Workshops and Talks
Over lockdown, did you crave conversation with someone else who wasn’t your family?
Did you want to make something which wasn’t banana bread?
I did, and thus the idea of ‘Millinery Experiences’ came about!
I love getting folk together, chatting and learning to make something for themselves.
I teach organised classes at Cambridge Art Makers in Linton, Cambridgeshire and Snobbyeddy Crafts in Haverhill, Suffolk
I give talks and workshops to organisations such as as Womens Institutes, Craft Groups and U3A. Over the past year I’ve taught leather poppies at Essex WI HQ and sinamay fascinators for two Cambridge WIs.
I also give private tution from my home studio, just outside Saffron Walden in Essex. Please get in contact with me if you’ve got any questions – I’d love to share my passion for hats!
Leather Poppy
Learn how to make a poppy from leather – no specialist tools required! This beautiful leather poppy is very simple (but messy!) to create. Learn how to stiffen and shape the poppy petals, and how to put them together to make either a corsage or brooch.
All materials provided
Duration – 2 hours
Age level – 13+
Ability level – Suitable for anyone. You will have to get your hands very sticky, so if you don’t like mess, this isn’t for you.
Next Workshop Date – Saturday 9th November – Snobbyeddy Craft Centre,
To book a space please message Debby at Snobbyeddy
07748 125750
Snobbyeddy@yahoo.com
A felt cloche hat in a day!
You can make your very own cloche hat from scratch in a day and learn some traditional millinery techniques.
We’ll start by finding out your head size, and selecting an appropriate hat block to use. You’ll then stiffen the felt, and block then trim your hat.
All materials provided.
You will take home a felt cloche hat, designed and created by you!
Duration – 6 hrs
Age level – 13 +
Ability level – Basic hand sewing skills required
Next Course Date – Saturday 16th November – Cambridge Art Makers, Linton
Scandinavian Stars
2024 20Make your own festive decorations using ribbon origami . Learn how to weave and fold ribbon into these eight pointed stars, and use them to decorate your home.
All materials provided.
You will take home 2 or 3 completed stars, depending on how quickly you can fold .
Duration – 2 hours
Age level – 13+
Ability level – You may want to secure your folds with stitches, but it is not essential.
Next workshops being held in partnership with and subsidised by – The Library Presents.
Tickets available from their website linked below, or by telephone 01353 6167991
Chatteris Library – Saturday 2nd November 2024 2pm-4pm
Burwell Library – Saturday 30th November 2pm-4pm
If you would like to book this workshop on a different date, please contact me
Feathered Headband
Learn how to make your own light and wispy feathery headpiece – the most popular of all my headbands last year! Some saw it as a firework (in reds and oranges) others as snowflakes. Whatever your choice of colour, you’ll make something unique.
All materials provided.
You will take home a completed feathered headband
Duration – 2 hours
Age level – 13 +
Ability level – No skills required
Next Workshop Date – to be confirmed – but hopefully before Christmas in central Cambridge. Please contact me for further information
A felt button hat in a day!
You can make your very own hat from scratch in a day and learn some traditional millinery techniques.
We’ll start by learning how to block a button base in felt. Whilst it’s drying we’ll make a couture lining, and then move on design your very own trim.
All materials provided.
You will take home a button hat, designed and created by you!
Duration – 6 hrs
Age level – 13 +
Ability level – Basic sewing skills required
No workshop dates currently scheduled. Please contact me if you would like to to find out about scheduling a session.
Vintage Style Felt Fascinator
Whether you love the deco style of the roaring twenties or prefer post war half hats, you can make your own fascinator. Using the same basic pattern in felt, you’ll learn how to cut, shape and trim it to make a fascinator unique to you.
All materials provided.
You will take home a completed fascinator
Duration – 2 ½ hours
Age level – 13 +
Ability level – Sewing skills would be useful, but if you can’t, I will help.
No workshop dates currently scheduled. Please contact me if you would like to to find out about scheduling a session.
A sinamay button hat in a day!
You can make your very own hat from scratch in a day and learn some traditional millinery techniques.
We’ll start by learning how to block a button base in sinamay (a straw type material), and then move on design your very own trim.
All materials provided.
You will take home a button hat, designed and created by you!
Duration – 6 hrs
Age level – 13 +
Ability level – Basic sewing skills required
No workshop dates currently scheduled. Please contact me if you would like to to find out about scheduling a session.
Sinamay Straw Fascinator
Learn how to make three different trims in and put them together to make your own fascinator. The trims will be fixed to your choice of headband or clip and are ideal for spring and summer events.
All materials provided. You will take home a completed fascinator
Duration – 2 ½ hours
Age level – 13 +
Ability level – Sewing skills would be useful, but if you can’t, I will help.
No workshop dates currently scheduled. Please contact me if you would like to to find out about scheduling a session.