Another crazy couple of weeks with The New Job - the good news is that a) I think I'm enjoying it now (phewf!) and b) the silver fur button beret is well underway and providing regular sanity. What on earth would I do without hats! (Don't answer that - it's not a viable option!)

This week I discovered that even though I may never use my beloved bonnet blocks for their true purpose, their irregular curves are a milliner's best friend! My current project is based on Hilda, the peaked raffia button with blue orchids - the peak on this hat occurred entirely by accident in a folding / pleating experiment, and so whilst I knew I could repeat it on felt, I wasn't 100% settled on how I would achieve it... Victorian blocks to the rescue! Christine's royal hat should be assembled by the weekend and ready for a generous scattering of pearls :)

In other (somewhat loosely) hat related updates, I've started preparations for my 30th (yikes) birthday party with some enormous crepe paper origami roses and my clever Dad's knocking up a new donut brim block to complement my party hat - which actually will use on of the Victorian brethren for its crown (once I've fixed the chip!) Quadruple yay!! (<< Party / new block / ACTUAL Victorian blocked hat - which counts as two!!) And because I forgot to take a photo of the en route brim block, here is also a gratuitous nail photo - partly chipped through blocking and gardening...

This week's Handmade Monday's creative kernels are just here, and I'll see you next time! x

NEWS FLASH! Last week, I received a call from a stranger who I am now delighted to be able to call my latest client! She needs a hat to wear to receive her MBE (no seriously) from Buckingham Palace in October. I am Beyond Excited! I have offered to make her a dress completely made out of my business cards, but ultimately it didn't go with the hat that we'd just designed to go with her MBE-receiving outfit. You win some you lose some I guess! ;)

The ever reliable and super helpful Parkin Fabrics delivered my order the very next day, and as you know already I LOVE getting post - this was a bumper box :) I also ordered about a mile of buckram (my best frenemy block used up my previous supply. Selfish.), and some wool felts for a wild weekend of winter floppy hatting with my bestie in Bristol at the end of next month. There will be photos! (Mad: Loving the Moonstone! I went for Russet. Tres autumnal I think you'll agree.) :)

I've had to take a permanent job again (hence the *ahem* missed blog last fortnight - apologies) so hatting is both my escape from reality and an evenings and weekends activity again for now. Boo hiss. I was worried that hatting to deadline under 9-5 pressure would suck the fun out of it, but nothing can take the joy out of this showstopper for the most glamorous MOTB I've hatted to date! I'm so pleased with the elegance of this one, and I love how the sprials look like they're blowing in the wind even though they're securely attached! It's all boxed up and awaiting Jacqui's final fitting - I literally cannot wait for the wedding photos!

What a weekend! An amazing wedding on Friday (congratulations again Katy & Arno!) and a super fun London hen do yesterday before the tres glamorous wedding next week! As a result I have been very busy finishing and fitting happy hats for such happy occasions; it's been mental and brilliant and I think I might be broken!

First up, I conquered the new buckram brim block at last! After spending so much time together, we've decided to put our differences aside and be friends! And thank goodness - because look at my wedding hat! Love it! Even if I do say so myself (which I do!) :P Quite a few creations were out on loan and there were even a couple of previous commissions on show. It's so nice to see my hats out enjoying themselves in the sunshine as they were intended to do! (And look at Katy's beautiful dress!)

The orange rose percher was delivered this week too - photos to follow of the whole glorious ensemble in the next blog, as Jess & David's wedding is next weekend! No hat for me this time: even better - I'm a bridesmaid! Exciting!!

And so, after so many deadlines and frankly a little too much excitement for a single weekend. I have a long overdue date with my duvet! The Handmade Monday crew are still going strong so head on over for a nosey at the creative adventures this week too :) See you in two weeks!

Evening all! So I've finally been driven back to temping, which is a) great, because despite earning minimum wage I've now stopped dreaming about not having enough money, and b) quite stresseful because I have less than two weeks to finish a block, two hats and three flower girls' headbands in my 'leisure' (what's that?) time, and then another three weeks to finish the other MOTB showstopper. Yikes!! I'm taking the drip feed approach of having a needle and thread in my hands at pretty much all times when I'm not entering almost illegible data (#yay.) and I'm pleased to report: so far, so good! Thank god there are roses involved - it is scientifically proven that silk roses make Ellie a happy girl :)

And finally, I was in lovely Yorkshire this weekend - when the promised heatwave didn't materialise (rude) we spent a rainy but happy afternoon in the Castle Museum :) Imagine my delight when we discovered a milliner's on the recreated Victorian street!! Amazing! :D Even th hat stands are ornate! My kinda place ha! :)

And so I'm off back to my trusty thimble, see you in a couple of (hopefully sunny!) weeks and pop over to Handmade Monday in the meantime. TTFN my dears! :) x

Next up, latest progress on one of the MOTB commissions - this has taken waaaaay longer than it should on account of having to use some of my blocks rather imaginatively, but it's exactly how I want it at the end of a very frustrating but ultimately satisfying couply of days!

It's the fun bit now - embroidery, abstract silk flowers and feathers! I can't wait to crack on :) (I should add that I've cut off the sketch of the final design - I don't want to steal this very stylish lady's thunder, she's going to look blummin awesome!)

Glastonbury action shots as promised! I had an absolute (muddy) ball with a totally amazing group of long lost friends, and now I need a holiday ha! ;)

So, that's it for this week! As ever, pop over to Handmade Monday and see what everyone's been up to. See you in a fortnight! x

This week - weddings and festivals!

Firstly, call me old fashioned, but I LOVE getting post, and especially any post that is even remoptely related to hats! In part because of this, and in part because every time I enter the shop in person I'm incapable of leaving without being several metres of silk heavier and a good £50 lighter (but it's all so beautiful!), this time I ordered from my favourite Broadwick Silks by phone.

All the silks are for my tried and tested / obsessively beloved silk roses: the ivory for me for Katy and Arno's August wedding, and the orange and purple for the two MOTB hats I'm working on.

[Another NB: Jacqui if you're reading this, don't worry about the smudges - it's normal on buckram blocks, I promise, and your hat will be pure Emperor purple!!]

And with that I'm off to make a list of lists I need to write (and then do - yikes!) before I go. If you need a creative fix whilst I'm glasto-gallavanting then there's no better place for a browse than Handmade Harbour's Handmade Monday. See you in a couple of weeks! x