I am delighted to write to let you have a short update on the remaining summer fairs, as well as what I have been busy working on since my last post!
In a few days time I will be taking a curated selection of millinery and millinery accessories along to my next fair at The Creighton Hall (10-4) on Sunday 11th August at Embleton NE66 3UP, followed by spending August Bank Holiday weekend at the stunning Ayton Castle TD14 5RD, where I am involved in the three days art fair across which runs across the entire holiday weekend.
The Embleton event will concentrate on a carefully selected collection of individual crafts people, whilst at the stunning and rarely open to the public Ayton Castle, TD14 5RD, you will mainly work being shown by fine artists, from both sides of The Borders. Refreshments will be available at the respective locations and whilst Embleton has the extra draw of the beach, Ayton Castle even has its own miniature railway running in the grounds!
I am also involved with an exciting fashion show launch at Alnwick Castle that is taking place in mid-August, where I have created headpieces that will be featured on the catwalk. You can read more about the young designer who has masterminded the collection, Meg Fletcher, and the inspiration behind it, in this recent editorial featured in The Northumberland Gazette.
In early July I gave a talk on my millinery career to date at the very welcoming Northumberland Craster WI. I took along lots of samples for the assembled audience to look at, so I was delighted when Craster WI audience was very interested in my work, asking lots of questions, both about the designs themselves, the method and style of making as well as the history of hats too.
Heald, one of my exhibition pieces, is one of the headpieces that generated the most interest at Craster. Heald, seen above, is a stunning architectural piece made from discarded heald wires. If Heald has piqued your interest to hear more about my millinery journey, and if you would enquire about my availability to deliver a talk to a group you are involved with, please do get in touch.
Meanwhile last weekend I was at the spectacular Brancepeth Castle, Co Durham, attending their Craft Fair for the first time, where it was my piece Audrey, that attracted a lot of attention.
Audrey features a large ivory pinopok picture brim (pinopok is a type of sinamay weave) set on a matching bandeau style headband, trimmed with a luxurious black cotton trim, that seems to float on the brim’s translucent crin extension.
As almost everyone commented that this piece reminded them of Audrey Hepburn, it appears that the name I have given this piece is very appropriate!
By way of contrast – here is a collage of images showing a piece that I made for a guest who was attending a wedding, in July.
Eleanor, an understated curved and wired halo (£50) can be made in any colour and texture – including straw, sinamay or felt. The halo can also be left untrimmed (as shown) or decorated, from £75 upwards. In this case, the client chose to let her dress “do the talking” and opted for a simple undecorated halo in Viva Magenta sinamay.
This style of halos is part of my Ready to Wear collection, available in a wide range of colours, textures and trimming options. The collection of Eleanor halos are always featured at the events I attend when showing my hats and headpieces. This means you can purchase your very own “Eleanor” on the day, and take “her” away with you, from the event itself. Of course there is always the option to commission your very own halo, too, and I will be delighted to help you choose your colourway and trim, in person, at one of my events or subsequently during a personal consultation.
So if the Eleanor halo headband shape is of interest, you will find a selection of designs on display on my stands at both Embleton’s Creighton Hall on August 11th, and again at the stunning Ayton Castle over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Another piece attracting lots of comments at Brancepeth Castle was Matilda.
Matilda reflects the current interest in couture halo style headpieces and is an exuberant champagne concoction of silk, satin and velvet oversized roses all set on a very wide padded satin covered wired headband.
Suitable for a special occasion, MOB, MOG or for even for next year’s Ascot, as it meets the dress regulations for the Royal Enclosure, when it was shown at Brancepeth it generated a lot of positive comments!
The Crazy Daisy headpiece and brooch is another design that has featured at recent events, and is made from recycled materials. Over the next few months, I will be running a series of Crazy Daisy workshops teaching you how you can make your very own brooch.
Once you have the skills to make the brooch, the starting point of the Crazy Daisy fascinator-style headpiece, you will be able to continue your creativity later on at home, by making your very own Crazy Daisy headpiece using the add-on kit, which you can buy in advance and collect when attending the brooch class.
The first brooch-making class is arranged for August 6th and later dates for classes are planned – please do get in touch for more details.
And finally as some of you will recall, a selection of effortless head wraps made from Liberty Print Tana Lawn and similar fabrics (£25 each). The headwraps are always well received at events, and along with the Eleanor halos they available when I show my hats and headpieces.
As you will probably recall I just love demonstrating how you tie and knot one of the effortless headwraps, and as many of you now know, they are so comfortable to wear. I will have a full selection of the headwrap designs along with other smaller millinery accessories at the upcoming events that I’m attending.
I hope this post will give you a glimpse into what I’ve been up to over the last few weeks and I look forward to welcoming you at one of the upcoming events!