Hatstruck Couture Millinery: What If First Lady Michelle Obama Occasionally Wore A Hat?

I thought it would be fun to see how First Lady Michelle Obama would possibly look if she occasionally wore a hat.  I must say, if she would adorn her lovely head with a beautiful hat, it would take nothing away from her classy style.  Not only that, could you imagine the impact she would have on the millinery trade.  Below is a video I playfully put together showing how the First Lady would look in a few of my hats.  Enjoy.

P.S.:  I'm still working on the next post (see bottom of last post); stay tuned.  Also, leave your email in the box to your right to receive notices of new Hatstruck posts sent directly to your email address.

Hatstruck Couture Millinery: How Many Hats and Accessories Can You Make From One Yard of Fabric?

As I mentioned in my last post,  I'm constantly purchasing stuff for my millinery projects.  My favorite discount fabric store will only sell a minimum of one yard of fabric.  So yes, I have tons of unused fabrics I've accumulated over the years.  Well, I decided that I would use an entire yard of fabric for one of my millinery projects.  I've created a video to show the results of my labor.  Of course I've used other supplies, but those supplies were already in my stash.

I'm so passionate about couture millinery that I really wanted to show you just how little it costs to create beautiful hats, but you must realize that it is the time and workmanship put into these hats that drive up their cost.  I tend to lean toward the conservative side, but couture millinery can be just as far out and current as you would like it to be.  Plus, you can use an unlimited number of fabrics, including suede and leathers (my favorites), silks, linens, etc.  So have fun, sit back, maximize the video screen and enjoy the movie and wonderful music.

 

What's Coming Up in My Next Post?
Well for my next post, I am leaning toward demonstrating how I tooled the plaid flower petals in this project using makeshift flower making tools for under one dollar, or maybe how I rhinestone a very, very small cocktail hat.  Which one of these possible posts is of interests you?

 

One of Several County Fair Projects Submitted, No. 2--Jewelry: Cold Connection Bracelet

I promised you that I would share my fair projects with you.  Well, here is the jewelry piece I submitted.  It is a cold connection (no soldering) bracelet made of copper, brass, metal beads, faux pearls, and Swarovski  crystals.                                                                                                 

Couture Millinery: Easy Turbans, Site Questionnaire, Suggestions, etc.

Some of you may have noticed that I've made slight changes to this site.  My goal is to build a site that offers something for everyone, millinery inspiration and techniques, including resources that just make you feel good when you arrive here.  The sidebar offers something for everyone:  tutorials, grate images from the past to the present, all found on links to millinery archives and to other fabulous milliners' Web sites.  I have made some of these changes and, I hope improvements, for selfish reasons.  You see, this is my look-book, my source of inspiration, and my reference manual.  So, when you stop by, visit the sidebar to your right; you may find something there that peaks your interest, even if you're not a milliner.

(Click on Image Above to Start Movie)

Now I'm going to ask for your help:  (1) I've added a questionnaire in the sidebar to survey what your millinery interests are; I would be very grateful if you would respond through it;  (2)  If you have suggestions concerning improvements to this site, please let me know; and  (3) Finally, If you visit my site on a regular basis, please "Follow" me and leave a comment every once in a while.  Even if one person gets something from this site besides me, I will feel that I've accomplished my goal of giving something back in my own way.  

Thanks.

Accessories: Couture Millinery and Bejeweled Stockings Go Together Perfectly!

(click image to start video in separate window)

 Back when I started taking millinery classes, summer classes were always fun because that was when we would make everything--hats, jewelry, purses, gloves, etc.   Well, we made almost everything.  Unless this was something done before my time, we didn't bejewel stockings.  So when I saw this video showing stockings being decorated with rhinestones, I thought, PROJECT!  I know that stockings like these are sold today, but they're not accessible to all of us--location, etc.  So select your secrete sauce (adhesive) of choice, purchase some stockings (experiment on old ones first), and find some rhinestones at your local craft, fabric, or WalMart store, and have fun.