I may not be writing that much on this blog for the next few weeks...

I'm in the manic run up to the re-enactor's market now (TORM), so will have my head down working, and trying to keep up with college work, too.

As part of the new brief I got from college last week, I've set up another blog (an experiment in the recording of and expanding on research) - I'll be writing on that, because it's homework!  You can read that here http://debbieloughmillinery.blogspot.com/


And other news is that my latest hat has now been all packed up and sent of to competition (I reallt don't think I stand a chance, because everybody else's hats were stunning.  Really stunning!

My hat has two two-tone blocked shapes (blocked then sewn together), and one fully sewn shape - all of which is wrapped round by electroluminescent wire (aka glo-wire - the same stuff that glo sticks are made from).

Hat Trimmings Exhibition

I went to Hat Works (the hat museum in Stockport) for the first time yesterday, for college (an extra during half term).

It's a wonderful place, and just around the corner from the railway station (though make sure you go out the right (main) exit, if you go. 
Entry is free, and if you take a tour (£2.65 for an adult, £7.00 for a family of four), they start up the machinery, and tell you how it all worked, etc, covering the whole process, from making the felt to the finished hat.

I found the hand tools particularly interesting, though.  I didn't have my camera with me, so I'm going to go back in April (or so), so I can take some photos.


There's also a special exhibition running at the moment, until 11 May 2012, titled 'The Finishing Touch: Trends of Trimming Unpicked'.  It's a wonderful collection of antique and vintage hats, trimmings, and modern hats by some of the country's leading milliners - people like Stephen Jones, William Chambers, etc.  Also pieces by my tutors at Leeds, Sue Carter and Sharon Bainbridge.

I was drawn to some of the hats made from different materials - like lasered wood, or shaped perspex - and one by William Chambers, made of drinking straws (not that you can tell unless you look closely!).

There are videos that you can watch, too, of Stephen Jones, explaining how he finds his inspiration, and doing things with yoghurt pots :o).

The whole exhibition (which is also free to look at) was put together by Sharon Bainbridge, as part of her MA.


http://www.hatworks.org.uk/whats_exhibition.asp

Gown at the The Bowes Museum

A gown made in 1911 by Madame Paquin, the Parisian couturier, is currently on display at the Bowes Museum in County Durham.

It's made in silk net, and beaded, so like all dresses of that type, incredibly fragile (the weight of the beads tears the net - the same thing happens with all those gorgeous 20s flapper dresses).

This is the first time the dress has been displayed, and it's on till the 9th of April 2012.

The Bowes Museum