♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Anna’s Splash of Colour ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

A new service is now available. Whilst at the latest fair in Newbury a lady was looking through my playing card greetings cards. She selected the cards and commissioned a bespoke piece. I think this might be the way forward.

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Teacup Fascinator & Matching Buttonhole♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

The latest creations for a tea party themed wedding...

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ It's nice to hear what people think ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

So, I created a Salvador Dali inspired headpiece for a client that discovered me on Etsy.

As soon as a package leaves my house the panic sets in. Will it get there, will it survive the journey, will they like it, does it fit... I could go on. To receive such thorough and complimentary feedback was a real ego boost so wanted to share it...

Dear Sue,

Hope this finds you really really well. I'm so sorry for writing so late but it's been such a hectic time for me and I really wanted to take my time in writing you.

Firstly, your packaging was amazing! The coolest packaging I have ever seen. I didn't even want to open the box!!

The actual fascinator was beyond my expectations! It is so so beautiful. I felt amazing wearing it and so comfy.

I can't tell you how many people complimented me on it and asked me where I had it made. You've got quite a following in Dubai now!

Thank you so so much for making this beautiful creation. Thank you for making it in such a short time! Thank you for everything....really....

I will definitely keep in touch and let you know of any future parties or ideas that we may need!

Thank you and all the very best,

Azza

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Comic Book Geekery ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

I had a lot of things going through my head as I made this piece. As always I make up a story to go with the imagery I am working with. Usually I am creating with playing cards, they get a bit boring after a while as I always go back to the Jack having an affair with the Queen behind the Kings back. 

So the images used from the cover of Ace Magazines, Inc The Beyond, No. 10 April 1952 gave me a bit of inspiration. As I am only working with the cover I had to guess what the story was about and so the general plot, I believe, is something like this.

The Damsel in Distress is being chased by fiery devlish creatures.

 

Her Fiance, who is a bit of a wimp can only watch in horror as they come to get her.

 The old man pictured bottom left is reaching out to help her and rescue her from the clutches of the little devils. ( I hope you can see that from the images).

The feathers used to embellish the piece also represent the characters. Single, turquoise feather = woman, two grey/blue feathers = Fiance, red and black feathers = devil and the ivory feathers represent the old man who is rescuing her. 

The button has the logo of Ace Magazines and I have hand embroidered it.

It’s all pretty obvious isn’t it however I wanted to try and explain the process behind my work and how important colour and quantity of the feathers is important.

Now I am off to make more...

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Queen of Hearts ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

The Queen of Hearts Fascinator has been developed into a bit of a fancier version. The wired hearts can be adjusted into place and the extra heart shaped feathers add movement and height. 

This piece is now available to buy here.

This piece has come from the popular comb which can be found in my shop.  

The cards in this piece are slightly different with the heart pips having a black outline. 

The base of the flower is mounted on a rosette of ribbons and a felt heart finishes it. 

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ New listing, it's been a while♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

Here we have a peacock clip. Had a load of black feathers I wanted to use. Love the colours if the peacock feathers, the dye has such a wonderful reaction.

I actually started this before Christmas. Trying to get bits finished and listed so I can get on with some head turning hats... Watch this space!

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Queen of Hearts Teacup ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

Just having a sort through my phone. Only 2346 photos to either file away, share or delete. I find it difficult to know where to put them all so think the next few posts are going to be a back log of photos that never made it on here. Also managed to finish a couple of headpieces today. They will soon be on Etsy as my New Year’s resolution is to create pieces and get them online quicker. It’s going ok so far...

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ New Year, new creations♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

Finally discovered an app to post to my blog! Might actually stay up to date a bit more.

So much has been happening so will post more when I have more than 5 mins. This is really a test to see if this app is any good.

Here's a few pics of bits from the last couple of months...

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Butterflies ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

This piece was created for one of my favourite returning clients. She always has an idea, provides me with inspirational imagery and then leaves me to create with the freedom I often don’t get.

Her dress... orange, black and burgundy. A little unsure how I was going to make these colours work although I knew I would. Her other request was that butterflies, net and lots of spine feathers were included in the design. I knew I had some butterflies that I picked up off a market in Kota Kinabulu, Borneo back in August 2010. I have used the odd one in designs before but not on this scale. I knew they would be perfect and had a design in my head early on. Burgundy and black netting were added beneath the piece to add texture. Lots of feathers were cut, shaped and curled.

Here are the results...

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

Busy preparing for the Windsor Fair on Monday 4th June. Lots of red, white and blue creations are currently being made. However, at this rate I am going to sell out before I get there. More information and prices can be found here.

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Finally, a new Etsy Listing ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

Available in my Etsy shop or at Charming Magpies, Winchester.

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Charming Magpies ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

The latest creation, ready to make it’s way to Charming Magpies, a charming little vintage shop in Winchester. I am really excited about this partnership as I have so many ideas for bits and pieces that will feel right at home amongst the patterns and designs of the vintage clothing. My favourite of course, tweed. Any opportunity to create some tweedy type items and I am on it. I think being able to use feathers I have found or that have been given to me by students who go pheasant beating at the weekends makes it that bit more special, and personal to.

Anyway, this is the first of many... and it is available in my Etsy shop.

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Latest project ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

Well, when Sharon at the Vintage Hair Lounge contacted me about the Southampton Boat Show in September I couldn’t contain my excitement. This is a theme I can run a mile with. I won’t go into too much detail now because I really should be making some spectacular hair pieces for the event but I had to share a few ingredients I discovered in my box of tricks...

Perfect...

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Topper ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

I just wanted another picture to edit and I found one. I can’t stop myself, my galleries aren’t going to be the same ever again!

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Queen of Hearts Buttonhole ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

From a private request through Etsy I was asked to create a Buttonhole to work alongside the Queen of Hearts. I personally really love it and now want to create one to mount on a vintage full size top hat...

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Custom Clips ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

♣ Lorna’s Peacock ♣

I was asked to create a small clip to be worn in the hair to match the dress pictured. The Peacock style design on the fabric was the perfect starting point. Goose, pheasant and crow feathers were added along with some beige/coffee coloured strips. The finished piece measures 13cm in length and is attached to a clip, making it suitable to wear in the hair or as a bag, clothing accessory.

♣ Elise’s Black and White Wedding ♣

Something small and discreet for her sister’s wedding, but still with in the Soobird style. This is a much smaller version of the Queen of Hearts without the red cards. On a simple snap clip it sits neatly on your head, however it can still double up as a brooch or clip by requesting a brooch clasp to be added. This design will be featured in my Etsy shop very soon, it got a lot of attention at school.

♣ Hen Do at Ascot ♣

16 pieces made in total for this Hen Party. Above is a simple design taken from the more flamboyant design of the Hen’s (picture on it’s way). Due to the request being to suit 15 ladies with differing tastes this suited everybody. The clip attaches to all hair types and again doubles up as a brooch. So those not wishing to wear it on their heads could still be seen as a member of the group. Each petal was backed with race themed newspaper articles in keeping with their theme and their venue.