National Hat Day Block Party

It's National Hat Day!

In honour of this august occasion, you wear a hat.

Here's me doing that with a special one I finished recently.

I'm extra proud of this one, because I also made the blocks on which the steamed felt is molded.

I taught myself, too, using glued, stacked layers of styrofoam sheet insulation, and carving them. Real block makers use wood. Would that I had a wood shop, I would, too.

The blocks performed very well!

Millinery is so much better when power tools enter into it somehow. Or at least setting up the Workmate bench. Preferably both. Can't wait to make more!

Grrrr... (power-tool-using growl)

Ada's Wedding

The other day I received an email from a bridal client of last summer. It was the long-awaited professional photos from her wedding. It was like opening a present. Because that's really what it was.

Ada had a distinctive vision for her wedding, bright and colourful. She loves blue and peacock, and that was the theme of the day. The headpiece we imagined together exemplifies this - feathered, layered, bejeweled, and elegant.

Ada brought her friend and attendant-to-be, Cheryln, when we met. We played with some mock-ups I had prepared based on Ada's preferences and together came up with a design concept. It was something I had never quite done before. I just needed to figure out how to construct it.

This is the scary-fun part!

There is truly nothing like an expectant client with an immutable deadline to galvanize me into creative problem-solving. Good thing I have a tambour embroidery frame. Who knew that would come in handy? I didn't, until it did. Putting it to work solved my construction issue beautifully.

Ada was pleased with the result. She also asked me to make pieces for her two bridesmaids, contributing the brooches I used.

Wedding photos featuring Ada's fascinator were promised, but of course that takes time. (Lots of time. It's a wedding photography thing.)

But this compassionate client was thoughtful enough to send a couple of "sneak peek" candid photos shortly after the big day, along with gratifying comments on the impression my contributions made on her guests. Seeing the fascinator on the bride would still have to wait, though.

Fast forward to this cold week. Out of the blue (toes and fingers) I open my email and -- "Oh!" I gasp with delight because Ada has sent her photos. And the morning suddenly seems warmer.

Bride photos by Henry Park.
(http://henryparkphotography.com/)

Ada's makeup by Jazmin Veliov.

Clients don't have to share their photos of the events they hire me to dress their heads for. So it's a delight when, months later, they do. In the dead of winter, it warms my heart to see these souvenirs of someone's happy day, wearing a headpiece I made. It's a proud and humbling feeling I hope I can look forward to experiencing many times to come.

Thanks, Ada! It's been a pleasure.