Workshop: Marianne Jongkind making a pillbox hat

Earlier this month I took a 2 day millinery hat workshop with Marianne Jonkind. She has over 50 years of millinery experience.Her class was truly educational. She is very knowledgeable and eager to share her millinery techniques and tips with the class. She teaches you what you want to learn, so when you attend the workshop you bring the supplies you will need to make what you want. It is a good idea to discuss with her ahead of time to make sure you have what you need. 

Day 1

I wanted to learn how to build a buckram base for a pillbox hat. I learned also how to cover the exterior and how to create a lining. 

Day 2

I wanted to learn how to cover a diadem (headband) with sinamay and then with fabric. 

Workshop: Jane Fryers Fish Leather

This past weekend, I attended a two-day fish leather workshop taught by, Jane Fryers. 

Fish leather is cured and tanned skins of fish. The leather feels like normal animal leather and come in an array of colors. The Tilapia comes in two pieces and the salmon is one large long skin. Some leathers are softer than others. 

The workshop was amazing. Jane taught us how to block fish leather, how hand sculpt two types of roses one for a flat application and another on a wire. We blocked one hat with the Tilapia suede fish leather and made the roses from salmon skin. 

Jane was a stupendous teacher. She took her time and explained extensively how the blocking and flower making process/technique worked for this material. She also shared several practical millinery tips. One definitely has to have confidence in this material and trust that the final piece will be stunning. I was delighted when our group gathered all our hats for a group photo. Everyone's work was very different and elegant.

You can order the salmon fish leather at Nanai.
The workshop was put together by, Pierre et Pierre in The Hague, Netherlands.