Sunshine On The Doorstep

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week was half term so we took a trip to a museum in Manchester. The big red brick buildings with all their Victorian pomp and ceremony are always impressive and inspiring. I love all the details in the brickwork over doors and windows.
There were a couple of very last minute wedding needs. Luckily I was able to make them in time and the sun shone for the wedding which is always what you hope for.
I have also had some lovely spring sunshine on my doorstep which is keeping my hellebore happy. Always nice to be greeted by a happy plant as you enter a shop.

Next week I shall be involved in a very unusual photo shoot so there will be some great pictures to share, I'm just crossing my fingers for a blue sky and no rain.! The felt beret will be taking part in the shoot. The lattice felt strips remind me of a cherry pie top.

A Cumbrian Wedding

It was great to see that Ellen a bride I made a hat for last year had her wedding featured on the unstoppable wedding blog RockNRollBride this morning. There was a post last year about the little felt hat and the gorgeous Liberty Freedom who are very kindly loaning me some clothing for a shoot next Thursday.

Felt Hat

Winter is just around the corner so I am working with felt and wool fabrics at the moment. This wide brimmed hat in luxury velour felt has been trimmed with a rich fine wool tweed to contrast with the pale mushroom felt. I have manipulated the brim to create a box pleat with steam while the rest has been blocked on a hat block. Felt blocks so well that you can create many unusual shapes even without any blocks just as long as you can secure it in place. Lots of pieces being made so will be posting some new pictures very soon. I have a lovely small top hat almost finished.!

Head Candy

Here's two more designs ready to sell on my shop at what I always wanted online with lots of other designs in various colours. These two are both on a silk headband which is easy to wear. With lots of lovely hand made items to view it's well worth a visit to what I always wanted.

Felt Hat Tweed Suit

This felt hat I have made for a bride who will be wearing the most glorious tweed suit from Liberty Freedom in a couple of weeks. It has a cut out pattern across the brim and is edged with dupion silk. Above a softly folded crown is trimmed with a silk tie and buckle.The brim sweeps across the right eyebrow and it's worn with a hat elastic to keep it perfect position.
Wow will she look good.!

Winter Headwear

We all wish winter wouldn't come around so soon but there is always the plus of winter dressing.
Hats always come in handy when it's cold especially if you have to wait for a bus or train on your way to and from work.
I am busy making lots of winter hats, like the felt cloche above and the simple cord beret with a vintage buckle and as it's time for pulling out your warmer coat, why not add a great looking hat.
Here in the u.k. we have been promised a week of warmer weather but you can never tell till you wake up.

Autumn felts

As autumn pulls closer I am now working more with warmer fabrics, and although I still have the last of my summer weddings this weekend, one of my window displays is of a little felt 40's inspired hat worn with a hat elastic and trimmed in Liberty of London tana lawn cotton print.

I have used a vintage buckle to create a tail of fabric that spills out over the eye.

Liberty tana lawn is so fine it's almost like silk and so will drape very well on any base.

I am making lots of new pill box hats and everyday cloches ready for those cooler days ahead.

Pink hat and cupcakes

Bridal shoots always look great and this one is no exception. Courtesy of Shelly at Toast here you see a very British 1960's wedding.

I made the pink felt hat which was very bright but perfect for the photographs, and even though it was a cold January day there was nothing dull about this wedding.

From the bouquet to the cupcakes it all looked fab.

To Block a Cloche

The CLOCHE is one of my favorite hat shapes. This grey felt cloche with a flower trim is blocked as a one piece instead of a crown and a brim.

The crown block is pushed down inside the brim block as the last picture shows.

Sounds tricky but with a little patience you can produce a really lovely shape.

Once the felt is taken off the block you can then steam the brim wider, then trim into any shape you desire.

A brim reed is stitched around the brim edge to keep it in shape.

Model Magic

Here is the very beautiful Grace who has been modeling for me today, so I now have a few more pictures for my new website.
A new web site seems a great idea then you realize how much work they take.!
However I am getting there as they say, so hopefully very soon I will be able to show off my new hats in all their glory.

Softly folded cream felt

I am often asked what type or style of hat do I like to wear? Well this is it simple,strong clean lines and holds it's own amongst the bigger hats.
This is the second hat for the exhibition in Manchester's platt Hall.
I went there on Thursday and it was so beautiful inside as it has just been lovingly renovated.
Made from peach bloom felt,wire and vintage buttons my hat is so simple but very striking.The cut out piece with inserted wire helps the edge to tilt upwards.
Simplicity is often the best recipe.
Let me know what you think.?

Royal Flush

This Royal Blue felt hat has been hand sculptured into shape and then machine sewn to create a dome.To keep the edge firm I have sewn in brim reed.
Shell buttons have been sewn on both sides adding detail and shine.
It sits easily on the head and can be worn any way you choose just keep turning for a new style.

It's been so cold here that everyone has needed a warm hat,even the self proclaimed NON Hat wearers, so last two weeks in the shop have been BUSY.

Felt is such a great material to work with.Just steam and shape, well just about.!