Monday, July 23, 2012

Couture Sculptural/Free-Form Millinery: Part 1--Gallery of Designs


It's been a few weeks since posting, so I thought I'd better bring you something worth reading or seeing.  I've noticed a millinery trend happening around the globe, sculptural/free-form millinery.  As the old saying goes, "What goes around, comes around."  If you are a vintage hat lover of say, the early 1900s through the 1940s you are very much acquainted with the tucks and folds in the millinery of those eras.  If you were making hats in the early 1990s changes are, again, you are familiar with "free-form" millinery.  For me this current trend in sculptural/free-form millinery is so exciting, and it can be extremely creative.

I've prepared a video for you showing some of the designs I created while at play.  All of the hats in the video started and ended with a single pink straw hat body.  Each hat was shaped in the hand--no hat blocks were used.  After each design was  completed, it was reshaped into another shape, then another shape until I became exhausted reshaping and photographing each design.  The color variations of the designs are due to the lighting (day or night light), camera settings,  and in some cases,  the color was manipulated using image processing software. 


Part 2 of this series will show some of the steps I used (stitching, wiring, etc.) to create the support structure for these designs.  As always, I've used an unconventional method.  Did you notice that I said that I would show some of the steps?  That's because I've been trying to figure out some way to reward my site members for taking the time to follow me.  "Page Views" are very important to a Web site; so,  I prefer to concentrate on my current followers first, and continue to work hard to create the type of content that will attract new followers.  I've been experimenting with a password protected page where members can go to pick up extra tips that will not be available to nonmembers.  I don't have everything worked out yet, so please be patient.

Password Protected Page for Site Followers


Please Note!  This is not a membership drive.  Currently I have 309 followers on this site.  Only the current members will be given a password, if requested.  You will have to request a password because not all of my followers make hats.  Some are just here to support me and others just love hats.  My plan is, and this may change, to post the extra tips and information on the password protected page for two to four weeks.  Then it will be taken down.  New followers will have access to new tips and information, but no one will have access to old information because at some point the old information will be taken down.  So please, if you would like to follow me understand that for this post, only current members will have access to additional tips.  You will only be eligible for future tips and information as they come up.

Current Members.   Most of you receive email notices when new posts are published.  If your user name is a part of your email address, just leave a comment asking me to send you a password.  Your user name must be unique for me to identify it.  If you do not get automatic updates, please sign up for them.  See sidebar for "Subscribe Via Email."  I will compile a mass mailing, with each of you receiving a "bcc (blind carbon copy)" so that others will not see your email address.  I figure that it will take me a little over a week to get the passwords to you.  After that time I will have to stop accepting requests because it would just take too much time to be constantly processing passwords.  So, this is new for me and for you also.  If it works I will continue this practice, if not I will discontinue it.  Please leave questions and comments so I can assist you.

I hope you enjoy the movie I have prepared for you.  You will have to view it in full screen to take advantage of the full color effects.

51 comments:

  1. I absolutely love your posts, and the knowledge and inspiration you so generously share! And thank you so much for joining my site! I am truly honoured Hatstruck!

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    1. Thank you so much. I was taught and I do believe that, if something is given from the heart, wonderful things come back to you. Millinery techniques are far from the Coke formula.

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  2. Please let me in!

    (emily@moesewco.com)

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  3. YES, please send me the password! Thanks always, for sharing knowledge and inspiration...Trishraine

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  4. Thanks Trish, I'll try to get that out to you ASAP. Give me a little time.

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  5. Emily, let me know if you would like me to publish your comment, because you sent your email address in it. Thanks

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  6. Love your blog Lee. Have been following for a couple of years now. I call it my hatstuck blog because when I'm stuck I'll refer to your blog to see if there are words of wisdom or even pictures to help me out.
    Huge thank you from me.
    I didn't realise you could be a member of your blog, but it's definitely bookmarked.
    Could you please advise how I can become a member. x

    Kind regards Debbie Kelly

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  7. Hi Debbie,

    Thank you for your encouraging comments. I have been working with computers for so long until I take it for granted that there are others that are not as familiar with them as I am. As a matter of fact one of my friends called me because she need help with my site.

    So here is how it works. Look to your right and find the "Join this site" button. Click on the button and follow the directions given to you. You will probably have to log into your Google, Yahoo, or other account to follow. For those that have regular accounts, you can follow by just putting in a name (your first name, or any user name that you type choose). Hope this helps; if not, please leave another comment.

    Thanks again.

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  8. HI Lee,
    I definitely want to see the "insider" posts! As I have told you before, you inspire me to think outside the box with my millinery. I appreciate the effort and hard work that goes into maintaining this blog. A huge THANK YOU!

    dmakowsky

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    1. Thanks a million. You've got it! Creative people think outside the box and take what they learn to create something better. Skip all the paranoia you'll come across in millinery and concentrate on improving your skills and you will see good things reflected in your work.

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  9. Lee, I did enter my email long ago but never received a blog update, I just try to get on all by myself. I am one of those not really computer savvy. You are a great inspiration and have one of the kindest heart. God Bless you always, going to have a look at the blog now.

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    1. Thanks so much. That's funny I didn't even see your comment come through for approval. Anyway, I think how it works is that when you sign up for email alerts you are sent an activation email. You have to click on a link in order to activate the alerts. If you haven't been getting updates, you never activated your alerts. So, you will have to sign up again, and when the link is sent to you, just click on it to activate the alerts.

      Thanks again.

