Thank you - A humbling moment

I have been fortunate enough to teach in millinery and textiles for the last 12 years, sometimes the reason that I do this gets marred by bureaucracy, tiredness and trying to fight to prove how important my discipline is.

Today the reality of why I do love teaching and why its important was once again brought into focus. One of those moments that you need to remember when its the middle of winter and you are creating an exhibition of student work on your own or when your course gets closed down. A student who spent a year with me called by the college to say thank you, thanking me for inspiring her when she was at her lowest point and enabling her to change her path. Such sentiments are truly humbling and sometimes we can lose sight of this or forget those teachers who did just that for us. (Mine was my 'A' level English teacher who introduced me to the poems of William Blake).

Another former student spoke to me last week with the words 'Thank you, you changed my life, and I wouldn't be doing what I am doing without your support and belief' There isn't much you can say to that, just cherish and use it to stoke the fire when the motivation is ebbing to keep fighting for the craft that does affect and inspire so many.

A truly amazing thank you gift x Thank you.

Kensington & Chelsea End of Year Show

If I hadn't had children and lived down South I would have attended KCC or aspired to, Kirsten may not have accepted me. Each year when I visit the end of year show I am inspired. The collections are well developed and show a high attention to research and manufacture, there is always something that leaves me excited and realising that millinery will always create something new. This year was no exception, in the new Hortensia Road building the exhibition space didn't have the same grandeur as the high ceiling room of old but the work didn't disappoint.

Beth Simpson (Lady Go Red)

Holly Gaiman (Holly Gaiman Millinery)

Kate Hughes (Kate Minola)

Jane Bailey

Myriam Lengline (La Dame au beret)

Rosanna Gould (Rosanna Gould Millinery)

Jo Miller (Milliner London)

Detail-Jo Miller (Milliner London)

Carmen Amander

Margaret O'Connor (Magasilk Millinery)

A little more vintage

A touch of vintage

Whilst tidying my workroom I found my lovely box of vintage hats that I have acquired over the years and realised that though they come out for millinery classes I have never actually photographed them. These are all mass manufactured pieces, my aunt used to volunteer in a charity shop in Preston and these came in as a lot of hats all looking as if they have never been worn. I can only surmise that these were from a hat shop that was in Preston in the 1950's - 60's and had been stored safely. A fascinating insight into shapes and the materials used, in particular the wire which enabled the hats to hold onto the head without extra fixing which our wire today doesn't always allow.

End of year show close up

Maxine Ruleman

Lisa Morris

Hat by Jane Hamill inspired by Burlesque

Hat by Lisa Morris

Hat by Heather Davidson

Hat by Heather Davidson

Hat by Edwina Elkington

Hat by Maxine Ruleman

So my penultimate HNC Millinery end of year show strange to think this will only happen one more time.

End of Year Show 2012

3.00pm with an opening to the public at 6.00pm and still two students hadn't put up their work....mmh good for the blood pressure. Somehow by the skin of our teeth we were ready at 6pm and I have now learned to stand back and realise that come what may it will be fine, no one has died and we can still smile......
This graduates were Heather Davison, Edwina Elkington, Jane Hamill, Lisa Morris and Maxine Ruleman.

Jane Hamill

Heather Davison

Maxine Ruleman

Edwina Elkington

Lisa Morris

What's Hot - Hat Works - Milliflorae

I am always surprised by how fast time marches on. It felt much less than 3 months since we had up dated the What's Hot case at Hat Works with the fabulous work of Jen Scott-Russell of H'Atelier, now we were taking it down to be replaced by the next up and coming milliner, Kate Jones.

H'Atelier Showroom, Manchester

Kate works under the name Milliflorae by Kate Jones and I have been fortunate to know her for a few years as she originally trained at Leeds College of Art completing her BA in Fashion and doing millinery as an elective. Kate has the skill to produce strong millinery forms that are eye catching, dramatic and yet wearable. She came to prominence last year in the Stephen Jones competition with Vogue on line with a stunning wood laminate piece, which justly placed her in the top four of this international milliner search. the piece is in the exhibition for closer perusal.

Stephen Jones competition piece

Since her initial experiments with this new material for millinery Kate has really progressed this and the full collection designed specifically for the What's Hot exhibition is a joy to behold. The exhibition is on until the end of August.

Kate with Stephen Jones at Hot Heads launch Hat Works