What started as Georgia Madison's one-of-a-kind hat boutique is now a sort of local art museum. Besides her own handmade hats, Madison's walls and racks are open to the tie dyes, patchwork clothes, photography, paintings, jewelry and pottery of area artists -- which is why there's always something different in the windows of Mad Hat'r, 103 S. Pugh St.

"I know a lot of artists," Madison said, "because I'm always going to art festivals. And because the rent here is so high and because I don't need all the space in here, I started asking friends if they'd like a place to sell their stuff. People leave and come and so the store's constantly changing.

"I think most of the artists here like the fact that they can make money by doing something they love," she added.

Artists selling at Mad Hat'r pay either a monthly fee or a consignment at each sale, Madison said. Consignment is the better option "for artists who don't have enough work to fill the spaces," she said, but "most artists right now are paying the monthly rent because then they take all the profits from a sale."

Madison's friend Ted Heine said he loves that the store gives local artists a chance to showcase and sell their work.

"There are very few other shops that feature local artists in this area," he said. "And I have a theory that if there were more support for local artists then there would be more local artists. And that would be a very good thing."

Ildi Seitzer, a local artist who sells her tie-dyes and patchwork clothes by renting rack space, said she started selling her work in Madison's store because she "thought it was a fun place and because of Georgia's friendship."

"The things I make appeal to the young or the young-at-heart," she said with a laugh. "And the setup of the store is kind of nice. I can have my stuff there but Georgia arranges everything. If I have an idea I suggest it, but I really like how she runs the store. We're not only co-workers, we're really good friends."

Painter Carole Wills, another local artist renting space at Mad Hat'r, agreed that Madison's arrangements make selling her artwork easy.

"I pay a monthly rate to Georgia and then there's no commission," said Wills. "I actually found out about the store because I had a friend already selling clothes there. Then when I saw it, I thought my paintings would fit in well."

And after hearing about the shop's casual atmosphere and rental arrangements, Dani Aubert (sophomore-forest biology) came from Altoona to see Mad Hat'r and talk to Madison about selling her patchwork clothes and bags there.

"I started selling my clothes," she said, "because I would always be making gifts for my sisters and friends and after a while so many people kept asking me to make them stuff that I had to start charging. Now I'm trying to make it a full time job for the summer. It's so great to be able to create art for specifically one person. It's putting me through college!

"I also sell my clothes already in another store like Mad Hat'r where everything is handmade," she added. "I like my stuff to be in unique stores like that."

But amidst the craziness of constantly-arriving local artwork, Mad Hat'r is still brimming with hats -- baby bonnets, fedoras, sun hats, toboggan caps and fleece beanies -- hand-made or hand-decorated by Madison.

"People always come in and ask me how I made them," she said, "but I never give away my secrets. I always tell them to go get quilting books or patterns. I really need to clone myself because I have so many ideas and things to make that I can't do it all.

"But the real question," she added, "is where else are you going to find so many hats?"