her baby elf with a "loope lid" from The Little Hat Company and we couldn't pass up the opportunity to bring it to life. Gift sets are available at our store - elf lid and book, both by South Berwick artisans. Call to place an order and we will gift wrap and ship to anywhere in the world.

Happy Holidays from all of us Little Hatters!

Little Hat babies are growing up!

Okay, so it's the holidays and I've been spending some time thinking back to when I didn't know Sue Page, Kim F, Cathie, Deb, Amy, Barb, Emma, Linda, and all the gang. Libby has only been a part of our family for 2 1/2 years and life before that for the Houghton family had nothing to do with Little Hats. As I type this I can't believe that Harrison and Libby have developed their very own special bond not to mention language and they will be attending school together this January at Little Stars Twinkle. Libby is in the fore front of this picture wearing a hat way too big for her- that's her m.o. and Harrison is hamming it up for the camera. I love my family, I love my friends, I love this business which has become way bigger than I ever hoped it would be, and I love our community we live in and how much it supports the hats and the little toy store in South Berwick.

'A Perfect fit' - Little Hat Company hosts book signing

'A perfect fit' - Little Hat Company hosts book signing

By JOEY CRESTA jcrestafosters.com jcresta@fosters.com

Article Date: Monday, December 1, 2008

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — Local children's book author and illustrator Jane Cowen-Fletcher appeared for a book signing at The Little Hat Company downtown Saturday, an event that coincided with the appearance of the shop's float in the Holiday Parade.

Cowen-Fletcher has written and illustrated such children's stories as "Baby Angels" and "Mama Zooms."

"Baby Elf's Christmas" is her latest book and her first to focus on Christmas. The elf on the book's cover sports a red hat with polka dots, and in a cross-promotion with The Little Hat Company, the shop designed the same hat to be sold in the store.

"I'm really excited about the connection," she said. "It's really fun."

She said when she drew the hat for her story, she wanted to come up with something original, unlike the pointed hats typically depicted on elves.

Cowen-Fletcher, who has lived in South Berwick since 1989, said the collaboration between her and the shop was "a perfect fit."

"Elves wear hats, and we have The Little Hat Company right here in downtown South Berwick," she said.

She specializes in books for young children, a decision she said she made because she'd rather draw pictures than write a lot of words.

She spent much of the 1980s in Benin, Africa, with the Peace Corps and currently is a librarian in town.

Cowen-Fletcher said she's been drawing through it all, but only began doing picture books in 1993.

She describes her work as having a retro style that hearkens back to the 1930s and 40s, and says her books arise because "sometimes it's just what I want to draw."

For instance, when her family got a dog, she just wanted to draw dogs, she said.

She has used her family members for inspiration as well. Her children and her sister, who she says is in a wheelchair, also have inspired her illustrations.