Hand Blocked Sinamay Beret

 

 

 

 Sinamay is not really one of my favourite hat making materials, but it comes in so many amazing colours which makes life easy when trying to find a particular shade to work with. This is one of my favourites blocks, a beret block that I had made to my design.After blocking the sinamay using 3 layers I have sewn brim reed to stabilise the inner edge and then lined it in dupion silk.I also added a hat elastic to keep it in place.
The stiffened silk petals are all cut by hand then hot irons are used to curl the edges. Finally beads and crystals were sewn to create a centre and hey presto you have a hat.!

Nappa Leather Cocktail Hat

 

 

Last week a lovely lady called Helen came to join in all the sewing activity in the workroom. She was keen to make something with a vintage feel and so I set her to work with some lovely nappa leather, veiling, freshwater pearls and silk.
Although a little challenging at times, she soon got the hang of some millinery trickery and here is the finished piece. Great job don't you think.? Next week it will be a different set of ingredients.! Then she will be back to university to finish her BA but intends to visit us again when she has more time.

The Macmillan Coffee Mug Hat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After holding a Macmillan Coffee morning last year I really wanted to try and help much more this time as a very close friend had lost her husband to Prostate cancer in January leaving two wonderful little boys. So I asked the Macmillan team if they thought a hat might cause a few raised eyebrows and hopefully a few extra raised coffee mugs.
Viki who works as a fund raising manager in Calderdale for Macmillan came to visit me at the shop and together we hatched a plan. Last Saturday I went along to a Macmillan event where actress Lucy Jo Hudson kindly modelled the hat for us.Hopefully you will see Lucy and the coffee mug hat in quite a few newspapers leading up to the September events. Below you will see the making of the coffee mug hat with it's fresh coffee bean trim.I will be hosting another coffee morning on Friday the 28th Sept here in the workroom at the hat shop, so pop in for coffee if you live close enough, but you can really help by just popping on your kettle and inviting a few friends for coffee. Contact Macmillan and ask them how.

Bridal silk Emeralds and sparkle

 

 

I was so happy today as the sun shone very brightly for the bride wearing this emerald beaded silk headpiece.
Her dress was a sheath of emerald satin backed silk 1930's style, the beads were a perfect match and I have sewn them onto the silk cap to create a brooch. Little swarovski crystals in between and on the veil gave it just the right amount of sparkle.The cap I made from sinamay then covered with a smooth ivory silk.
Can't wait to see the wedding pictures.