Hats have taken me many places. Many of the ” hat sayings” we know are true for me. The hat has guided me well in my life.
‘‘Through your hat in the ring” ……………meaning, be part of it, join in, do something……………has become my mantra in life and it has served me well. I am sharing with you so I do NOT ” Keep the beauty under my hat“!
Hats have taken me once again on the road. Just finished a class in the heart of Bangkok. Even the heat got to me at times it had also advantages. With sweaty hands it is much easier to roll Sinamay big Thank you to all for hosting!!
The winter month in Australia are very beautiful. Unlike Europe in most part of the country it is not very cold. Yes we have snow in some parts for a short time and yes this gives reason to wear very warm hats.
Winter in Queensland is for me as an Austrian born person a wonderful place. It is always warm around mid C20 and more. So very warm winter hats are not warm. Yes we work with felt and warmer cloth, but a mixture of straw and felt has always looked more attractive to fit with the cloth and the seasons.
Far back in 1990 when I first arrived in Australia and opened my shop, I was not used at all to the warmth of the winters. I did not feel that felt and velvets suited the climate. SO I often used straw and trimmed them with velvet or added a felt crown to a straw brim. I used Sinamay and trimmed it with felt off cuts, or moulded a felt to add Sinamay flowers.
with silk.
Back than I remember some of my peers were laughing at me, for what they called ”breaking the rules”. I was hurt than by it and could not understand why they did not see what was so obvious to me…………..
Now , many years later, I understand that we all see at the time what seams right to us…….now I understand that we need always follow what seams right to us ……….I understand that winter in Queensland for people who live there is COLD, and for me who comes from the cold south of Australia, it seams warm and I understand if they want to wear FELT, than this s what they need to be supported with……..and I am lucky to be te one who can bring those skills to Queensland as I once again prepare to travel to Rockhampton and spend time with those amazing women ,who have fallen in love with hats and the making of them, just as I have all those years ago.
Queensland here I come!
Again the international Millinery Forum was a great success and the Millinery Industry is well alive.
The Photos are speaking for themselves.
The overseas guests were joining the home grown global designers including Neil Grigg, Waltraud Reiner, Georgina Conheady, Phillip Rhodes, Bette Fogarty, Richard Nylon, Maris Herr, Jane Stoddart, Jean Carroll OAM, Carol Wilkes and Pamela Martin.
And the week finished of with the theme of the glorious 20-ies. Watch this space. MORE to come soon.
Linda Tillman ,organiser of the Millinery Forum and Neil Grigg, of Sydney are pictured in the picture which was taken at the Cocktail party at an amazing property outside of Wagga Wagga
The evening was like something out of a movie. Women in hats , strolling through the gardens topped with a glorious sunset…………..
Chanel was born on the 19th August 1882 in Saumur, France. Her mother died when she was just six. A week after the death of her mother, Chanel’s father abandoned her and her siblings, which resulted in Chanel’s young life being spent in an orphanage, raised by nuns. The nuns taught her how to sew. Being a girl bought up under these circumstances; there seemed little chance for success.
It may be surprising for some to learn Coco’s real name is in fact Gabrielle Bonheur. ‘Coco’ came from a shortened version of cocotte, the French word for ‘kept woman’. Chanel started out as a milliner selling hats in Paris in 1912. She sold simple cloche hats that became popular amongst society women. Chanel soon expanded into couture, introducing simplicity and comfort to the industry, proving she was a brilliant entrepreneur.
One of the first major fashion innovations pioneered by Chanel was the use of jersey. Jersey was previously associated as material for men’s underwear. Chanel used jersey as it was cheap, draped well and suited Chanel’s simple, practical designs.
Her individual style was simple, slightly masculine and relaxed; It was reflected directly in her designs.
During the twenties, Chanel was often photographed wearing trousers; at the time this was considered very inappropriate for a woman. Her image, her short cropped hair and her love affairs with famous men lent her notoriety. She appeared daring and exciting. Importantly, she appealed to women. Trousers became popular, and even more fashionable were short cropped haircuts. Chanel’s lifestyle embodied the emergence of the independent, uninhibited woman.
