A June Wedding

Well after the earlier non appearance of any sign of spring these last few weeks have sent the flowers, trees and shrubs into overdrive and it's absolutely glorious everywhere.

wonderful news for all the brides and wedding parties over the last few weekends.

However we have had hay fever hell in our house but eventually the times passes and everybody can breath again.

I am now well into my wedding hat making and race day events plus other fabulous parties that happen in the summer months.

There have been some amazing dresses that I have designed a hat for and these are just a few. 

I am blocking and sewing in every colour you can think of at the moment.

The two classic navy hats were a joy to make and I love trilbies it's one of my favourite hats.

Often I also make a bag to match the hat in many shapes and sizes the paisley silky clutch shape is very popular as it has a wrist strap making it really easy keep hold of it while you have a drink.

So if you are still looking for a hat or a bag get in touch and I will do my best to help.

Chrissie x

A Much Delayed Blog Post

It's been a while since my last blog post and the reason is because I've had a hand injury.

This was self inflicted I'm afraid and a silly thing to do given the fact my hands are so important to my work.

I was jabbing away at something stuck to the side of a container with a pair of closed scissors and of course they slipped and went straight into my hand.

It has healed now but I can still feel it very tender. I couldn't do much for a while and then as soon as I could grip again I was too busy catching up with orders to do anything but sew !

Things has settled back to normal now and the wedding season is up and running. I have made quite a few lovely hats but can't show any of them just yet till after they have been worn. Most ladies like to keep their hats a surprise !

I am also making for Buckingham Palace garden parties plus there's Ascot so it's a busy time in the workroom.

My wedding weekend was all but snowed off but that didn't matter, all the gorgeous things in my windows have helped to inspire my wedding goers and send out all the right messages that I am definitely a great place to come for your upcoming events.

Currently in my windows displays I have a stunning wedding cake from www.kindcake.co  Incredible wedding photography from www.toastofleeds.co.uk 

Fabulous flowers from www.simplybyarrangement.co.uk and beautiful jewellery by www.rachellucie.co.uk

So between us we have all your wedding dilemas covered.

Pop in for advice anytime.

Chrissie x

The Making Of A Cocktail Hat Called Mimosa

It all started with a piece of crin which is a nylon woven fabric that can be twisted into amazing shapes. I like the ability it gives you to extend the width of a smaller base making it light to wear.

After I had sprayed it pale grey I then whipped it into shape and sewed it onto a fine straw button hat which I had blocked earlier.

Next was to start adding the vintage petersham ribbon in grey with a fine black line into the spaces created by the swirls.

Once I was happy with the overall effect I then added a sprinkle of lovely dark grey pearls at the front and a few around the central back.

That left the lining to cut and make and sew into the hat, adding the hat elastic and a little teal braid as an added extra or surprise on the inside. I decided to choose a simple grey cotton lining for this piece.

Now it was just a matter of naming the little hat and of course I though of  a cocktail.

'Mimosa' is now sitting in the shop waiting to be chosen for her first outing. I'm sure she will be whisked off to somewhere glamorous very soon.

Chrissie x

In The Pink

Everyone who knows me well knows that I am personally not a big fan of pink myself but pink always makes a pretty hat and I need pink hats in the shop so with that in mind here is the latest.

It's been teamed with some lovely Tana Lawn Liberty cotton as the lining and trim along with some unusual Italian rubber, which is normally used in jewellery making and then secured to the hat with a single swarovski grey pearl.

The hat is a great shape, strong and simple and I think could be worn with a variety of outfits

So lets see who spots it in the window and decides it's the hat they want to wear.

Always tricky naming a hat unless it's part of a collection but so far there's a choice of  'Santa Rosa'

or  another lady suggested  'Felicity'  I shall ponder for a little while till it comes to me.

On Ya Bike!

 

 

 

 

'A boy a girl and a bike' A classic tale of boy meets girl set in a northern mill town, the girls belonged to a cycling club, the boy 'a posh bloke' knocked one of them off their bike and a romance blossomed.
Shot in 1949 around Huddersfield staring Dorris Day and Honor Blackman this old movie seemed a perfect title to style our own version for a photo shoot especially with the Tour de France passing through town this summer.

 

 

So together with a talented team of people, Debbi the owner of  Hair salon Zeitgeist and myself produced the necessary goods for the occasion. She cut and styled hair and boy can she cut hair, I took care of the head wear and Rachel Lucie made some perfect jewellery .
Hebden Bridge has plenty of opportunities for photographic backdrops but of course getting a great picture requires a little magic. This of course came from the talented lens of Shelly Mantovani of Toast Photography
who quite frankly never seems to take anything other than brilliant shots.
There are lots more photographs which I will pop on the blog soon.
Looks great doesn't it.!

Models  Eve, Jake and Florance.
Make up Aimee aimee@beautycall.co.uk
Jewellery Rachel Lucie
Clothes Amelia and Dynamite 35 Market Street Hebden Bridge
Karen Mills  Finder of props and all round help.

Fenwick's of York Meets Hat Therapy

 

 

Last Saturday I went to York as Fenwick's department store had invited me to take a selection of my work to show to the public as they were hosting a Race day / wedding event for the weekend.
It was a very busy Saturday and I had sales and orders which was wonderful. As you can see I was set up near the downstairs cards, gifts, accessories and Fitflots.! Here's a few pic's of the hats I took with me and my table. It was a great day and I met some really lovely people.