Vintage Life Magazine Front Cover!

Where did she get that hat!

Tiffany-Grant Riley, official wedding planner to none other than Luella’s Boudoir contacted me recently in respect of an article she was writing based on planning a wedding with a 1920’s theme for Vintage Life Nostalgia Magazine.  My jaw dropped this morning when I discovered my skull cap cloche made it on the front cover!  Not to mention a lovely write up inside on my 1920’s hats and fascinator workshops, plus a full page pic of the hat again!  A big thanks to all involved, especially Tiffany and of course the photographer who took that picture at the Hobbs Best of Bristol Show, Ria Mishaal Cooke.

Now grab yourself a copy and get reading!

The Hobbs Best of Bristol Show on June 19th 2010

Another interesting week here at Vintage Tea Sets & Clara Bows!  I thought I’d share my millinery escapades from Monday.  It was was one of the most exciting Mondays ever.  Mondays are commonly dreaded and rightfully so, but this was the type of Monday I want to replicate again and again.  At 8am I was buzzing around Park Row in Bristol in the Hobbs Hair salon getting one of my models ready for the press launch for the Hobbs Best of Bristol Show . Radio and TV crews were all buzzing around and Doug from Hobbs the organiser was working the room like a model himself lol! Well amidst the sea of models, make up artists, hair stylists, designers and a few celebs like Beth Rowley, I was feeling the pressure having to get my size 6 model in a size 14 dress (thanks to Gilly Woo who sewed her in for me) with only minutes to spare but here she is posing for the forthcoming brochure.

Tickets are on sale now for this really exciting event packed with dancers and performers, its a real show, taking place on the 19th June 2010 at the Colston Hall in Bristol, to book your tickets click here. all profits go to Meningitis UK, a very worthy cause. So where do I fit in you’re wondering?  Well my hats will be showcased in front of 1800 people in a 1920’s section I’ll be styling, even picking the tunes they strut too….no pressure at all then!

Anyway, back to the hat,  here’s a bit of a reportage shot from my kanckered old camera of the lovely Claire Beard aka Clara B (fortuitous name!).  I’m bringing back some very vintage styles, all can be replicated in a vast array of colours…..I’ve wanted a skull cap cloche for years and finally….here’s one I made earlier.  Enjoy x

A taster of what to expect at the show!

Introducing my 1920’s Millinery Website – Clara Bows

Its official launch isn’t until June this year but here’s a taster, I need to photograph all my hats and fascinators which is easier said that done at the minute (a good chunk are with a magazine which is another story!) so for now there’s some old pics on there .  Excuses excuses! check out my very flapperesque website Clara Bows Millinery (make sure you click on the gramophone!) created by the wonderful Rosie & Lee.  They’ve done an amazing job, thanks guys x

This website will be selling hats I make, giving details on how to order a bespoke hat from me and of course, details on my fascinator workshops (with lots of pictures showing them in progress).  I’ve been selling hats now for well over a year, no promotion at all but still getting at least a couple of orders a month usually people who stumble on me via the web or who stop me in the street.  I’ve been given my own millinery section in the Bristol Fashion Show later in the year.  I’m excited, nervous and honoured all at once about that, I’m busily making my six key pieces……six pieces that I’ve wanted to make for years heavily influenced by the 1920’s, its a creative indulgence and I’ve had to up my skills to create these pieces where the practices needed to make them have almost died out.  And two of these pieces wouldn’t be possible If it wasn’t for a lady with over 50 years in the business making hats for Royalty  passing on her skills as I couldn’t find anyone else up to the job.  All the feedback I’ve had from customers has been incredible but whilst I was growing Vintage Tea Sets I kept this in the background, and lets face it I’m very very busy with the china hire business!  But with the support of my lovely Mum – together we make an amazing team – she blocks the hats for me, makes those lovely vinyl cakes stands that just keep flying off the shelves and helping get big orders together.