Teal Velvet Headband

This is such a sensational colour you can see more photo's here

New Silk Velvet Bows

This is vintage velvet in an amazing hot raspberry colour....unfortunately I have already run out but (!) this belt looks so good I couldn't resist showing you.

Teal Vintage Velvet Headband

Hand made by me for you ! Vintage Teal Velvet in the most divine colour - just look at the sheen - I have just found this vintage velvet and I am obsessed with it...look at how beautiful it looks made up. Buy it here.

New Summer Garden Belt

Some scenes from my studio...bit messy!

So here is my studio and some production photo's - this is actually quite tidy as I just had a big clean up. I like to have my ribbons within reach and love how they look all together. I have my velvet ribbons in drawers all colour coded (until I mess it all up!) Tissue paper is on the windows to stop the sun getting in my eyes in summer but as it is winter you will note that although it is only 5.30pm in the afternoon already we have lost the light. I have had daylight fluro lights installed and after they came and did the installation I could not stop looking at the palm of my hand as I could not believe the difference it made everything is so much clearer. I have taken a photo from the shop looking into my studio and as you can see I have the perfect position to see and hear customers coming in and am always working at my desk with one eye out for customers. The baby gate is for....my two dogs Ruby (on the left) and Teddy - they often come to work with me. They spend the whole day pretending to be in jail and trying to get someone to release them. I love the size (my blocks are in the back room and a large storage area as well) of my studio and the natural light from two four big windows is unbeatable - no excuse but to create.

Vintage Felt

Nice little vintage felt that EVERYONE loves, love what a stylist has done with this little grey felt we lent her for her portfolio....divine.

Feather Hairclips and Headbands

Some more new styles ready to go...I love my 'birdwing hairclip' if I must say so myself (!) - I also made one for a customer this week and I think the natural colours are so inspirational.

How to Make a Sun Hat in Vintage Straw

and the end result the hat for sale in my shop - if you would like to see this hat being made scroll down to see the process, click here if you would like to buy

This hat is going to give the wearer a nice flattering filtered light through the soft coloured vintage straw.

and the label goes in at center back (students take note) and ALWAYS straight AND by hand.

I stitched the head band on the outside top and bottom as I wanted it flush against the hat - the effect is a little puffy which would normally drive me mad but I am willing to put up with it due to the soft straw.

Tie tacking at various places so the velvet ribbon stays where I want it to.

Turning back the edges of the velvet ribbon and stitching them so that the ribbon is not cut flush - trying not to pull the tread too tight which is tricky on such a soft open straw.

Another spin in front of the mirror as next time I see this hat it will be on a customers head and I want to make sure that it all looks good to my eye BEFORE then as by the time it's on a head it's too late! In this photo you can see the effect of the big self turn edge on the straw I was talking about.

Gathering the ends of the velvet so they can tuck under and will be hidden.

Just checking the 'look' in the mirror, one of several checks I will do throughout the trimming.

On to my poupee and the start of something interesting in the trim. I like the mix of textures between the straw and the velvet also the colours are good together - all important for a great hat.

I always stop and have a good look at this stage to see all is as symmetrical as possible. As much as this this type of straw will allow. At various stages I also look at the reflection of the hat I am making and you will see photo's of me looking at the reflection as this always gives me the opposite view and lets you see the symmetry in stages as I am making. I have always worked in front of a mirror for this purpose - NOT to check my lipstick (!) as some have suggested (!)....

Start with the head fitting as this can be very handy to hang onto while you are trimming the rest of the hat. In this instance I have chosen to stitch it on the machine which I don't always do but as this straw is flimsy it can benefit by being machine sewn as this will make it more stable and hard wearing. Make sure that the back join is at the back. NOTE: a lesson here for my students as someone always starts the head fitting at the side or the front !! Always choose the EXACT same colour cotton as the head fitting ribbon. Pinned in place I then sewn on the trusty vintage Singer, my only sewing machine. My sewing machine is from the 1950's and is an excellent straight sewer with a very even stitch length and she will sew any fabric.

I have had this vintage hood for ages (15 years!) and finally got around to dying it (it was hideous bright yellow and pale pink at the edges) and was blocking it up and thought I would share the process with you. I hope to not bore you with too many details but there are lots of tiny processes in the creation of this type of hat and they kind of all have to come together to get this beautiful effect. My hats often start as a vague idea and I have a fairly flexible idea of how I want them to end up - they evolve. This type of straw is a beauty in itself and very little is needed to enhance the effect. I trimmed it with the last of my favorite colour of velvet ribbon really just to use up the roll (so I have an excuse to get another roll !). It is a glorious colour and think it suits the vintage straw - I ended up with this great taupe straw colour by dying the straw and ended with this colour mostly by accident but LOVE it ! One of my students calls me the 'queen of bows' (!) and I must admit to liking the effect a well structured bow has on a hat. I also like the turned edge on this straw as this type of 'fancy crin' hood is more often than not weak around the edges and looks better to my eye if you turn it back on itself onto a sturdy wire to create a wide self edge as I have done here. Any questions ? happy to answer any questions you may have.