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By Ayanna Eckblad

An Austin couple has become known around the community for brightening people’s days when they come into Home Depot in Albert Lea.

Every day he comes to work, Manuel “Manny” Guajardo wears a different hat crocheted by his wife, Denise. They range from cartoon characters, sports teams and even hats for different holidays.

Around the store, Manny has become known as “the hat guy,” and he wears this title, and his hats, with pride.

Manny and Denise have been married for almost four years. Manny had previously lived in Arkansas, and he and Minnesota-raised Denise have lived all over the country since getting married.

They lived in Texas and Rochester before settling in Austin to be close to the Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center without city crowds.

They both have a wide range of career experiences. For example, Manny has previously worked in law enforcement, and Denise has worked in property management.

Manny began working at Home Depot in Albert Lea in October 2023 to earn some money for Denise’s medical bills. Denise has diabetes, neck and back problems as well as other health conditions. Manny and Denise both had concerns about affording things like prescriptions, specifically insulin, as well as expenses that come with out-of-town doctor’s appointments.

Manny decided it would be fun to show off his wife’s creative skills while bringing a smile to customers by wearing a different hat every day. These days, Manny has become known as “the hat guy” around his job. He said when fellow employees need to direct someone to him, they simply say “Look for the guy wearing the hat,” and the customers immediately know who they are talking about.

“Sometimes the customers come in just to see what hat I’m wearing,” Manny said.

Denise learned to crochet at around age 6, beginning with afghan blankets and prayer shawls. As she gained more skills, she moved on to more complex projects like hats made to look like different characters. She found she had a talent for it, and now as an adult, Denise has made over 300 hats, which amounts to four plastic totes she keeps in her home.

“She can make any character, any size,” Manny said. “They’re my pride and joy.”

Rather than coming up with a separate pattern for each individual hat, Denise uses one “base” pattern and adds embellishments to them afterwards. Some of the embellishments include eyes, hair and teeth. She typically makes these out of yarn or puffy paint.

She makes her hats while at home, but also works on them in the car when Manny is driving, and while waiting in places like doctors offices.

One of the most time-consuming creations Denise has made is a crochet “sugar skull” for Day of the Dead, which she made to celebrate Manny’s Hispanic heritage.

Some of Denise’s personal favorite hats are Woody the Woodpecker and a monkey sock doll. Manny enjoys wearing pink hats, and is not embarrassed to go to work wearing them. Surprisingly, he said many of the compliments he receives on pink hats are from men.

“One hundred percent of the comments have been positive. Especially with the children that come to Home Depot,” Manny said. He loves being able to brighten someone’s day, whether child or adult.

Denise also enjoys giving back. She sewed and donated masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, and she is working on creating hat/neck warmers to donate to cancer patients in the community. These days, Denise has become a pro at finding yarn and other supplies that are high quality without being expensive.

Manny and Denise would both like to eventually start some kind of program to help people in similar situations as themselves.

“I wish there was a way that we could help all the people that are in our situation. Where you need the insulin, but it’s way out there to pay for it,” Manny said.

For now, he likes to tell people to have faith and assures them that things will get better.

Denise has begun selling hats to friends and family, but hopes to grow this business further. Her “shop” La Sobrina (Niece’s) Creations, specializes in character hats, but she also makes scarves, ear/neck warmers and more. She is currently working on making a book that showcases all of the designs she is able to do. People can contact her by phone at 507-517-5072 or by email at guajardodenise63@gmail.com.