New Exhibition Begins

' I hold in general a belief that courage is the shortest route to the good life. As a matter of fact I believe courage is synonymous with the good life. I see fears as normal and rational in my life, but fear does sometimes try to hold me back and try to stop me from actions that make life rich and rewarding. To live a fully engaged life I feel I need to exercise some measure of courage. Courage to me is a willingness to try.' Waltraud Reiner, Australian milliner and inspirational tutor.

These words echo exactly how I felt when I drove to Hat Works ready to begin the next installation. Knowing that 'sticking one's courage to the sticking spot' (Macbeth) is so important to help us grow and learn, and as I have been rereading the Twyla Tharp book again, 'What was the worse thing that could happen' my family would still love me.

empty cases at Hat Works, Stockport.

Deciding where we need to put the cases

Quite a strange feeling to have the technician ask me where I wanted the cases to be? I realise that I am not quite there with the confidence of curator just yet as I didn't have a vision for it all. Or was it that my occasional feeling that winging it does sometimes work and gives new ideas take over. Cases were moved, lights installed and stripes painted. Our only real dilemma was that three of the milliners hadn't sent their hats..........As I reflect on this now after a very successful opening it seems quite funny because it did work out and you realise that there is usually a solution somehow, even if it had been to borrow a certain hat from Leeds Museum Archive.

Phew we have some of the hats - William Chambers - Latex Flower Head Piece

Our stunning colours - courtesy of Graphic Designer Aggie Bainbridge

Hats delivery from Rachel Trevor-Morgan

 

Close up of Mr Treacy's hat

I have spent many a lovely morning at Leeds Archive, it makes you stop and think and invites so many thoughts about the origin of objects and the lives they have had. I was invited to join the evening class students as they looked at feathered hats within the collection and were shown the damage the many bugs and creepy crawlies can do to feathered objects ( one of those itchy moments) a fantastic opportunity.

A flavour of the archive a place of magic and dreams

 I had seen the Philip Treacy hat that the museum had had commissioned for their Ruffled Feather exhibition in 2010 and knew how much it had cost and the trials and tribulations. It was still a privilege to see it so close and more importantly for myself to see its construction, how was the wire inserted, what was the ribbon that had been used? ( A stretchy velvet) How were the feathers added? Smaller quills support the main plumage. and what was the twist made of? It is so strange that the hat will never be worn, just live i its grandiose box and come out for exhibitions, an intriguing museum conundrum.

The underside of the Philip Treacy hat-key for every milliner to see how it was done

Close up on centre twist - Philip Treacy feathered hat

Ostrich feathers on Victorian Bonnet

My Ruffled Feather hat Property of Leeds Museum and Galleries - Very strange to have one's hat brought out to be examined.

 I was very fortunate that when I designed a piece for the exhibition I was approached along with Justine Bradley-Hill for the museum services to purchase my hat for the collection, a real honour.
But a funny feeling to have it there for others to critique and examine, all god experience.

hat by Justine Bradley-Hill

One so much wants to put the Philip Treacy hat on your head, strange that it will never be worn.

Stunning feathers - though not quite sustainable

That Stephen Jones Hat......

So I did say I would have the hat completed from the Stephen Jones pattern, courtesy of Show Studio 48 hours ago but a few other things got in the way - I went to Birmingham and have shared the wonders of that exhibition......

Anyway the Mark 1 version is now complete, really its my toile but in taffeta silk courtesy of James Hare Silks yearly end of roll sale as opposed to calico, to ensure that i understood and got  sense of how it would hold itself.

I have really enjoyed doing the piece as I have learned some new techniques. I love the way that he creates a head fitting or stand as he calls it a really useful process. the pattern instructions are not perfect for someone like me who definitely needs visuals, so when I make up the next one I will photo document the process. This pattern has such great potential for redesigning and altering, I declined to add the bow, (speed) and added a faux brooch which O like but would need some more stiffening behind where it was added. So much potential, new ideas so we shall see where they end up....

Opening Night

My graduating students worked really hard all day on Wednesday beginning to set up the show, everyone was feeling a little fragile with some late nighters done to complete course work and worries and concerns of how to get the best effect for their final collections in the great space we had created. Mad dash on Friday with those last minute touches, a huge thanks to Amy, John and Fiona for helping to scrub the floor and make is all show ready. Here are a few of the first pictures I will do some good close ups later. They all did a brilliant job and the results of all their hard work was evident to all.

Amy Woollard

Helene Frank

John Westwood-Hill

Marisa Groom

Jill Simpson

Susanne Guthie

A huge thank you to all my fantastically talented students who did a brilliant job producing some sublime collections incorporating innovative techniques and materials, they did themselves proud. Well done and here's to your futures..........

Exhibition transferred

I took down the Roundhay School, Design for Life Exhibition at the weekend, ready for its transfer to Leeds City Museum, where it will be until April in the Leeds Story section. I found it fascinating looking again at the work of these year 10 students who had never made a hat and some had done little textile work before, they are quite fabulous. In the museum all the hats will be on hat stands in a line. It looks really elegant, but you will have to go to the museum to peruse as no photos yet. Jennie who worked with me from Visual Communication course has her photographs of the workshops on display also to illustrate the progression of the group. All very exciting and rewarding.