For Chanel the key concepts behind her designs were simplicity and comfort. This contrasted sharply with the corset fashions popular in the previous Edwardian era.
In 1922 Chanel released her most famous perfume – Chanel No. 5. It has been described as “the world’s most legendary fragrance” and still remains popular today, the company claim a bottle of it is sold every 55 seconds. However Chanel was not completely happy as the control of her perfume business was not entirely hers.
The “little black dress” was introduced by Chanel in 1926 after a picture of it appeared in Vogue which claimed it would become “a sort-of uniform for women of all tastes” The simple cut, colour and comfort appealed to all women and remains a staple of women’s wardrobes today. As well as clothes for the public, she designed costumes for the Ballets Russes.
Chanel was radical, innovative and successful, this made her immensely popular, and she counted film maker Jean Cocteau and artist Pablo Picasso among her closest friends.
In the war however Chanel started to lose her appeal. In 1939 all her workers were sacked and the fashion house was temporary closed. The fashion industry in Paris was cut off due to the Nazi occupation and for a brief period Chanel worked as a nurse. She took up residence in the Hotel Ritz Paris; it became her home for more than 30 years. It was during this time that a passionate love affair with a German begun. Baron Von Dincklage was a Nazi officer and spy.
Still unhappy that she did not have complete control of her perfume business, Chanel and Baron Von Dincklage wanted to expose her Jewish partners to the Nazis allowing her to gain full control of the perfumes.
With the liberation of Paris at the end of the war Chanel was arrested. Her reputation had been tarnished by her relationship with Von Dincklage and there were rumours of other ‘war’ crimes. Chanel was interrogated but she was not charged as a collaborator. The public view was different. Many believed she had betrayed her country. She went to live alone in Switzerland for a number of years in self imposed exile.
In 1953 Chanel returned to Paris, Christian Dior was now dominating the Haute-Couture industry. Her return collection was savaged by the French press who were quick to take revenge. They had not forgotten her relationship with Von Dincklage and described the show as a flop and fiasco. However her stylish casual clothing caught the eye of the public and she was once again dominating the Haute Couture scene.
The famous Chanel quilted handbag with the chain strap was introduced in 1955. It fast became so popular that Chanel was forced to decline numerous requests as supply was not fast enough for demand. Now over 50 years old, the 2.55 has been recently re-released and is still as popular as ever.
Chanel died on January 10, 1971 at the age of 87. Even as an old lady, Chanel continued to design and work. Karl Lagerfeld became creative director of Chanel in 1983 and remains in charge today. Renowned for its perfumes, suits and handbags, Chanel is one of the most famous fashion houses in the world.
National premier launch – Elsa Tuet-Rosenberg presents
“A Musical Blanket”
Exhibition touring Australia 2008 – 2009
Communities encouraged to add a blanket ‘Creation’ to travelling exhibition
August 2009 – Exhibition returns to Melbourne for auction at a Gala Dinner
Auction to raise money for the Blue Hat Project …
… a funding body for creative activities to help communities achieve their own happiness
Remaining blankets distributed to the homeless
YOU STILL HAVE TIME !
CREATE YOUR BLANKET TO JOIN THE TRAVELLING EXHIBITION
Liza Stedman a truly beautiful Milliner from Melbourne takes out the Millinery Award. WELL DONE Liza!!!
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Beautiful Exhibition is soon to open at the St Kilda Town hall.
‘Blankets for Happiness” will open on December 4th at 6pm at the new Gallery.
You can check out the making of a blanket on Katies Blog http://kaiteyarngarden.blogspot.com/
Several blankets have arrived and people expressing their HeArTs into blankets. The Exhibition will travel in 2009 and encourage people to carry on making blankets as it travels. In Sep 2009 blankets will be auctioned to raise funds for the Blue Hat project and the very useful blankets will be given to the homeless.