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  10. Lee, please let me have the password. You have been most kind in emailing me in the past and I am truly grateful. My millinery teacher here in the UK refused to teach me after having spent an immense amount if money with her because I happened to enter a competition whereby the prize was a two week internship with Stephen Jones! Unbelievable! Of course I wasn't going to win, but because of that I can't get anymore lessons. So I would appreciate your tips

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    1. How sad and petty. However, you should be glad this happened to you. As I was taught, "If you want to get back at someone, succeed." I call this negative encouragement; the more you get, the better you get.

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  11. Hi Lee! I so much like to share your thoughts and knowledge. Please count me in, I will gladly have access to your additional tips!

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  12. Please send me a password. Thanks for sharing so much information!

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  13. I got my first email notice today. I immediatly went to read it as I am trying to make my first hat a Tudor one. I am pretty clueless about the whole thing. I can't believe what I just saw with the pink hat and straw too!! Did u have to get it wet with something special?
    Pam tdhg@sbcglobal.net
    I am excited about seeing the other video!
    If I get stuck can I email a question?

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  14. Hi Lee, thanks so much for being so generous. I would definitely want to learn more. Dibs (rdmaxwell80)

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  15. Love the idea of having the extra tips for milliners. My only comment is not to take them down. I originally discovered your site through an old post.

    Thanks for sharing!!

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    1. Thank you. All of my images and pages outside of this blog are housed on my ISP (Internet Service Provider). This is space I pay for, and I really don't want to use too much of it up. I can always move these pages and images back to my computer or storage device for storage and then back again for re-posting if needed.

      Also, I'm trying to cut down on some of the time I spend on processing data, etc., because I'm retired and I really don't want another job. I really enjoy doing the blog and I would like this feeling to continue.

      For me (it appears to be easier for some others) this can be hard work, especially if I want to post something I think others would enjoy. I love to do so many other things; so, I really need to budget my time more wisely in order to enjoy and participate in the other things in my life.

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    2. P.S., Tracy, also I thought about the number of visitors that could possibly impact my ISP and the fact that, who knows, I would have to pay additional money if this grows larger than the package I'm currently paying for. Limiting the number of pages would definitely limited the number of visitors. It's sort of hard to justify paying for something you hardly get a response to most of the time.

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  16. Enjoy your blog. Thank you for sharing.Please send me a password.

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  17. yes, Please give me a password...I love what you do...also, maybe some more pictures of that beautiful granddaughter too...

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  18. you are an amazing designer...your vidio was wonderful....thank you!!!!

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  19. I have been looking for resources on free-form millinery for so long!! Thanks so much for posting this and I cannot wait for Part 2. Inspirational stuff!
    Love the idea of insider tips, please add me to your list!

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  20. Thank you Lee for yet another inspirational blog. You are so very talented and we are so blessed to have you share your extensive knowledge. I loooove freeform, one of my most favourite styles of millinery. And YES PLEASE, send me a password so I can continue to be inspired and taught your many tricks. Thank you again for sharing with us all. Love love love your blog !!

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  21. Hi lee I'd love to get a password. Love your work!
    Thanks Emma
    I will have to send you my email I think as I don't ink my user name is the same as my email

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  22. Hi Lee! Love your work, I think I may have posted twice though but this is the username I go with and I get sent your email blog updates. Let me know if I have to email you my email address. Thanks!! Emma Nicholas

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  23. Lee i just get such a buzz when i get a new post from you i am amazed what you just showed on the Couture Sculpture cant wait for part 2! I hope i can still be included in your blogs and look forward to getting new password : )

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  24. Hi Lee i get such a buzz when i see a new post from you, i love what you have shown can be done with the straw hat and look forward to part 2! Hope to be included in new password in the future and thanks for taking the time to show us some fabulous ideas x

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  25. Hi Pam. I didn't want to publish your comment because you had your email address in it. Regarding the straw, no I did not wet or steam it. The type of straw I used is very soft and pliable.

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  26. I would love a password on how to make hats. It is something I would love to learn.

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  27. please send me password and thanks for all your tips

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  28. Hi Lee, please send me the password 'cause I love your blog!!!!
    A big thank you...

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  29. Hi, Lee:
    I am a newbie, and so far I love what I am doing. Learning mostly from books and tips I find (like yours) on the web. Recently took a couple of classes and look forward to insider tips from you to keep me on the path! Please send me password. Thanks, anacin2

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  30. Hi Lee,
    I am a follower, Eva Livingstone Strand, and would much appreciate to get a password. Earlier this summer 24 of july I commented and asked for this too, but then only used my nickname, Eva Leva Sten. Clumsy of me, but now I try again. Hope it will work. Thanks Eva

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  31. Querida Lee,gracias mil veces por compartir todos sus conocimientos, es una gran artista y una gran persona.
    Ojala pueda mandarme una contraseña para poder seguir sus enseñanzas.

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  32. Hello Lee
    Send me the pasword please, I love your hats.pirrula

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  33. Hi Lee, Please send me the pasword, I love your hats. pirrula

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  34. These hats are darling! You have such a sense of your own style. I just wish that our internet service in willcox was better so that I could post my own work and compare them. How did you learn to do this?

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  35. Thanks Samantha. I try. Sorry you're having problems with service. Much of the time mine goes down; very upsetting.

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  36. Lee I dont know what I am doing wrong because i cant get in...

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    1. Hi, maybe you have a slow DSL connection like I do. I'm just so frustrated with this thing. All of a sudden my connection got slower just as my carrier rolled out newer, more expensive technology. Sorry.

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  37. Can you please send me a password to view the video? Thank you!

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    1. Hi Amy, you don't need a password. The video is above.

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