I have been super busy these last weeks and months diverting time to a collaboration between myself and my daughter. Her long time dream of creating one of a kind handmade hats and masques has become possible with all the at home time given to us during the pandemic. Combining our skills seemed the most beneficial route even though we didn’t know if we would be compatible creators. Seems we had no need to worry. Wildly Created will soon come online and our beautiful accessories will be available to browse and purchase. Exciting times.
My love of all things silk led me to buy a gorgeous pile of silk sari ribbons and with all the elements finally in one place, I have been sewing these pretty shabby chic wrist cuffs. I think they are just so feminine and romantic. A bracelet with a big attitude. I guess they are related to my textile wall hanging , taken to another level with hand dyed pieces of lace and trimmings, beads and embellishments.
After a few were made it was suggested I decorate a hat with a similar idea. Having also learnt how to make a hat from scratch: stiffening the cotton, wiring using the sewing machine (eeeeek), lots of hand sewing and figuring out the process from start to finish, it seemed like an idea worth pursuing. Powertex has become another new medium for me this year, perfect for stiffening natural fabrics so that has proved a winner. As always, being in nature is where I absorb inspiration as well as a much needed break. A walk to the beach or in the woods is my medicine.
So here is the first small hat or “hatinator” as small hats are called and matching cuff. I have decided to call this collection “Precious Moments” and it will feature on the website and our Etsy store.
I have been dying cotton lace and velvet ribbons as well as bits of silk to use on these textile pieces and I am considering make bundles to sell perhaps in the popup shop we are hoping to have in my son’s restaurant when things open up again here. I will see if they are popular and I may add them to the website. I found it impossible to source natural beautiful colours in the trimmings I wanted to use so I am sure there are others out there who would love my dyed pieces.
The town of Kinsale, which is our nearest town, hosts a Mad Hatters festival each year, last year it was cancelled and this year, we will have to wait and see, next year we will have a nice stock of amazing incredible and wonderful hats ready for the festival goers to purchase. So we are taking this time to create and design, to enjoy the process and continue being grateful that we have had this time to bring a dream to fruition.
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