Join the cause!!
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Hobarts creations will be next!!!!!!!!! Stay tuned with………………..
Having been in Qld several times this year I would like to share some creations made by people who are truly an inspiration. MAny of the women have never made a hat before and the results speak for them selfs.
It warms my heart each time I witness what happens in the classes.
The Milliners in Cairns are truly inspiring. Mary Bryen,Juanita Henry,Amanda Macor,Bernice Patton,and Susann Treston have for the whole of this month an Exhibition on and it is being held at the Art gallery . I was asked to open earlier last month and was thrilled to be part of those creative people.
Anything they could find in the hard ware store was used and it blew me away what they created.
I wish and hope the show will tour for many to see.
I am in Alice Springs in Central Australia and I have never seen so many beanies/ hats in one place EVER! There are more than 5000 beanies for sale and about 300 in a special Exhibition I was part of judging. This in itself was a truly hard task………..how does one choose a felt from feathers or knitted and they are all have some artistic value in their own right.
Artificial flowers have been around for about 3000 years.
They were first mentioned in the Book of Kings, part of the Old Testament. The Queen of Sheba used to test Solomon with various riddles to see if he was worthy of her. One of the riddles was to distinguish which of 12 lillies were real and which were artificial. Solomon was clever enough to observe how a bee only settled on the real flowers, ignoring the artificial ones.
Read more in German – History of flower making
English version available soon.
Connecting with people – who needs language when one has HATS ?!
Head pieces are exciting in anyone’s language …
… at any age !
Mums wanted hats for their boys too !
Hat making demonstration by Waltraud Reiner
Hat by Waltraud Reiner
Black hat by Ginetta Rositano of Wagga Wagga
White hat by Georgina Conheady of Melbourne
Mega-sized hat, constructed by Waltraud Reiner on site !
This is one BIG hat !
Resting under the mega-sized hat !
Torb & Reiner on display – Press Conference day
With the Olympics in China and Mothers’ Day both approaching, the APM Mall in Hong Kong invited Torb & Reiner to enhance these events through the excitement & inspiration of hats.
Waltraud Reiner and Donna Saunders travelled with about 70 hats and suitcases full of millinery material to set up the display. Waltraud enthused interested local ladies what hat to wear and when !
Torb and Reiner also displayed millinery creations from Melbourne’s Milliner Georgina Conheady and from Wagga Wagga’sGinetta Rositano.
An exhibition is planned for Torb & Reiner Shanghai in 2009. Torb & Reiner intend to include millinery work from each Australian State as part of the exhibition. There are amazing Milliners in Australia and Torb & Reiner are proud to show them off.
Jean Carroll OAM & Jude Skeers – on parade !
Jude Skeers collection of milliner Jean Carroll’s hats …
In 1996 Jean Carroll presented Jude Skeers, an avid collector of hats, with the ‘Memorabilia Hat’. The hat is adorned with the content of Jean’s sewing machine drawers. Thus began a hat relationship that has continued for 13 years & now includes 10 wonderful hats.
1998 – the ‘Sudanese Turban’ made from the fabric remnants from the Australian Opera.
2000 – Jude was presented with the ‘Crown’.
2002-2008 Each year at the TAFTA Fibre Forum party in Autumn, Jean presented Jude a new millinery creation.
The ‘Top Hat’ and the ‘Straw Hat’ were made from the remaining pieces of fur and straw in Jean’s studio, irreplaceable. And put to good use!
In the last 3 years, 2006, 2007, 2008 the hats have been extended into outfits as you see here.
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Louise MacDonald just returned from Dubai and kindly shared this information with all of us.
The Dubai World Cup’s “Style Stakes” fashion competition winner was Milena Diaz who wore a small black headpiece to compliment her white Betty Jackson frock. Leila Amar in 2nd place chose a simple black dress, orange patent shoes and a matching orange shower scrubber from the local supermarket pinned into her hair!
