The Perfect Party Hat!
My little girl was turning one! I could not find a party hat worthy of sitting on my little one's tiny tresses. I needed one that was suitable, that I could keep as a precious keepsake of my daughter's first birthday, so…I created the first version of my custom party hat. This one was created from paper, rhinestones and flowers. Unfortunately, paper hats are easily destroyed. The hat was a success, but still… just a paper hat. The inspiration for the canvas party hats came later.

On my daughter's second birthday, once again I could not find a suitable hat for my little one. We had to forgo the idea of having party hats all together, and had a ballerina party with tiny tiaras instead. Although precious, the tiaras just weren't the same as having a sweet birthday party hat. Not having a birthday hat was like not having cake and ice cream on her special day.

A few months later, while creating a tall princess hat for a neighbor's birthday party, I discovered that the top of the princess hat was just the right size for a birthday party hat! I proceeded to enlist the help of a neighbor in sewing the first hat together. Made from my daughter's nursery fabric, it was adorable.
I knew I would never have to search for a party hat again. Then I realized other mommies may want the same classic birthday hats for their little ones. Not only could I create the perfect hat for my daughter, it could be customized for anyone who needed a classic birthday hat.

Seeing the potential, I designed my first line of children's party hats. The line was full of classic gingham and rhinestones. I named each hat after precious children in my life. I brought the line to Dallas, Texas to see if there would be any interest from the market. There was!!!

Adding embroidery (gamma's idea!) to the line set the product apart from existing party hat lines. The fabric party hat can be embroidered with stock phrases, "Happy Birthday", "Birthday Princess", etc. or customized embroidery with full monograms, names, or any saying that would make the hat personalized for that special birthday child.

Since then, the line has been marketed across the country and retailed in upscale children's boutiques and classic gift shops. Cake and Ice Cream, Inc. will still be supplying our classic hats to our wholesale market, as we expand into the online retail market.

Needless to say, my daughter finally had the perfect birthday hat on her third birthday. The "Sydney" hat. A lime green gingham hat with pink trim and "Birthday Princess" embroidered on it.

I know I will enjoy being able to create my daughter's classic custom birthday hats through the years. Just as hers are made with love, every hat that I produce is created knowing it will be used for a child's special celebration. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Thank you for your interest in Cake and Ice Cream. Inc., and remember:

"It's not a birthday without cake and ice cream!"

	Jennifer Aubrey Martinez
	Owner/Designer