♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ 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...

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

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

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ A Little Moulin Rouge @ VHL ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

These pictures appeared on my Facebook wall a few days ago. Taken by the wonderfully talented Sharon Holloway of  Vintage Hair Lounge, Southampton.  Based on the Moulin Rouge a window display was created using the products they sell and a few hats in the mix for good measure...

Check out their Facebook page to see more or follow them on Twitter.

♥

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Vintagenie Christmas Fair ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

What a great day. I picked up Binkypops early this morning and we set off to have stalls at Vintagenie’s Christmas Vintage and Handmade Fair at the Penta Hotel in Reading. I usually dread these days due to the amount of boxes and bags I have to take, finding a parking space and generally being on my feet all day. I shouldn’t whinge about it because I appreciate all the positive comments and attention my work gets at these events. After all, the reason I do it is to show it all off. However today was very different due to the exceptional organisation from Lou and Anna of Vintagenie. Space sorted, directions sorted, parking sorted it really was the easiest it has ever been. Here are a few pictures from the day. I had to post one of Stephanie's stall as it just goes to show how very different we are. I wish I could turn up with one bag and be done :)

 The chaotic presentation skills of Soobird here. I had more than I thought and was really happy with how it looked. Now to find an ornate free standing mirror just to finish it all off.

You can probably see what I mean... sadly I forgot to get some close up shots of her jewellery, check out her shop to see.

Here we have Shaz of Oddsox with her wonderful sock creations. I couldn’t help purchasing a snowman badge... along with a ton of other bits from the fair.

The Penta Hotel was a great venue, lovely large and warm room. We all had plenty of space which made a nice change from the norm. Often we get crammed into tiny spaces which makes it quite difficult. At the front there was a performance area where a few local (highly talented) musicians took to the stage to perform for us. Hat’s off to the Burlesque performer. She must have been freezing!

♥

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Comic Book Clip ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

One for the geeks out there. A fancy flower created from a comic I pinched off Darren... I’ll pay attention to comics now I have something to do with them.