Congratulations to Kim Fletcher for creating the hat to receive the Millinery Award at the Dubai World Cup this year. Kim’s hat was worn by Abi Ferreira and was a black sinamay tilted disc trimmed with red Lady Amhurst feathers, which complimented her outfit beautifully.
Check out Louise MacDonald’s site www.millinery.info
With great appreciation and respect I would like to share with you the background of this great Milliner with many skills who I am proud to call her my teacher.
Rose Cory’s background in her own words :-
At the age of sixteen, after attending trade school, I began an apprenticeship with Rudolf and have now been a milliner for over 40 years. I finished my training at twenty-three and left Rudolf’s employment to gain experience with other prominent milliners of the day, such as Mitzi Lorenz, Verniers, Langee, Otto Lucas, Bermans Theatrical and Frederick Fox. During this time I made hats for many celebrities and members of the Royal Family. After seven years I returned to work for Rudolf who, as well as making hats for many eminent people and theatrical productions, was Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s Milliner.
I left full-time employment after Rudolf’s death in 1982, but continued to work with his partner Miss Joy Quested Nowell until her death, making hats for the Queen Mother. I continued this honour under my own label and as a Royal Warrant holder until Her Majesty’s recent death.
At the same time I have maintained my teaching commitments both with the Local Authority Adult Education classes and privately. I have always loved teaching and passing on the skills of my trade to others. Students have come from countries around the world including Africa, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, USA, Europe and of course all over the UK. Many of these students have returned to their homelands to take up employment in the trade and have become successful milliners.
I believe millinery should be taught as a traditional craft. My aim is that students should experience pleasure in designing original creations and if they so choose, go on to become successful milliners in their own rights. For many years I organised trips to Royal Ascot for students who under my tuition had designed and made hats. These creations attracted a great deal of interest from the media. Four of my students have now been successful applicants of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust.
Rose Cory’s website is www.rosecory.co.uk
The link below shows you a great website with history of mens’ hats.
http://www.hathistory.org/index.html
Flower making tools with egg iron
Specialised flower making tools
Hat blocks
French blocking machine
Hydraulic blocking machine
Straw braid sewing machine
Hat stretcher & hot block
Steamer
Jeni Bell, an upcoming Australian milliner, turned some heads in Dubai this year. The couple shown, won “Best Dressed” category. I’m sure you’ll agree that the hat is what made the difference.
Jeni is a very creative young lady, taking every opportunity to further her skills. We were fortunate to have Jeni in a class at the 2007 Wagga Wagga International Millinery Forum. Watch out for her name !
The millinery award for ‘Best Hat’ went to a pink, feathered creation (not pictured) worn by Josephine Barker. The hat was custom-made by a London milliner & won Josephine a Christian Dior handbag worth Dh4,500, gift vouchers for Dh1,000 from Saks & a Budoor jewellery set from Damas.
Asha James, the runner-up, is from Australia. An account manager with a Dubai-based branding company, Asha began preparations several months ago. She bought her pale pink silk dress and accessories in Perth during her last trip home.
She emailed pictures of the dress to Melbourne millinery Kim Fletcher. Kim designed the fascinator with long ostrich feathers to compliment the dress. Asha’s prizes included a Dolce and Gabbana evening bag worth Dh8,000, a gift certificate for Dh1,000 from Saks and a Budoor jewellery set from Damas.
It´s called a yarmulke (pronounced “yamaka”) in the Yiddish language, and a kippa in Hebrew.
Traditionally the yarmulke was only worn by men, women covered their heads completely using scarves, hats, or wigs. In modern times the push for equality between the sexes in Judaism has led some women to wear yarmulkes. Some Jews only wear yarmulkes while praying, making blessings, or studying Jewish religious texts. More traditional Jews wear yarmulkes the entire day, making sure not to walk more than four cubits, especially outside, without a head covering.
