I'd seen turned hats before and had turned a small top hat just to play with the idea. So when the piece for the March President's Challenge came around I turned another top hat - and then turned and carved a head neck and shoulders for it. Did a turned pedestal for it the neighbor who is an Alice In Wonderland did the "label". Shown about actual size - hat being mahogany, head and neck if lemon wood, carved with a flex shaft and burs and a PROXXON mini disk grinder and a turned and oiled black walnut pedestal.
Trying to carve with just a flex shaft, some burs and a small disk sander has its limit. So I bought a FlexCut "mini pelican" carving knife and am checking out a local carving club. Just what I need - another branch of woodworking to get into - sigh.