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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2018

Posted by on February 20, 2019

H, I’ve been quiet for a while as I’m no expert at IT (I’d rather make hats and talk to people!) but I feel a post or two is very overdue!  In 2018 I turned 50yrs and after 30 yrs in millinery decided to have a little break and review my options which led me to starting a degree course in philosophy of all things!  While this is a great thing for me , I realised that I really miss exploring my creativity and making hats so I’m reinvigorating my business again.  Here is one picture of a hat I made for a customer with a Dries Van Noten outfit, I was really pleased with the balance…

It took a long time to make and paint those flowers but the texture and colouring was really worth the effort.

More experimenting with dyes and textures to come soon…..

 

DVN

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