Wendy Scully – Australia

Spring

Category: Traditional

Description

I tried to use a classic vintage hatblock shape, French origin, an early 1950 ring block.

I then created multiple large feather flowers, each hand dyed in about 10 shades of pinks with white gold tipped centre feathers. The flowers are Australian native like, like a protea, but with a modern interpretation. I created them to sit on the fine stiffened wires, which spiral around the ring block almost as though they are in a whirlwind, and to appear to be floating above the headpiece. The whole piece It sits elegantly on the back of the head, over the hair bun of the wearer.

The base was blocked in Paris net, then a straw cone, the once finished off the block it was then covered with a hand dyed sinamay to create a sheer shimmer layer.

All was then attached, finished with a handdyed guipure lace, combs and elastics.

I wanted to use the old with the new, the classic technique and materials with a more modern funky look. So retro with modern using very traditional materials, reinterpreted.

Materials

• Hand dyed feathers-10 shades
• Vintage 1950 hat block
• Parisisal hood- handdyed
• Wire- hand coloured
• Guipure lace trim
• Foam balls for feather flowers
• Sinamay – handdyed

Techniques

• Hand blocking
• Hand dying
• Hand stitching
• Wire stiffening, colouring
• Feather flower making – dying, trimming, curling, handpainting