Andrew McDonald

Andrew McDonald: Hat Works Museum

2011-12-22T13:16:00.000Z

www.hatworks.org.uk

Andrew McDonald: Hat Works Museum

2011-12-22T13:13:00.000Z

Hat Works Museum

2011-12-22T13:09:00.003Z

I've just come across this interesting hat museum in Stockport (Cheshire). It is both a museum of traditional factory production and a holder of contemporary exhibitions. The latest one looks good with trimmings as the focus. Happy holidays!!

www.hatworks.org.uk

Deep in vintage focus

2011-11-25T23:20:00.002Z

Hard at work in Tuesdays vintage fascinator class.

2011-11-25T22:18:00.002Z

I have started running a fascinator making course over two evenings where we are up-cycling vintage fabrics. I also encourage people to bring along things with emotional or sentimental connections. Perhaps your daughters favourite dress from when she was little or a few buttons from a loved grandmothers best jacket. This wool herringbone flower was once a sports jacket !

Teamed with burgundy felt leaves and a yet to be added spray of black biot feathers it creates a contemporary fascinator with a strong vintage look. The photo shows one of the many talented students who is rightly very pleased with her new headwear. It was a fun evening !!

Andrew McDonald: A very special occasion to wear a hat

2011-10-08T11:05:00.000+01:00

http://www.museumofeverything.com/exhibition4.php

A very special occasion to wear a hat

2011-10-08T10:58:00.000+01:00

I'm really looking forward to attending the launch party for the Museum of Everythings new exhibition at the old Selfridges Hotel. I know there'll be some amazing hat wearers and i hope that i'll have my new hat ready - i must! Maybe i'll see you there. The exhibition is of the work of Judith Scott a stunning artist from California who's life and work are deeply moving. Wonderful objects wrapped in threads. A must see exhibition.

Learn to use sinamay and feaather shaping to create your own fascinator.

2011-09-26T14:21:00.001+01:00

Vintage fascinators- learn how to up-cycle fabrics into fascinators.

2011-09-26T14:19:00.000+01:00

Couture fabric rose making- learn how to make an amazingly beautiful rose from any fabric you like.

2011-09-26T14:17:00.001+01:00

Class Dates October - December 2011

2011-09-26T14:05:00.004+01:00

Andrew McDonald: Millinery Classes

2011-09-26T13:59:00.000+01:00

Andrew McDonald: Millinery Classes

Please have a look at the Facebook site i've set up called Andrew McDonald Millinery Tuition. There are details of more classes and news. Thanks

Steaming away

2010-11-05T20:17:00.002Z

Steaming and blocking - the muscle building part.

Getting in the mood

2010-11-05T20:10:00.002Z

This was one of the wonderful details that a student on my October course captured. Thanks !

2010-10-31T14:19:00.004Z

Last months course was a great weekend and i had another fabulously diverse group of students. The two first timers were both from Toronto, although Lisa lives here and Erin was visiting. Erin sent me a lovely email after the course with the flattering comments below.

I'd like to take all the credit but i must say Erin had a natural feel for millinery and making in general. Each of the students that weekend, some of whom were returning to develop their hatting, had different strengths and succeeded in making some beautiful hats - cloches and a sharp little pillbox! Thanks to them i had a great weekend too.

Thanks again for the most wonderful course-- I still can't quite believe how MUCH you managed to teach us in just two short days! Miraculous! Or a testament to your skills as both milliner and tutor, more likely. - Erin 4.10.10

Manchester Gallery of Costume

2010-04-26T23:00:00.003+01:00

I'm really pleased to be able to say that towards the end of last year the Manchester Gallery of Costume contacted me to ask if they could have one of my hats for a new exhibition. As part of a major renovation they have developed a contemporary millinery collection which is now on show in the new gallery. The Shell Form hat on my blog is now on display and a permanent part of their collection.

Despite being really happy about this i wasn't able to go to the opening as i was in New Zealand. I was visiting my family and generally gathering inspiration for this new series of millinery classes. Mainly at the beach!

Tomorrow i have my first long distance traveller coming to study with me which is exciting too. She is coming from Malawi for a four day course so it's all go from tomorrow.

Millinery Weekend/ September 5 & 6

2009-09-14T14:51:00.003+01:00

It always helps to have someone else to model for you. Choosing trimmings is as important as getting the right shapes at the start. Nothing is too mad to try!

2009-09-14T14:17:00.001+01:00

Trying on. What do you think?

2009-09-14T14:14:00.001+01:00

Hat art. Blocking surrounded by paintings, ceramics and hats.

2009-09-14T14:05:00.000+01:00

Students blocking a brim and a cloche in felt

2009-09-14T00:27:00.001+01:00

Learning and laughing

Ana in yellow loop hairpiece at Soho gig

2009-01-26T03:46:00.002Z

This is a photo taken of Ana Silvera by Mauro Cocilio wearing the spiky black feather and yellow loop hairpiece i made for her to wear at this gig. I wrote earlier about the show which was beautiful and intimate just like Ana's songs.

