This week got off to a good start, with a trip to Bath with my studio buddies Nick and Victoria, to see the Royal Women exhibition at the Fashion Museum. On display were dresses and gowns from four recent generations of the British royal family, Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret. For these women it was important to … Read More Royal Women – Queens and Princesses and their dresses
With the promise of spring in the air, last weekend I packed up lots of my sample stock and trundled over to exhibit at WedFest in Cheltenham. It’s a wedding fair with a difference – set in an old barn on a farm in the lovely Cotswold countryside – and as well as showcasing wedding suppliers there’s also food and drink vendors on site … Read More WedFest April 2018
+ Day to day, Makes
This weekend I took a rare Saturday off to visit the Parkin Roadshow in Bristol. Parkin Fabrics are a family firm based in Lancashire. They sell mail order, so the roadshow is a great chance to see lots of millinery materials and supplies up close in real life and quiz the team about any technical issues regarding using them. I also learnt more about … Read More Parkin Roadshow – a sort of convention for Milliners!
After opening our studio at Stafford Mill for the Select Trail for the last 5 years, we took a break in 2015 and enjoyed being tourists and visiting local artists and craftsmen for a change. But in May 2016 I decided to join in again and took the opportunity to exhibit at Atelier Stroud, along with Heloise of Pink Frazada, Heather Haskins (Atelier’s resident seamstress), Francesca … Read More Guest Exhibiting at Atelier for Select 2016
+ Day to day, Makes
Way back in April last year my friend Nick of Leto & Ariadne approached me about working together as part of the Two Make collaboration project organised by the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen (of which Nick is a member) and the University of Exeter. So, at this point I should mention that I have known Nick for about 20 years, we met on the … Read More Two Make – What happens when a milliner and weaver work together?
I have lived in Stroud for 10 years now, and feel very lucky to have settled in such a beautiful, vibrant and creative area. Nearly everyone you bump into is an artist or maker of some sort, or closely related to one. There is a strong history of the textile industry with many old weaving and spinning mills, often built by the river Frome … Read More Creativity in the Stroud Valleys
Way back in September I visited a place I’d wanted to see for a while……continuing on from the colour theme as it’s somewhere that colour takes centre stage. Portmeirion Village was the vision of one man, Clough Williams-Ellis, and was built between 1925 – 1976, using a mixture of historical buildings and monuments, many of which were rescued from demolition in their original settings, so … Read More Colour me Beautiful
I remember when I was younger seeing knitting patterns and tapestry kits for these amazing, colourful designs by an American guy with a funny name……when I went on to do textiles at school he popped up again in reference books and source material…… he was well regarded and influential, and continues to be so now, at the age of 77! He is a world … Read More Vibrancy of Colour
The last few months have been focused on making new bridal pieces for the Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair. So focussed in fact that as I packed up the new stock at the studio I just kept finding more and more of it, pieces that I’d made and had then melted into the background as my workbench turned into a creative frenzy of sinamay fascinator … Read More A day out at the Zoo…for Bristol Vintage Wedding Fair
For the last few weeks I have gone back to school….every Wednesday I have been attending a Millinery course at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester. Along with my fellow students (all women, average age around 50…) I’ve been learning how to block simple cocktail hats and fascinator bases, how to stiffen and finish them, and how to make head bands with millinery wire. I … Read More Learning Curve
Firstly, Happy New Year to you all, and thanks for your support and encouragement throughout 2013. It’s been a while since I last wrote anything on here. The last few months have been a busy time, with lots of stock and orders to make for Christmas. The Flapper style headbands have been selling well through As Long as it Sparkles, my stockist in Stow-on-the-Wold, … Read More Farewell 2013…..and hello 2014!
I’m a little bit nervous. I foolishly agreed to do two fairs this weekend. Yes, two days in a row, setting up and taking down my stand and beautifully displayed stock, all day spent on my feet…….I feel tired just thinking about it! I’ve been busy making new stock, finalising new designs, and juggling two current bridal commissions and two orders from stockists! (It’s … Read More Two by Two
Cotswolds milliner designing bespoke hats, fascinators & hair accessories 