And The Mad Duchess Created Yet Another Hat On the Seventh Day...

Instead of resting her little tushie in the Telly Room! I had one of those weeks where I needed a model shot to send off my MIMC submission (because I did not read the fine print), and I wanted to squeeze in a few extra hats, since she made the whole trip over to the studio! (I always feel bad if she isn’t here for at least two-hours work.) So there I was rushing my “Blue Collection” and in the end, I was still short two hats. Oh well. That’s how the hat bounces. The Blue Collection you say? I just decided to call my new collection Blue because it’s basically all the colors that spoke to me the last few weeks, and it just happens to be Resort Season as well, which tends to be many shades of blue. I have two lovelies done, and two more on the hopper that’s nearly ready.

I was itching to do another button hat, and since receiving some new silks lately…I just had to. I am feeling a little addicted now, because buttons (or fascinators) are probably my most favorite things to make. I especially love fabric covered ones that can double as a cocktail piece. So here’s my latest Henrietta! It’s a little modern, a little vintage, a little steampunk!!!

If you followed my Instagram post in November, I dug out all the flowers from my previous projects and finished them for future pieces. The gold silks on Henrietta are exactly those loose petal pieces collecting dust in my flower drawer. I used them as buds, but really they are stamen (buds) inside a larger crinoline flower, but okay you could call it a basket. The whole flower inside a flower idea was my fascination with things that fit inside each other in unusual ways.

How about that blue checked corded silk huh? B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!!!! Unfortunately, I only acquired a couple yards of this lusciousness. I might have enough to squeeze out one more of these hats. I will refrain from stocking too much yardage of the same fabric so as to keep each piece “limited” for my pretty clients.

My second piece to highlight here is my Grace wool crown in navy and silver pearls. Just beautiful and Madonna like, She couldn’t be named anything else but Grace. Photographing her in anything other than a black background made her lose her pearls and gentle arch. This crown shape is very popular in the UK, and although I have had this block since April of last year, it’s only been touched by Grace now.

Pieces on my studio table include a leather fascinator, and a very fun sequin piece that should be worn for many evenings past New Year’s Eve. Who says the party has to end right? I am inspired by sequin! I know it might feel off season, but really anything shiny is truly season-less no? YES!!!!! So sparkle here I come!

On a housekeeping note, did you notice that my website has a new homepage? I am not sure why I did not think of this before, but it’s certainly much nicer to land on before moving onto the gallery, which used to be my homepage. I have also added a few nice things like direct links on my new highlighted hats to my ETSY shop. All these small, small changes, took up lots, and lots of time. I also do all my shipping, receiving, packing, sales, online management, photography, editing, writing, and general errand lady and tea maker. You name it. I do it. It’s true, I wear many hats around here.

Lately, I have also been inspired by other handmade goods. The idea of adding small accessories and home goods have crossed my mind more than once. I stumbled across another milliner’s site in the UK who makes more than just hats. She owns a brick and mortar shop and crafts delightful gifts. The women in my family are great crafters of one thing or another. So I guess it is in my DNA. This means I am not going to be able to help myself and a draw line with just hats. But honestly, no one is going to wear my knitted garments except my husband, and that’s because he doesn’t have the heart to say no.

I am showing her with my model Stevie wearing a tie because I cropped the funky tie from my main shots, but I think it’s quirky and fun!

Grace in navy blue felt.