♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ 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.

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ 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. 

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ 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...

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Another Etsy Listing ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

Very black and white at the moment. Hoping to add a splash of colour with a new hat soon inspired by a painting. However until then here is the latest addition to the collection a hair piece and brooch in one. It has a strong hair clip and a brooch back attached to it so it doubles up. I found some double clips recently and they are the perfect addition to the pieces. This was something that was suggested to me at a fair last year. I have been using seperate clips up until now. ButI think they look a little clumpy and heavy with two seperate clips. These are attached to a single metal disc and are designed for the job. Perfect. They look much neater.

 To purchase this piece visit my Etsy shop.

The button I made using some spare fabric that I had printed by the wonderful Capsule39. They print t-shirts, hoodies you name it they do it. I was desperate to to get a Maltese Cross on a button and they leapt to the rescue. This was a spare so I thought it would suit the centre of the flower.

I am hoping to get quite a few more made before my first fair of the year happening in February. More details soon.

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ 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.

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♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Getting back into it ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

Groom's Royal Flush Buttonhole in Spades and Hearts.

This design is part of a series. The Best Men have '4 of a Kind' 9s and 8s, the fathers 7s and 6s with the ushers having the remaining cards, the 5s, 4, 3s,and 2s using a full deck of cards.

Where has my energy been! I have been neglecting my creativity recently and since being back at school it feels like I have been non-stop for the past 4 weeks. Well, today that is going to change. I have almost completed an order of buttonholes that will wing it's way to Florida for a wedding in November, confirmed my space with Lina for a Contemporary Craft Fair at The Global Cafe (RISC), Reading on November 27th and managed to get Binkypops to sign up to it to. I can't wait, should be a good day out. I am also planning to enter an embroidery competition with a prize of a chance to spend a day with Diane Bates, who I think is wonderful! Oh and what else, start a range of card designs that can be framed for my stall, update www.soobird.com with a Buttonhole gallery, update Etsy with a few new things and collect some fisheye pictures from Boots that I hope have worked. I borrowed a camera from a friend, destroyed the first film and had to use whatever I could find whilst in Paris. If they do work I will be so pleased and will get them up on here. Er what else, oh and make a cannelloni.

This is all in one day... I will let you know how I get on

Fathers of the Bride & Groom

Best Man

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♥ Joe & Eileen Wed 26♥08♥2010 ♥

A splendid afternoon spent in Minehead witnessing Joe (Darren's dad) and Eileen wed at St Michaels Church. We then made out way to Binham Grange, which was like an art gallery with sculptures and amazing things everywhere. I want to live there!

Binham Grange

A wire Dung Beetle

I can't remember who the artist was... it's really annoying me. They were about 6 or 7 insect homes made out of brass and ceramic pots. really unusual. Unfortunately pay day was a way off. One day I would like to own one.

Ali and Megan wearing their original 'Soobird' hair pieces. Which can be purchased in my Etsy shop wink wink.

My hat then did the rounds...

♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ So Long August ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

8.? km high on the top of Mount Kinabalu. The hardest thing I have ever done. No stomach bug or altitude sickness could stop me though!

Well I am back from Borneo... one of the most amazing experiences. I went with 5 of my Sixth Formers (and Kay & Nicky from Ilkeston School with 7 of their students) to Borneo as part of a World Challenge. The students had been building up to this 4 week trip for 18 months. It was an action packed month of jungle trekking, mountain climbing, white water rafting and various other things. Tons of inspiration gathered and now ready to get going creating some hats based on my findings.

I imagine some kind of spiny, spikey fascinator perched on the side of the head with antenna and feelers made from spines...

On route to Bako National Parl, Sarawak. Glorious quiet beaches surrounded by rainforest containing creatures of all shapes and sizes... including Proboscis Monkeys.

I ♥ CARNIVOROUS PLANTS - got to make something based on these!

So bright and vibrant... the picture doesn't quite do them justice. Another idea for a hat.

Kept myself busy on the plane home by painting the 'Student Awards'. I can make a studio space in the smallest of places!

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♦ ♣ ♥ ♠ Latest additions ♦ ♣ ♥ ♠

Things have been a little quiet since I went to the 'Hot Muffins' night in Reading. For some reason the holidays make me do less. I have always known I work better under pressure but until a had a bit of a nightmare a few nights ago everything had been on hold. Now back to business here are some of the latest creations that are on Etsy and soon to be on sale in Tiger Lilly's, Reading.