Tag: straw

Exciting Times!

I can honestly say that 2017 has been a complete whirlwind, and I have really missed taking time-out to reflect on what I’ve been doing.

Between organising the HATstock festival in Stockport, Wear A Hat Day,  a studio move, developing workshops, delivering talks, joining a new crit group, working with bio-fabric, doing courses in flatlay and working with straw as well as meeting my friend Katie’s Alpacas – its been totally full-on!

Thanks to the fantastic Sara Auty of SAZmedia, I also fitted in a photoshoot too! The pic of me in the scarf half-hat / percher is one of hers!

I’ll be sharing what I’ve been up to over the next few weeks and revealing whats to come – no spoilers but I’m working on lots of exciting projects! In the mean-time, get a flavour of the great time we all had at HATstock here.

 

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Straw Cloche day at Atelier Millinery

What a busy week it has been! I went to London last Saturday for a 1 day straw cloche course at Atelier Millinery.  I set off from Stockport and 2.5 hours later I found myself in the beautiful Smiths Court – a quiet little oasis not far from the hustle and bustle of Regent St and Shaftesbury Avenue.

Our tutor for the day, Tina introduced us to our vintage straw cones which had been pre-stiffened and dyed to the colour of our choice in advance. It was a total joy to be gently smoothing and massaging the material instead of using the incredible force needed to block the wool cones I am used to.

It was a lovely day so once we had blocked our straw, we brought the table outside to do our stitching and to enjoy the sunshine.

I learned so many things on the day – the benefits of waxing your thread, not using more than an arms length of thread at a time, how to make a petersham trim and much much more. I am going to have to practice practice practice now so I don’t forget any of these great tips and techniques.  The day was very intense with so much to take in but thanks to Tina’s patience, I did get there and I am really happy with my hat. Here’s to an exciting new world of straw!

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