Hat for Anna Silvera

2009-01-12T21:52:00.002Z

I've just finished making a hairpiece for Anna Silvera, a fantastic singer songwriter who is bringing out her debut album in the Summer. We met at my studio to fit the the wave of black stripped goose feathers which has a lemon/canary yellow ribbon weaving through it. She was very pleased and now I'm waiting excitedly to go to her gig tomorrow night at the Revue bar in Soho (London). Doors open at 7.30pm so if you want to see a wonderful new talent who is working with the same people who work with Antony and the Johnsons and Rufus Wainwright, then come along.

Photo to follow

Hats meet fashion props!

2008-12-29T22:23:00.001Z

Recently i spent a lovely weekend with Fred Butler( of Fredbutlerstyle) teaching her at my studio on one of my weekend millinery courses. Her own work involves making fantastic and fabulous props for fashion shoots and other glamorous events. She proved to be a very able and clearly talented maker and mind and we had a great time chatting about the Cockettes, fabrics, colours, glitter and how to wear that all important hat! Have a look at her blog and be amazed at her creations - they're great. - fredbutlerstyle.blogspot.com

Millinery Classes

2008-11-14T14:37:00.003Z

Since the middle of the year i have been holding monthly weekend courses in hat making. With a maximum of six students in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere the courses have focused on blocking shapes in felt and straw. Once you have a base you can trim it in any way you desire using feathers, fabric, ribbons and other more unconventional materials.

I have plenty of experience with the unusual, having made hats for couture shows in Paris and London as well as editorial pieces for Dazed and ID Magazines. From hats made of resin set hair to plastic bubbles shimmering with crystals. However if a more wearable hat is what you want then bring on the bows and flowers.

On the course you will learn how to make hat of your own design as well as pick up all sorts of tips for maintaining and updating any old hats you have. If you live in London or are interested in my hats and classes then feel free to email me and ask any questions you have.

Red Laise

2008-11-14T14:13:00.004Z

Red Laise
This twin enclosure hat is covered in a fabric called laise, made by weaving fine pieces of straw in and out of a cotton base. It is not commonly used today and in fact this is a vintage piece from the 1940's. The inside is lined with a floral silk brocade.

White Cotton Sun Hat

2008-11-14T13:54:00.004Z

White Cotton Sun Hat

This soft white cotton sun hat is based on an early 20th century French beach hat. It fits snugly on the head and gives an amazing amount of protection from the sun. The image i based it on was of a child on the beach in the south of France. I imagine the sun was as strong there as it is today in other less ozone protected parts of the world.

Cats Tail Peak

2008-11-14T11:46:00.002Z

The Cats Tail

Peak

This perch hat is made of russet red faux fur with a peak of knitted cellophane. The cheeky curling tail is luxuriously silky soft in contrast to the impossibly sparkly peak.

2008-11-14T11:39:00.002Z

Shell Form

Side and back views.

2008-11-14T11:22:00.003Z

Shell Form
This hat draws on influences from nature, the medieval era and the 1940's. A seemingly unusal meeting of ideas and yet one that i think works in this stylish and contemporary hat.
The base is a sleek swirling flat pile faux fur with a vintage 1940's veiling.

Synamay Twist

2008-10-21T22:02:00.004+01:00

A synamay twist with rolled edge chartreuse synamay ribbon. The finishing touch is a gold and raspberry marabou pom pom.
This little fascinator is easy to wear and can be made in a range of colour combinations to suit your outfit.

Miss Manta Ray

2008-10-20T14:48:00.003+01:00

I call this hat Miss Manta Ray due partly to it's stingray like shape and partly to the elegantly floating diva quality.

This broad brimmed shape is covered in a knitted cellophane fabric which sparkles exquisitely under light. The stronger the better.

This hat was made for a runway show but i have also made the same shape in a honey coloured synamay with matching train for a wedding.

Red

2008-10-20T14:34:00.002+01:00

A red wool felt pillbox hat with matching veil. A simple and yet dramatic hat with a hint of the 1940's vamp about it. Available in many different colours.

Pale Pink Fascinator

2008-10-20T14:30:00.003+01:00

This fascinator is made of pale pink synamay with arrowhead quill trimming. Delicate and light.

My World

2008-10-20T14:25:00.003+01:00

This collar piece is made on an espartre base with black woven cellophane and hand beaten lilac silk velvet. It was made for a London runway show.

Black feather and veil Alice

2008-10-20T14:17:00.003+01:00

This is an alice band with a selection of coq feathers and a chenille spotted veil. Easy to wear with dramamtic effect. Available in many different colours.