Long Lazy Summer Days

Well Summer has officially begun so we should be looking forward to holidays and sunshine.

With that in mind I have now got a lovely selection of roll up ladies Panama hats with are as soft as butter and roll up inside a strong tube or you can make your own with a piece of card. 

Brilliant for going away, walking or in the garden.

Ascot this week with ladies day yesterday. I wonder if my ladies had any winners ? Always a hat lovers delight to watch the round up of fashion at the end of the week.

Lots of flowers out at the moment including dock weed and seed heads which I just love.

The little piece at the top of the post is a lovely stiffened lace with pearls on a black straw disc bound in pink silk to match a dress for a wedding. So pretty and delicate looking yet actually quite robust as it's wired to keep it's shape.

That bright pink hat has had a second piece in navy blue blocked I am just about start sewing it together and then trimming can begin. I will show you how it turned out next time.

Chrissie x

Patent Leather Feathers

Hello hope everyone had a great Bank holiday weekend it's always good to get an extra day off.

I've been using a material called Jinsin which I bought from a Paris supplier a few years ago and have only used a few times.

Jinsin is a woven straw fabric which is brilliant for sculpting into wonderful shapes.

It has a warp of straw and a weft of polyester thread. This creates strong vertical lines which you can twist and shape into amazing curves.

This makes it the perfect material in my book as there's nothing I like better than a sculptural hat.

The feathers have been made from patent navy blue leather which I bought from a friend who makes bags. http://www.ce-leathergoods.co.uk/

Ticking is another of my favourites so a bag and a holiday cap seemed to fit the bill with brown suede straps for good measure.
Alliums have been showing off the last few weeks so I took this picture as I watched them open up.
I bought myself a hydrangea for the shop doorstep as the hellebore and violas had come to the end of their season.
Still making Ascot hats but can't reveal them as yet !
Chrissie x