Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Sydney cup Day
















Great fun at Sydney schweppes Cup Luncheon for New South Wales Race horse owners at Randwick. Judged Best Hat - Jane Pittman wearing lovely Nerida Winter Hat , and runner up Jenny Mosely wearing a Neill Grigg creation . Loved the colours and feminine styling . Sharon Hunt and Jane Beason looked fabulous in their Embellish atelier creations

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Embellish - Royal Easter Show win




















Displaying articles and materials used in hatmaking under the amazing chandelier in The Country Trader













I spent last weekend at The Country Trader at the Belle Luxury Living Show showing my latest hats and demonstrating the Art of Hatmaking. It was great to be part of this terrific event and to display my hats against the backdrop of all the incredible french furniture . Rosemarie Hillier did the duty on Sunday and took this photo for me while I headed down the long and winding road to Whispering Brook http://www.whispering-brook.com/
in Broke with the car piled with Hat boxes, and Tess , Maddie, and Helen (who were my beautiful models for the day.) What a beautiful spot - we will definitely be back. Susan and Adam have developed the perfect retreat to create their boutique wines .




I collected my hats from The Royal Agricultural Easter show where one of my hats won first place in the Leather Section - 0227 . I was also awarded a Standard of Excellence in this category . My Ned Kelly inspired helmet received a Highly Commended in the Wirework section.






Ned Kelly Inspired Hat created for Outlaws at Breathing Colours Gallery -
Highly Commended - Royal Easter Show 2010






It did rather take me back to the days of the Capella Show - could smell the saddle grease when Robert, Michael and I would trot over from the dairy to the Peak Downs Pony Club in our finest to compete .Robert and Mick often won best rider . Mum always got heaps of awards and prizes for her fabuous fruit cakes , jams , and chutneys, and Dads pigs were also well beribboned. I much preferred the barrel racing . I do recall first prize for my plate of scones one year , and in year 3 Cursive Writing... Will have to do a photo search of the year I was Miss Central Highlands Showgirl - and
was first runner up at the Brisbane Exhibition for the Queensland Showgirl Comp. Was heaps of fun and had some really encouraging mentors along the way. Great for a shy country girls' confidence. But the Show was always a big build up and a special part of our lives .


I am off to judge the best hat again this year at the New South Wales Race Horseowners luncheon at Randwick . I am certain it will be a difficult job again as everyone makes such a big effort. I love seeing everyone dressed in their finest for the races.
Enjoyed a session last night at The Sir Stamford at Circular Quay with klick communicatinos klick.com.au
learning how little I know about blogging and facebook et al. A very informative and inspiring evening .
Here are a few of the beautiful hats left from my collection if you are hatless for Saturdays Sydney Cup Day . Contact me on info@embellish-hats.com .

Minerva - Teal felt hat trimmed with handmade grosgrain trim - peri winkles.. $460













Terpsichore


Mini tophat in purple felt trimmed with fabulous hand made cerise silk flower, gold chain EMB AW17- $390










Aurora- Orange felt made on vintage 50s block with fabulous pheasant feather trim . EMB AW18







Calliope- EMB AW 14 $520 - Classic animal print felt crown and bone felt upturned brim trimmed with handmade felt , and leather flower and cut peacock feathers.




















Sunday, April 4, 2010

Hats and High Tea.











Today has been a perfect day - Easter Sunday - The Family all home , Easter Mass, Belle Fleur Chocolate, a glass of Whispering Brook Blanc de Blanc, and brunch with good friends.

It has been a busy and wonderful time at Embellish atelier .
High Tea has been a regular addition to the schedule.

The Golden Slipper Enchanted Hats and High Tea was a great success.It is such a pleasure to be involved in an event which is putiing Sydney Couture Milliners on the Sydney Map.



Dear Sydney Couture Milliners ,

I would like to thank each of you for your contribution to the Golden Slipper Enchanted Hats and High Tea. . Each and every hat modelled and displayed looked exceptional. I hope you agree the move for the milliners to exhibit in the foyer created a welcome and tempting atmosphere.