The etymology of yarmulke is unclear. Some linguists eg Max Vasmer, maintain that the Yiddish word is derived (via Ukrainian or Polish) from the Turkic ya?murluk, meaning ‘rainwear’. Other linguists eg Herbert Zeiden, regard this hypothesis as untenable but still believe a Turkic origin is likely, suggesting that the first part of the word may come from yarim, a Turkic adjective meaning ´half´, while the second part may come from qap, a Turkic word for ´cap´, ´shell´, ´enclosure´, or ´container´.
Traditionally, yarmulke is considered to have originated from the Aramaic phrase “yarei mei-elokah” (“in awe of the Lord”), in keeping with the principle that the yarmulke is supposed to reflect someone´s fear of heaven. Or perhaps, “yira malkah” (“fear of the King”).
Kippah is the Hebrew word for dome.
The source for wearing a yarmulke is found in the Talmud. In tractate Shabbat 156b it states: “Cover your head in order that the fear of heaven may be upon you. As well, in tractate Kiddushin 32a it states Rabbi Huna the son of Rabbi Joshua never walked 4 cubits (2 meters) with his head uncovered. He explained: “Because the Divine Presence (Shekhina) is always over my head.”
While there is a minority opinion that wearing a yarmulke is a Torah commandment, most halakhic decisors agree that it is merely a custom, though one that has taken on the force of law. This is codified in the Shulkhan Arukh Orach Chayim 2:6.
Reasons given for wearing a kippah today include:
* recognition that God is above us,
* acceptance of the 613 mitzvot (commandments),
* identification with the Jewish people.
Some have a custom of wearing two head coverings, typically a yarmulke and a hat on top, for Kabbalistic reasons; the two coverings correspond to two levels of intellect, or two levels in the fear of God.
YouTube is becoming a great way to learn more about the big wide world of hats.
Check out this short video !
Many of you may know the Akubra, a popular & widely worn Australian made hat.
There is a beautiful book on Akubra hats, “Akubra is Australian for Hat” by Grenville Turner, first published in 1988 by Simon & Schuster.
The book has great shots of people wearing the Akubra, their stories & why they love their hat.
The Dubai Cup is becoming as popular as the Melbourne Cup. In 2005 Waltraud Reiner and Sabine Pedder were invited to show case Australian millinery and pathe the way for fellow Australian milliners in Dubai.
The Dubai Cup is on again. A race day race and hats are as loved in Dubai as in Melbourne.
Several Melbourne milliners are showing their hats at the Burjaman Shopping Centre and offer them for sale.
Every year the Burjaman Centre invites a variety of Australian & European milliners to bring hats to the people of Dubai.
This year Serena Lindemann, Sabine Couture, Louise MacDonald are bringing their amazing hats to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Who will it be next year ???
All the international Milliners have arrived in Austalia to be part of the first International Millinery Forum at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, NSW.
About 150 eager participants will enjoy this amazing 6 day Conference, and no doubt a lot of sharing and learning about all things hats will happen.
Eia Radosavljevic, Chicago USA
Constance Williams, Germany
Christine Rohr-Bernard, Austria
and Jan Wutkowski, USA
will add an interesting and exciting influence to the Forum along side our fabulous Australian Milliners :-
Sandra Buchanan, Jean Carroll, Georgina Conheady, Liz Evans, Lorraine Gill, Neil Grigg, Elizabeth Hemsley, Maris Herr, Peter Jago, Richard Nylon and last but not least myself, Waltraud Reiner, will be sharing hat making skills with lots of keen millinery students.
This is a call to all lovers of hats AND poetry!
Do you have a favourite hat related poem or saying ?
We’ll give a prize to the best hat related poem or saying added to this blog by 31 Janurary 2007. Add your contribution as a ‘comment’ below or email it to info@torbandreiner.com to be posted on this blog.
2006 Hat Extravagnza www.hatextravaganza.com – photographer Bonny Rais
This morning I woke up and had the idea to invite all you hat-lovers to contribute to this blog. Every time I travel or speak to people about hats it amazes me how many interesting things people know about hats and the industry.
