Well, I've done it! Thanks to some excellent networking and encouragement by clients and friends of friends (or both!), my hats are in the windows of three of Warwick's most beautiful shops! First of all, I made a deep crimson version of Rose Between Two Thorns for the ever chic Coco Rose (but failed to take a picture in the ensuing excitement!). Lady Rachael is currently residing in the understated but uber cool Fascino Style, and Circus and Elton are showing off the in the Hollywood window display at the beautiful MOTB boutique, I Do (to celebrate Warwick Rocks Film & Food Festival).

Fascino and I Do are also going to help by offering a hiring service for the more extravagant designs - It Takes All Sorts and Three For A Wedding are also sunning themselves on the front counter in a nest of business cards and post cards! Huge thanks to Mary and Eleri for the introductions, and of course to the shop owners for their support too!

The shops are of course looking forward to Autumn / Winter trends already, and so must I... Grey is set to feature significantly this season, and I remembered a 1940's style bubble beret I blocked with Rose earlier this year but hadn't got around to dressing  yet. I've been dying to use the silk ties from my charity shop haul a couple of months ago, and this art deco print lent itself to a pleated plume perfectly. As always, I want to keep it (at least I'm consistent!), but it's hopefully destined for a Warwick window in the next couple of weeks (fingers crossed!!!)

As always, it's also been a fortnight of multitasking, and I finished off the white beaded sinamay button from the last post. I've so pleased with how it turned out - a shell edged lining takes a little longer, but I think it's always worth it, and the stitch is my favourite in my millinery arsenal :)

Champagne: White sinamay button with bead bubbles,
lined in white silk dupion

Back to a temp's life tomorrow, so if like me, you'll need a morning coffee break, head over to Handmade Monday and indulge yourself :) See you in a couple of weeks!

It's wedding season! I know this because my Facebook newsfeed is full of photos of friends of friends' weddings, and more importantly because I have had TWO orders in the last fortnight! Woop! I've also been working on the beginnings of a bridal collection...

I thought I'd left my deadline days back in The City, but it turns out I still get a kick out of a rapid turnaround, and frankly it's a lot more fun working under pressure when it's something you enjoy doing! Thank goodness for the S/S Collection - not only does it help customers to choose if they're not sure exactly what they're after, but it's so much faster to complete a new order when the design element of the hat is complete and it's just a matter of tweaking the existing template!

The first commission was a five day turnaround - Becky wanted Laced Up #1 in cream tangled sinamay with some additional feathers to style into her outfits for two separate weddings.

The second wedding is in the States, so those photos to follow next time, but for those of you flying to weddings in fairer plains wondering whether or not to hat, it would seem that carrying a chic hat box may significantly increase your chances of an upgrade ;) (And I suspect a baby bump probably also helps!!) ;)

The subtle sparkle makes it pretty versatile season-wise I think, I can imagine this little hat being just as at home on a winter bride as a summer one. Just the silk lining to do and it's ready for its close up! Completed photos to follow next time!

Daisy Daisy has been on display in Susan Graley's gorgeous bridal boutique for 6 weeks, so it was time to ring the changes. This nude silk and white sinamay button is simple but chic, and is currently in pride of place in the window :)

Finally, if you're stuck inside in this rather unwelcome rain this evening, why not pop over to Handmade Monday and see what everyone else is up to.

See you in a fortnight kids, who knows what colour my fingers will be by then..!!