Ladies were asked to wear their best Tea Party hats and outfits. Prizes were awarded for the best hat and the best period costume. Six ladies attended the Mayday Tea Party in attire representing the late 1770s, late 1800s, early 1900s, 1920s – 1940s.

Virginia Boone-Ficarra won the prize for “best costume,” and Anna-Louise Fitzgerald took home the “best hat” award!

The Women of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Pawleys Island, held a Hats Off to Women! Tea on September 22nd. A highlight of the tea was the Sasee Hat Contest. More than half the women in attendance wore hats and competed in the contest. The winner was Dory Rankin; second place went to Lois Combs. This will certainly become an annual event for the Women of St. Peter’s – a very Sasee group.

Wendy Schifer, Rev. David Lyle (Pastor of St. Peter’s who stopped by to greet the ladies and wore a hat), Jimene Ihasz

Sue Belbutoski, Mary Ann Keller

Karen Gluntz, Dory Rankin, Gail Davison

Winners of the Sasee Hat Contest – Lois Combs (2nd place) and 1st place winner, Dory Rankin

All the participants in the Sasee Hat Contest – note that Dory is holding a copy of Sasee

Meet Jan Wutkowski, an Australian-trained milliner (and very Sasee woman!) with a wearable art boutique in Wilmington, N.C., specializing in women’s hats. To be more specific, primarily custom-made women’s hats with fabulous contemporary and vintage veiling, ribbon, feathers, flowers and more! Jan posed for us in a few of her favorite hats, but to see more, visit www.hatshatshats.com or call aMuse: Artisanal Finery, 910-397-9099.

One of my favorite hats, the starfish.

Recently, I attended a book signing where everyone dressed as Audrey Hepburn – the book has a heavy Audrey theme. That’s me on the left and Jess James, Fashion Editor for Focus on the Coast, on the right in the tiara. We had a blast!

I made this hat specifically to wear to the International Millinery Forum in Australia where I was an instructor. This hat made quite a splash as it represents several Australian cultural and social icons.

I bought this hat when I was considering joining a “Red Hat” group.

This hat reminds me of the “cocktail hats” we used to wear back in the 1960s. We used to get dressed up with hats and gloves for all occasions!

This is one of my mother’s hats from the 1960s – she was a classy lady and wore a hat to church every Sunday.

This hat was designed and made by my brother for a costume event I attended! I was Ursula, the Sea Witch, from the movie the Little Mermaid. I won a prize at the Red Cross “Hurray for Hollywood” fundraiser at Litchfield Resorts this past spring.

Every woman should own a Stetson – a real Stetson!

Here I am looking “pretty in pink!” My mother gave me this hat when I was in my late teens, and I have had fun wearing it for over 50 years!

I decorated my ordinary K-Mart hat with a flower lei and was all ready for a luau at the beach!

We would love to see your favorite hat photos! Please e-mail them to editor@sasee.com, or mail to: Sasee Hat, 1357 21st Ave. N., Ste. 102, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.

I spent a great month with Angela Gordon. We traveled to New York City and, of course, they loved me there!

I saw Sex and the City with the girls. L-R: Mary Ann Benson, Reese McFaddin, Angela Gordon, Emily Benson, and Kirby Coker

We went camping at Huntington Beach State Park – my very first camping trip! Clockwise L-R: Dennis Shaw, Jaden Shaw, Angela Gordon, Miles Gordon and Barley

Angela and I had a blast at the ’Round the Fourth festival in Conway

Miles, Angela and I enjoyed the sounds of the Blue Dogs at Boathouse Restaurant

Angela and I at Rockefeller Center in New York City!

This shot was taken on our way to visit the Statue of Liberty

I spent the month with Sarah Luadzers in Georgetown and Pawleys Island. She took me to some wonderful places. This Sasee lady is single and ready to mingle!

We spent a fun evening with my friend Robin Bonnoit at Frank’s Outback.

Sarah got her hair done by new hair stylist, April Schexnayder, at Carolina Creations. Of course, Sarah looks even better while she’s wearing me!

Here we are with Gary, who works at the Chive Blossom Café, and Mary Gray Mahon – Yummy!

I went to church with Sarah and posed with Pastor Ted Sherrill of First Baptist Church of Georgetown.

The Mullets posed with us after a set at Boathouse Waterway.

I helped keep Sarah from getting sunburned while we were on the boat with Ryan Morgan, Robin Bonnoit and Britt Ware.

Sarah loves working at Georgetown County Economic Development.

