A Proactive Start to 2023!

Posted by on February 16, 2023

It’s been an unsettled few years for me personally and professionally but, thankfully, there has been an increasing stream of business and a continuing creativity in action! The small, but friendly studio, is now becoming too small for the stock and to have comfortable appointments and fittings so I’m currently searching for new premises to move in to… and I’ll update when I can. I’m currently working on new clean designs with presence and form using fur felts and silks, and planning a straw range… colours bold and contrasting…. It’s a great way to get through the winter months envisaging the outfits and events coming up this year and expressing my hopes for a great year in 3d form… I always miss millinery in the ‘off season’ and can’t wait for things to get back to where they should be! I find that inspiration walks in through the door with each customer.

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New Starts!

Posted by on February 16, 2022

Well, it is starting to feel like the chains of covid restrictions are lifting and we can finally go out and celebrate once again…. It’s been a difficult couple of years for so many of us and personally, I’ve really missed being involved with millinery. But, I’ve been busy getting ready for when things do pick-up and have remained optimistic (mostly!) throughout. I’ve been lucky to have a studio in which to be creative and have had a small amount of custom – so I count myself lucky. Additionally I am pleased to be featured in this months Wotton Times! New places, people, designs and ideas – 2022 is starting to shape up well!

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Less is More

Posted by on November 17, 2021

Well, what can I say, it’s been a while since I’ve been inspired to post anything and please, allow for unprofessional photography (!). Life circumstances forced a move and then covid hit so it’s been a little quiet on the millinery front, but things are proceeding nicely now. A new studio in Wotton-under-Edge, some lovely customers and new blocks. I’m really enjoying the ‘less is more’ approach – the design is the most time consuming thing and making is the pleasure of seeing it come to life. Not all of them come out well but I am wholly pleased with the simplicity and drama of this one. I’ve used a boot weight leather (a homage to Elsa Schiaperalli) which I left blocking for several days to harden and lightly attached it to this sharp little fur felt beret.

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Spring spring

Posted by on March 31, 2019

Dyed silk twill base with silk velvet flowers and silk satin foliage and a dyed & wired net, dramatic but light!  One way to bring the two contrasting colours of an outfit together……  (oh, and an excuse to try out my new electric flower-making tools!)
grn-hat

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CAPS!

Posted by on February 20, 2019

Hi, I recently had a customer in who had a suit he had had made 40yrs previously which he could no longer fit into.  He asked me if I could make him a hat out of it as he could not bear to part with it and the tweed was in excellent condition.  He was a really nice chap and so I made up two sample patterns and having agreed them, made these two!  I was pleased with the wearable results and more than happy to give the suit a further story.  Also it tied in very well with a new sideline I am working on which is unisex blocked felt and flat-pattern caps – wearable and practical and, hopefully, stylish.  New blocks arrived from Boon & Lane recently and I am already working on some ideas – the finishing and treatment of blocked felt caps is quite a change from the millinery!

Caps

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