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).
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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!!!)
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(With Bessie in Coco Rose and Norah at Susan Graley's, I'm headless this week! Dad's woodworking skills saved the day yet again with his hand turned hat stands - thanks Dad!) |
| All Tied Up: Grey fur felt Forties style perching beret with pleated tie dressing |
| I've also started a British racing green felt hat on my favourite big bubble block and dipped brim. I've been inspired by a deep East to West brim straw hat from my mood boards, so I'm trying a similar style in luxorious felt. The brim block hasn't been used for a while and the results were fairly predictable...! Still, it'll all be worth it in the end - updates to follow next week! | 
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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 :)
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Champagne: White sinamay button with bead bubbles,
lined in white silk dupion
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!
