Feathers, feathers, feathers---

Feathers are just fabulous.   They are so versatile ..and can be used for any season hat making.   I had the opportunity to attend a master class  recently where we learnt so many ways that you can cut, steam, shape, cut , curl and twist feathers .An absolute feather frenzy.

Summer Hat Festival - Caussade France

Chateau Dumas is a wonderful place to get creative in France.  This year I was able to travel to France and participate in a week long millinery workshop.  Just as exciting is the annual Hat Festival.

Each Summer in France in the village of Caussade and Septfond there is a hat festival.  Part of the celebrations include a competition for milliners.  Entries come from all over the world.  I had booked in to do a Bridal Headwear workshop with the wonderful Dillon Wallwork at Chateau Dumas.  I thought it would be fun to enter some hats into the competition - just to see them in amongst all other hats from everywhere.

The celebration includes a fair and street entertaintment.  It creates a real carnival atmosphere.

There were some amazing pieces submitted in each of the competition categories.

 

There it is....



Me and my hat on the other side of the world.



Here's the other one - from Australia to France

Learn Millinery

I have just completed a four day millinery workshop with Master Milliner - Neil Grigg.  Neil is from Sydney and travelled to Rockhampton in Queensland to conduct this workshop.

Check out Neil's website - just beautiful.  http://www.neilgriggmillinery.com/

Just a shed in the backyard but what amazing and creative things came out of this shed over the last four days.

The wonderful thing about Neil's workshop is that you make what you want.  There were 8 in the class and we each made at least 3 pieces in the four days.  Each piece so different but all absolutely amazing.  Here are some photos.

The orchid pattern is cut from the brim of a capeline

Neil Grigg - manipulating parisisal to make a flower.

Flower being placed on headpiece

  

Another flower made from the brim of a parisisal hood

Check out the studs that just really mix up this piece .

This colour is just amazing - it is a velour felt.

There was even an opportunity to make  bridal headpieces

Black and white is always such a classic - a luscious red silk dupioni bow is the best way to complete this.

What a charming little cocktail hat.

Silk Abaca - such a wonderful colourful and just wonderful to manipulate into sculptural pieces.

The beginning of the guipure lace headpiece.



Guipure headpiece now finished.

So pretty - lace - pleated crin and black roses.