This workshop will be on next weekend. It is a simple introduction to working with sinamay… one of millinery’s finest materials (I consider😊💜). If you’ve often thought about making a hat… then message me your details.
Ruby ⚘
Juniper Hats
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I have only just completed making this hat for a beautiful friend of mine for the upcoming Caulfield Cup. You may already know that sinamay is one of my favourite materials to use in hatmaking. It is very sculptural.
The process of making is a joy for me: sketching the design, colour-matching, choosing materials, and finally beginning the creation- with any associated problem solving.
I have made this design before, however no two hats are the same, and each process feels different. It’s creating all over again.
I will follow-up with photos of Ally in her raceday outfit soon.
Leather has to be my all-time favourite millinery material. However, running a close second to leather is sinamay. I am sure I have extolled the virtues of sinamay before, however, just in case: Sinamay is a beautiful woven ‘fabric’ that is so easily manipulated when moistened and worked on the bias. So much so, that it can produce sumptuous swirls, tantalizing twirls and comely curves.
I made ‘whimsy’ after finishing the daisy creation. I didn’t design her beforehand; it was quite spontaneous, and a great experience after working in leather. I enjoy alternating my mediums.
And two friends dropped in to my studio earlier this week. Here is Anne wearing ‘whimsy’- and really putting on the charm!
Actually this new hat is, like most of my headwear, inspired by a flower. In this instance a daisy:
Made in leather, it is black and white to fit an exhibition brief:
A varied selection of images…. there are so many!
Not sure if I have mentioned already that I won the People’s Choice prize for my entry ‘Unfurled’ in The Laman Street Art Prize. That has been such a boost to my confidence, especially in working with leather in my creations.
On the strength of that, I have entered ‘Unfurled’ (pictured here) in the Waterhouse Fine Arts Nature Award in Adelaide and all my leather creations in the Royal Botanic Gardens exhibition in Sydney. I am waiting to see if I have been accepted. I will of course let you know of any acceptances.
Last week I ‘Autumn cleaned’ my studio. I think it is a form of procrastination, but it is a useful one as I am now working in a space with clearer energy.
My next creation will be a headwear piece (another floral in leather) inspired by these flowers:
..have just finished. It’s a creative process I’ve really enjoyed. I will post ‘the steps’ of its creation, but for now… the finished product.
This is the second white leather headpiece. It is a work in progress, and I have just completed the lining and lining trim. It was raining yesterday and my studio was the best place to be. Everything is hand-stitched; no glue! I love that fact. I took my time and care as I want it to be of the highest quality I can achieve. The only thing I have to add to this ‘underside’ of the headpiece is a few small loops for either a thin metal headband, or for hairpins.
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