We had a good work out at Health Pointe in Pawleys Island.

I learned to shag with Sarah at the Ball & Que in Georgetown.

Randy Dozer, Julie Lovell, Robin, Ansel Lovell, and Sarah Laudzer and I had a wonderful time at the Shag Festival in Georgetown.

Robin and I with her students at Forestbrook Elementary in Myrtle Beach.

Robin, Debra Howle and I were amazed by the Angel Oak on John’s Island.

Staying in shape at Waccamaw Pilates!

While in Litchfield, Sandy ran into her favorite Yoga instructor, Lisa Rosof, of Yoga at the Beach. We love a good stretch!

We stopped in to see the new Daschund puppies at the best pet spa in town, Benji’s Bed and Breakfast. (Maggie Goodin’s favorite place to stay)

Sandy and her husband, Don, had me to dinner at a favorite of Pawleys Island, Chive Blossom Café.

What could be nicer, than to be included in Local Knowledge Lunch, hosted by Marla Stroupe (photo by Angie Eggleston).

After touring the new Medi-Spa Physician Skin Solutions in Murrells Inlet, we had our pictures taken with Ab Wilkinson, MD; Christine Gerber, MD; Matthew Metz, MD; and Lisa Maselli, MD.

I couldn’t go to Kentucky to meet Sandy’s favorite Sasee girls, so they came to me! Here’s Sandy and me with Mom (Cindy Wilcox), niece (Alexandria Wilcox), and sister-in-law (Angie Wilcox).

Sandy and I joined the staff of Waccamaw Oncology for a wonderful dinner at Collectors Café in Myrtle Beach.

Sandy and I did a Pilates workout, (well, I just watched) on her Cadillac.

Sandy needs new patio furniture, so she met up with the ladies of Augustus & Carolina during a shopping day in Georgetown. (Kathryne Kossove, Julie Bienbrink, and Katie Standish-Smith).

This month I spent time with Lisa Clark, owner of Angsana Boutique Day Spa in Pawleys Island. We had a marvelous visit – we went to a fundraiser, out to dinner at one of her favorite restaurants and to visit her spa! Here are some of the memories.

Lisa and I attended the Black Tie & Tails event on Saturday, February 9, in support of Saint Frances Animal Center. Here I am with Lisa, Sandy from Waccamaw Pilates and her husband Don Goodin.

Lisa, Daphne Trent and I are looking lovely.

Lisa and I with her husband, Bill, and Karen Feighan.

Lisa took me to out to dinner at Captain John’s Seafood Grill in Litchfield. Here I am with Lisa and the Friday night regulars!

Lisa and I with her husband, Bill, and a hard working Girl Scout, supporting the Girl Scouts’ cookie drive.

Lisa took me on a day trip to see her spa, Angsana. Here are both of us outside on a beautiful day!

Spa Concierge Michele Getz joins Lisa and me, with Nail Technician Iva Coker and client Maureen Maclean. Receiving the perfect spa treatment can really help relieve stress!

I had a great time this month with Marla Stroupe, freelance writer and owner of Stroupe Communications in Pawleys Island.

While visiting Litchfield Dance Arts Academy, Marla took me into a class for Blossoming Ballerinas taught by Rachel Ayers. Aren’t they cute?

The very day Marla picked me up from Ilka Doubek we went to get a haircut from Tiffany Todd at Elite Retreat so I’d look great on her all month.

I went to Curves to work out with Marla and met some of her friends there: (left to right), Marla, Donna Ratliff, Jennifer Streiffert, Peggy Nettles, and Gerri Emanuele.

Marla and her husband, Chris, celebrated New Year’s in Charleston with their friends Teri and Hugh Hayes. She took me along for the festivities. Marla and I are enjoying the piazza of their condo on Meeting Street with Teri. It was a beautiful day.

One of Marla’s good friends, Gail Ritrievi, lives in Murrells Inlet, so they always try to pick a place that’s halfway from her house to Marla’s in Pawleys Island. They tried out a new place on Hwy. 17 Bypass called Fontinello’s Cafe. It was great.

The Georgetown County United Way marketing committee is working hard to get the word about this year’s campaign out to the residents of Georgetown County. Members of the committee are (l to r) Melissa Hanna, Marla, Leah Pittman, and Lynne Ford. Helen Benso couldn’t be at the meeting this month.

Marla worked with photographer, Wayne Eggleston, to take pictures of these beautiful dancers at the beach to promote their school’s summer intensive program. They are so talented.