Stories of their mothers, grandmothers, about a milliner or a memory which made lasting impressions on them. I ALWAYS enjoy greatly what is being told; I get so much out of it & I’d like you to have this opportunity too.
Feel free to add a comment to this blog if you’d like to tell the world something hat related – simply click the envelope icon just below here. Perhaps send us a hatty photo to add to the blog!
Subscribe to this blog & recieve updates via email or email us at info@torbandreiner.com
Have a very exciting and hatty day !
I have stretched myself as far as I can and looking through a thick fog at the moment I am calling on anyone who wants to HELP!
If anyone out there living in Melbourne/Australia would like to help with volunteer work for the Blue Hat Project please let us know. We need someone who would like to input data in the computer and take over the sending out of the Newsletter which is done electronically. Please send us an E-mail through the Blue Hat Project website. www.bluehatproject.org.au
Here are 3 wonderful examples of Blue Hat Project Auction Contributions – a HUGE thankyou to all of you !
Esther Herschel-Shorland from England – blue crayon drawing
Sarah Larsen – painting of hats www.sarahlarsen.com.au
Simon Hall – black & white photo www.saltstudios.net.au
Xmas is not far away and the year has been long and fast. Many good things happened and many things were a challenge and helped me grow as a person.
When I look back over the year and the many “hats” I wore throughout, the Blue Hat Project has been the favourite one of all. The work load was huge and I am still somewhat suffering it from it now. But the response from people in Australia & world wide was amazing and showed me how important it is to have a way and means to express sadness through art.
Making a hat does not fix depression but it has shown through the Blue Hat Project that it helps getting it out and speaking about it.
We have presented money to Beyond Blue and the details are on the Blue Hat Project website.
We received some beautiful works for the Blue Hat Project auction, examples of which can be seen on the Blue Hat Project website. Lots of money & more importantly, awareness of depression has been raise through this event.
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The time has run away with me; I am long back in Melbourne & life has been very fast & busy.
I will finish off the last stops on my trip and a ‘BIG SORRY’ to all places who had to wait until now to get my THANK YOU for having me. No words will ever be enough to express the experiences Orlanda & I had meeting all of you along the way.
Our stop in Theodore revealed more great hats & like all the other places, great people too !
Biloela belles !
The Blue Hat Project and Hat Week commence on 31 August in Melbourne at Federation Square. Be there with your hat on, ready to bid for some wonderful blue hats & other expressions of the blues which are still arriving daily.
More info on www.bluehatproject.org.au.
There is still time for you contribute to this great cause and be part of the beginning of something BIG!
Day 2 was just as fast and full on as Day 1. Those girls mean buisness and between all the food, we actually work reeeeally hard ! ….. and they are off to the local for lunch, wearing their hats of course !
These girls in Anakie know how to put on a spread alright! Day 1 included morning tea, lunch at the old railway station platform where sewing of hats was also carried on.
We had afternoon tea & a great turn out for the Blue Hat Project presentation where I shared personal information about dealing with my own “blues” and explained how the Blue Hat Project works. We again had a man in the audience which delighted me no end. I take my hat off to you for listening and hopefully spreading the word to your mates.
As if the day was not long & full enough already, we had a “Hat Parade” as well!
Hats on parade we some we made last year & hats which started today that were pinned almost finished.
At 7.30pm we finally called it a day. Lots of Blue Hat Project badges were sold, beyondblue brochures were handed out & people talked & shared their stories ….. 3 more days to go … just you wait for those hats !
The silk flowers made were truly beautiful. Some of the girls took to flower making like ducks to water. It was a joy to see glee in their eyes when flowers were finished & admired.
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So often we have a child in the workshop and this sure was a happy little one. Of course mum is going to make her a hat for the upcoming races! In order for many mums to join workshops, their children often come along.
Capella is a very small community but very active and it has the BEST swimming pool. As the pool was closed we ran the workshop there. It was a fantastic back drop for making hats and flowers.
