Almost famous!

Many, many, many, moons ago I entered the 2012 Felt Makers Design Award 2012, a hat competition held in the Uk.   I did not win nor did I get placed BUT then I was told a photo of my hat was in this quarters Hat Magazine.

I am so excited I felt like I won a little!

So here is me feeling silly in my ears!

ps my classmate Rosie did get placed she won the craftsman ship prize for her beautiful hat (its the arched shaped hat with felt flowers stitched into the curve above my bunny ears)

lazy lazy lazy

Its September.  Time to get back to work....

I have been playing about with the Hydrangeas that grow my garden. The shape of the flower is something I keep coming back to.

This will be work in progress nothing too exciting to report yet but watch this space

Summer hat project.

tulle pom pom

 

scooter in straw

I can't even remember when we started this project. Initially I struggled as summer fabrics for hats tends to be sinamay... I no likey! Until I discovered straw.
I have only completed three hats but I could so much further with this one...... better keep the ideas for next time!

feathers line the inside of the peak

FYI milliners

http://www.customfittedhat.net/customfittedhat01.php

How to Make Hats Website by Ruby Carnahan

Crownless Brim Hat Made Of Chicken Wire Net

Material Required:

3 yds chicken wire (wide width)
4 1/2 yds. velvet tubing
2 bunches lilacs
1 velvet head size clip
1 pkg. glue on rhinestones
3 yds. 1" satin back velvet ribbon
Sizing and narrow head band ribbon

I found this while tinkering about with my journals for college.  

Really interesting if your all about making hats.  

Not the prettiest of websites but it does what it sets out to do. It has a great deal of information for those keen to make hats or brush up on their skills. 

From techniques and how to's.  Also if you are stuck for the actual names of your creations get looking!

Revamping a polystyrene Mannequin

Sadly the lovely American Graffiti shop in Manchester has closed it large shop.  I bought a number of their old display polystyrene heads.

heads in a bin liner

using PVA and water I covered the head with brown paper

The heads were really shabby and needed perking up so my first experiment was a success (well I am happy with the results)

isn't she pretty

So now I have a head to use for displays.  I am toying spraying the face with a matt white spray paint or adding a few details to the face (starved for time so probably not).

When I picked up the heads they had been customised with the use of a felt tip pen, some of this detail bled through the paper and actually it looks pretty good.

Rinko Kawauchi

Several years ago I was trying to find a gift for my sister in Magma.  Flicking through books I picked up a small white slender book.  The front cover  image was of small section of a womans beautiful face a stray hair  caught in the light.

Finding this book was a turning point for me, I finally began to see myself as an artist.
I bought the book for myself which is very naughty I know, but somehow I think its relevance in my life  releases me from the bad gift buying practice.

Rinko Kawauchi's 'The eyes, the Ears'.  Rinko Kawauchi's images are of her day to day life with her family.  Simple ordinary family events that do normally even register are captivating: simple, delicate, fragile, perhaps the most precious. Occasionally she captures the extraordinary moments all families experience in their own little private worlds from birth through to death.

I remain humbled.

Rinko Kawauchi has several books in print, and a beautiful blog. Check it.

http://www.rinkokawauchi.com/

http://www.foiltokyo.com/gallery/artists/rinkokawauchieg.html

my first post

I have been re/searching. Inspired and empowered by my millinery course this blog is a way for me to construct and focusing on: things I do, things I find, people, fashion, beauty.
First up  Mod fashion has partly inspired my latest hat project. I found these delicious images and beautifully pieced together film  by Dean Chalkley,  photographer/ filmmaker.

What grabs me isn't just the imagary.  Its the focus of the photos and film, the beautiful faces their attitude.

'The New Faces' is a documentary showcasing the continuing popularity of the sixties-born youth cult. A study of eight Mods bound together by a shared passion for smart dressing, rare soul, socialising and dancing. 

http://showstudio.com/project/the_new_faces