Miller designing hats for Madison Derby Days

Many women will choose to wear an eye-catching hat for Madison Derby Days on May 5. Jackie Miller is designing millinery that would make ladies at Churchill Downs envious.

On Friday, 16 Main Gallery will be selling Miller’s hats, which she creates for her business, Miller-Nary Madness.

Dawn Johnson, event coordinator for Madison Derby Days, met Miller at the Northeast Alabama Craft Association (NEACA). “Dawn asked me if I would make hats for Derby Days. It took off from there,” Miller said.

Miller’s millinery work started after a Christmas shopping in her hometown of Orlando, Fla. Her shopping group “saw a funky hat” and one of her friends started to buy it. “I can make it for you,” Miller told the friend. “That’s what got me on this tear.”

After an article in “Valley Planet,” Miller was invited to show her millinery at the “Art in Bloom” show, Huntsville Botanical Garden, local libraries and Dollywood. The Red Hat Ladies have commissioned her work.

Her motto is, “If you can’t have fun with your art, why do it?”

For Derby Days, Miller has designed “Fascinators,” like women wear to church, along with profusely decorated straw hats. “I have fun fedoras. None are plain — all the hats have touling, feathers, fabrics and flowers,” she said.

Even the children can wear her straw hats. “Men’s hats have roses and horses all over them,” Miller said.

In her primary business since 1982, Miller has designed fashion jewelry in sterling silver, semiprecious stones and beads. She sold on QVC network for six years and employs nationwide representatives.

Her husband Robert works in the aerospace defense industry. When away from Orlando, they live on Monte Sano.

Miller’s work also can be seen at Lowe Mill, Studio 315.

Through Derby Days, Miller’s hats will be available at 16 Main Gallery in downtown Madison. You can view her Miller-Nary Madness on Facebook at Jackie-Miller-DBA-Jac-Win-Design-Inc/341701769122?ref=ts.