Making headway

It's here!! The sunshine is here!! Well, perhaps not that much sunshine today, but there is a distinct lack of snow, ice and the North Wind, so I'm calling it. With this in mind, and because I'm (hopefully) hosting a table at a local Ladies' Night event (details tbc), I have made some strident headway with a proper S/S2013 Collection!

I have also learned a valuable lesson: it's really a lot easier to get a collection on the go for a specific audience - from designing to styling to pricing to business planning, a bit of focus seems to have made a significant difference! (Does everyone else find this too!?)

Anyway, as a result I have made great progress this week:

 






Laced Up #1: Oversized navy 'tangled' sinamay flower

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Laced Up #2: Oversized cream 'tangled' sinamay flower

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Strawberries & Cream: Pink sinamay button with 'tangled' cream bow

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Blossom: Hessian button with cerise silk velvet and dupion flower, with chocolate merry widow veiling

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I have also made the somewhat obvious but nonetheless executive decision to become a walking advert for my millinery ventures, and will now endeavour to wear a hat whenever I'm out and about. Once again, a specific brief (not-to-extravagant-to-wear-with-jeans-but-must-be-originally-chic-and-have-a-personality-more-of-a-headpiece-but-definitely-more-than-a-hairband) made the design and creation very easy.

 Lola: Black felt origami rose with shot silk dupion leaves

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And finally, I took a deep breath, crossed my fingers, and submerged the piano into a bowl of warm water...and it blooming worked!!! It's still a little damp (and so not on Bessie's head!) but I love the effect! There will definitely be further Aquafilm Adventures :)

Elton: What do you get if you cross a grand piano with a doodle and a spider's web...?

And last but by no means least, I may be a day late this week but it does mean you get the pick of the bunch over at the Handmade Monday craftster blogs! Enjoy my dears, and I'll see you next week!