A Few of My Favorite Things: Phillip Treacy

I've been working away on my hats this week and I thought I'd share some chapeaux by Phillip Treacy that make my heart pitter patter...

It's all about the feathers.

 This is one of my absolute favorites.
Timeless and classic.

This one has inspired my latest creation, coming soon.

      And a little something extra: I was never a fan of the original, but I love the remake: 

Anatomy of a Hat

Friday's class was the polar opposite of last week's. I was able to block two hats and begin the finishing process for one of them. Next time I'll post pictures of the block itself and maybe even the blocking process in action...This little number is a hot pink fedora that I'm super excited about finishing. I brought it home to work on over spring break:

And this one is an experiment...I thought the accented angle was adorable, I'm just not sure what it will look like when worn.

Almost there...

Last session of wax carving last night & I feel like I've been working on this piece forever. It's almost there, just needs to be hollowed out and then I'll attach a bail to the back.

And this petit morceau is a ring I carved from leftover wax from the first ring I cast...

Side View
(Looks a bit like a cog)

Top View

An update to the hat...I am sad to report that it was a disastrous situation in millinery class on Friday. My brim was mis-shaped and ended up being 2 inches too large to attach to the crown. My tireless efforts to shrink it were to no avail and I was forced to start on a different project (a hot pink fedora).  More pictures to come later this week.

Fallacies for the week

1) I chose something simple to make for class: a lotus pendant

2) 3D forms are laughingly simple to carve

3) My skills on a flex shaft rival those of wax carving professionals

4) You can wear nail polish to the studio and it will be flawless when you leave

 

Step 1: mark design

Step 2: Begin carving

Step 3: Contour

Step 4: Shape

Another Hat

Friday is almost here and that means millinery class. Last week's was a bust, with the teacher canceling class at the last minute. My effort to get to FIT, only to find a scribbled note posted to the door which proclaimed the calling off of my beloved course, was not in vain however. The studio was open and I was able to quickly block the brim...it's been setting all week and I'm excited to see how the hat will take shape. These are the pieces that will eventually be put together to make a complete chapeau:

Forming Block

Inside View

The millinery felt (different than the felt you are probably thinking of) is molded around the brim (which is upside down) and pinned. A cord is tied around the top of the brim, which holds the felt taut as it dries. The excess material will be trimmed and the pinned area will be hand sewn to the top of the hat, pictured below. The top of the hat (aka the crown) was hand formed. I'm not really sure  how it will look when finished, stay tuned to find out!

Top view: front

Top view: side

Millinery Matters

My first hat! I am not sure if it is 100% finished, but here it is...entirely hand blocked & formed.

Angled View

Side View

Front View

Top View

Button & Chain Detail

(Don't) Let it Snow

Less than two weeks from the spring equinox and it is snowing in Brooklyn...good thing I've had several work projects to keep me distracted in this erratic weather. In other news: tonight I get to trudge through the slush to Millinery class. I hope to finish hat #1: a freeform grey cocktail hat that, at a second glance, is reminiscent of a Qatar Airlines stewardess headpiece. I'll post pictures tomorrow. Hat #2 is a black brimmed number that I anticipate to be pret-á-porter once the blocking is complete.

45" sterling chain
with sterling discs

Sterling rings to be used
for a spinner ring

Set of 5 sterling rings

Tiny Treasures

Wax Carved Ring

                                            At long last...my wax carved ring is complete...!

Wax Model

Finished Product

Flat View

Side View