Sunday, April 17, 2011

Hat Blocks and One of My Hats for Sale on Ebay, Plus a Stephen Jones Video--NO THAT IS NOT WHITE GLUE!

I'm cleaning house (condo)!  My living room looks like a hat shop. Every closet (hall, my bedroom, living room, and kitchen cabinets) are stuffed with hat blocks.  There are hats on every end table in my living room, and they are also hanging off a wire dress form.  So, I'm selling three hat blocks and one of my little fascinators on EBay.

Yes, it hurts to sell my hats.  I went back and forth trying to figure out which one I would sell.  I'll be selling more hats, although I think I'm the only one in love with them.  You would think I was an avid hat wearer!

Check out the inside finish of the hat I'm selling--image posted on EBay.  The lining is extremely neat, no glue used.  The winner of my little fascinator will get an extra bonus--instructions on how this finish was accomplished.  I don't use this method often, and it will vary depending on the degree of richness required.  Additionally, you could turn out possibly three times or more the number of hat compared to traditional methods of hat construction.  This is great is you are a one person show.  In other words, it's just another technique to have in my millinery techniques bag.  Some will say that this method is not couture, but if you collect couture hats from the past, you'll notice that many famous couture milliners used it.

 So, check out my auction on EBay; listed here.  Some items ending soon!

No, That is Not White Glue!

Below is a Stephen Jones workshop video.  Stephen is one of my favorite milliners--one.  The reason I'm showing this video is because I witnessed a milliner putting white glue on a buckram frame last week.  That is not white glue being put onto the buckram frame in this video!  Buckram is starch sized, therefore if a water based glue is put onto it, it becomes bumpy.  There are times when all milliners have to use an adhesive to attach fabrics to frames, for example, in situations where there is a deep concave, such as in a deep brim.  So, if you don't have access to millinery adhesive, use archival rubber cement.  By the way, the method I used on my little hat does not require adhesive, either. 




4 comments:

  1. The hat that you are selling is beautiful!

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  2. Lee, first of all, I am wishing you and your family beautifu Happy Easter! I hope Easter bunny will visit you this weekend. Secondly, I am sorry for being an absent friend. No excuses, but I have been going on through a rough patch for the past several weeks. At last, YEY! for selling hats on Ebay.:-) Thank you for your advice on adhesive. I know this video of Stphen Jones fanous UK Flag hat, watched it million times and then actually met a person whoes hands you see in this video. It is Deborah, former head milliner for Stephen Jones millinery - she is truly amazing!:-)

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  3. Thanks Anya. Actually, I thought you were either traveling or maybe having a health issue. I hope the former was true. I know you are busy making beautiful hats.

    Regarding the video, I'm always amazed at how different milliners have different techniques. I have to contain myself because I get so excited about other milliners' work--good work. I think this is a good thing.

    Regarding the hat on EBay, EBay has never been a good place to sell hats, unless the hats were made by a famous milliner or a vintage hat. I love making hats and jewelry and flowers and and.... I'm constantly buying millinery supplies. So, since I can't stop buying stuff, I have to get rid of some of the things I make. I'm selling some of my blocks on EBay in order to replace them with my favorite periods--30s - 40s, some 50s. I justify this madness by comparing them to beautiful sculptures, which they are to me.

    Anyway, good to here from you. I hope all is well.

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