This is it!! Final Collection Fashion Show

Well time is rapidly advancing and I should have some of my final collection ready for this event

Ladies Day Wetherby

The idea is to show some of our collection at an evening meeting on ladies day. We have also been asked to create a hat using James Brindley furnishing silks, kindly donated by the interior design company.  I have a few ideas of what I plan to do with my package of silk, I will add images when its near completion......

Recycling project - Trousseau Hat Part 3

Well I finally finished my recycling hat. I had talked before about the trousseau hat, made from ceramics and other 'bottom drawer' favourites.  I completed the hat and it is now securely displayed in the Hatworks museum in Stockport.  The exhibition is called 'Redesigning Fashion' and features the work of lots of great milliners. Using recycled and found materials, upcycled and reused.
I have to say I was happy with the techniques and materials I used and want to revisit them for my final collection.. What I did find was that the hat was way too big.  The ceramics and silverware made the hat very heavy and slightly out of balance.  Also I found that the ceramic pieces started to fall off.  I have reviewed these problems and have decided how I will approach these differently for my next attempt.

buckram base

donated lace to cover base

base covered with lace

ceramics

chipped plate donated from mums favourite china collection

the fun bit, breaking the china!

cutlery sourced from charity shop

lace pieces pressed into air dry clay to create my own pieces of ceramic

pieces being laid out

my ceramic pieces being added to the hat

creating an extra stong headband

Firing the cutlery to make it malleable

Ready to go in the cold bucket

blackened cutlery, ready to be rubbed down

soldering rods

soldering trims together

playing with the 'trims'

finished hat on the lovely Jemima

Poster for exhibition . Make up by Nina Walker

Postcards from the exhibition

Fenwicks Hats Spring Summer 2013

I am delighted to say I have just finished my first complete mini collection of hats.  I am also very happy to say they are now on display and for sale in Fenwicks department store in York.  They are on display in the designer ladies wear department.  It was a tight schedule to get them designed and made in time for their instore debut!  But I have to say it was also a great way to push me into creating my first complete, if a little small s/s collection, perfect for putting on my website. I was also very grateful to Rosie Totiah and Deborah Lough of the millinery collective for organising a brilliant photo shoot.  The result being some beautiful shots for our use.

'Floss' available at Fenwick's

'Blue Sky's' available at Fenwick's

Starting to shape the instore display

Fenwicks York

I am hoping to get back to the store to see some of the hats in their racing wear themed window displays.  Updates to follow



 Second visit to Fenwick's on special race wear promotion day

My'Bluse Skies' Hat that sold to a race goer !!

The lovely Sophie wearing one of my hats

Checking out the competition!