Thank you to NSW racehorse owners association who stage the event and President Ray McDowell for continuously striving to promote and raise the profile of this event .

Thank you to Sharon from Sharon Lenton Events for all her energy and hard work to put the event together, and for her and Rays continued networking with the AJC and the STC .

Samantha Storry and her team at Sir Stamford work very hard to make every aspect of the day perfect for us and thank them for everything yesterday.

I am sure you will agree that every model was simply beautiful and they looked gorgeous in their Anthea Crawford outfits- showing off each hat to its best advantage . Congratulations to all the winners . Especially Denise for her Hat matching and Anthea Crawford outfit and Neil whose display and parade was judged to be the best. Lisa Wellings looked amazing in her ensemble and won best dressed .

Jenni Seton from Redkite spoke poignantly in her address about the important work of Redkite and her passion for hats.

We are very grateful to our wonderful sponsors for the event and are proud to have raised close to $2500 for for Redkite.
Thank you also to Rebecca Willis , Tess, James , and John Kelly, and Ray McDowell who sold the raffle tickets, Mystery Envelopes , and Auction Prize.

We wish to acknowledge our generous sponsors and trust you will continue to support them .
NSW Racehorse Owners Association
AAMI Golden Slipper Day
Golden Slipper Festival
Sharon Lenton Events
www.sharonlentonevents.com.au
Embellish Atelier www.embellish-hats.com
Anthea Crawford
Whispering Brook - Boutique Wines and Olives
www.whispering-brook.com.au
Arbonne
Artika International
www.artika.com.au. Beautiful Shibori Scarves
Sydney Showboats
Beautiful Things by… Beecroft – the most beautiful shop in the world.
jean@beautifulthingsby.com.au
P.I. Fitness –Personal Trainer - Jacqui Azizi . 0402156160 Duke St , Balmain
Vera Mcelroy - Personal stylist 0413704863
veraM@altisarchitecture.com
Sir Stamford at Circular Quay
Sydney Community College
www.course.com.au
Suzanne O’Brien www.suzanneobrien.com.au
Hat box Designs by Denise Bromley
Kim Sonda Mobile Beauty Therapist
Winning Edge



Thankyou to our wonderful Jean Carroll O.A.M for her wonderful words encouraging everyone to wear a hat every day.
There are certainly many good reasons to wear a hat every day but most of all because it lifts your spirits.

Keep up your beautiful work and look forward to seeing you all again at the next event .

We will send a more formal letter but just wanted to pass on my thanks to each of you for your part . To any one I have forgotten please beg my pardon , let me know and I will amend my ways..

Hats off,

Hello Catherine, I want to say what a wonderful day I had yesterday. You really did a great job with the organizing of the milliners and the the lobby and the mannequins were beautiful. I thought the hotel had done that. Everything ran very well. That suite you had on was really beautiful it took you to another dimension really runway worthy. You and Carole Maher were the best dressed milliners in my opinion I have to lift my game for spring!!!! Kind regardsDenise


I stole a couple of days off to fly to Brisbane to see the Stephen Jones lecture and view the Anthology of Hats. High Tea at GOMA with Kit and Jean Carroll topped off a perfect day.

A further highlight last week was demonstrating hatmaking at Balmain Hospital

Cathy,

Yesterday was a wonderful day due to your generous provision of yourself and your skill as an artisan and raconteur! Many, many thanks.

Regards, Ann-Marie

Dr Ann-Marie Crozier


Millinery Essentials and Making Soft Furnidshings classes finished off really well with lots of great hats and soft furnishings being made. Enrol asap if you are considering joining as these classes fill very quickly http://www.course.com.au/


This weekend Embellish atelier is demonstrating and exhibiting at The Country Trader in Waterloo. For more information log on to http://www.pyd.com.au/belleluxuryliving/

Embellish atelier will also be holding a parade at Whispering Brook on 11th April in Broke as part of A little bit of Italy.
log onto http://www.whisperingbrook.com/