Swimming in the morning … running in the afternoon … and hats in between ….. How can I ever get back into “normal” living ?
Barbara Knight thank you for organising the workshop. All Flying Arts reps put so much work into making the workshops happen and I want to thank ALL of you for doing this.
The Blue Hat Project talk went well and several people other than hat makers attended. Men have come to listen as well; I take my hat off to you guys for coming!
When I left Rocky I felt rather sick and I was glad I had 2 days to do the drive. Also knowing that I was going to see known faces in Clermont was rather comforting. Thank you guys for looking after me and not making me work SUPER hard !
I feel sooo much better and my mind is ready for the last leg of the journey … not many weeks to go and I will be back in Melbourne.
Clermont, Capella and Emerald are mining towns and the picture you see is NOT a mountain ….. it’s coal !
Our youngest workshop member was 7 years old and did she do well ! … with a tiny bit of help from Mum and I, she made her very first hat ….. and for sure this one will NEVER be forgotten ………
The workshop was at the Rockhampton Art Gallery which is a rather beautiful building on the river. Many beautiful old buildings are down the river bank and lots have been built and improved in Rocky over the last few years ….. and the hats ? ….. well see for yourself ….. and if you guys have any more pictures please send them to me and I will upload them.
The days off were great.but what happens when you relax and let go ? ….. Yes, you guessed it …. one gets sick ! My body is fighting a cold, infected ears and throat. I am using my mind not to be over taken by the cold. I fill myself with Rescue Remedy and grapefruit !
Depsite having a cold, we are having a blast of a time in Rocky. Meeting lots of people, hand ing posters around and people are becoming excited about the Blue Hat Project.
I met a film maker called Nick who I hope to stay in touch with and the Womens’ Health Centre does a lot of good in the community.
We were also delighted to meet a wonderful aboriginal artist, Pamela Croft. Talking to her and hearing her story was very touching ….. and I got a birthday cake! … my dear husband is always there somewhere organising some surprise or other …..
I will show you pictures in the next blog as I have to move on to the next town now. Time is running out and as it is I’ve spent 5 hours on the computer this morning and my body needs a walk before I get behind the wheel and drive to Capella, which is not a long drive.
We shall be in touch in the evening if all is well. Have a great day.
………YES YES YES………I have 5 days off. First real time off. That means I drive to a beach and sleep, eat and drink coffee and just ”BE” ….. FEET UP!!!
Warrick and our son, Torby, unfortunately had to return to Melbourne. Orlanda and I are carrying on and were spoilt by my friend Robin who joined us for 5 days ….. what does that mean ? ….. less cooking ….. no dishes ….. I am chilling out and turning off the phone …..
This workshop was so busy, with a very large number of people so I have hardly any photographs. I am really sorry about this. Orlanda who usually takes lots of photos was stuck behind school books and having a good time with my very good friend Robin organising my birthday which was coming up.
Home Hill has a special spot in my heart as I have fond memories of a toad hopping into my model room one year and me being very brave by dealing with him with a waste paper basket as I threw him out of the room, wondering if he was a ”prince”!
“‘Materialand” where the workshop was held, is a great spot as people don’t have to walk far to buy material! Even feathers and sinamay can be bought there.
We also had a young 13 year old girl who showed a lot of talent. Here she is, proudly showing off her hat.
We experimented with a lot of different techniques. We had 4 days in Cairns & did two workshops of 2 days each.
Well, well, it’s been some time since my last blog entry has it not ?
It has been rather busy and I shall try to get up to date today.
Cairns is beautiful, we all know that, and it has a very strong hat making scene and a lot of talented hat makers.
What you don’t know is that this was a very special trip for me as my husband and children came along. 21 years ago I was booked to go to Cairns on the bus, instead I stayed in Melbourne to get to know Warrick, so I never made it to Cairns.
Now we have made it as a family with high expectations … and expectations never pay off …… You will see from the pictures that all ages are busyily interest in making hats. There were a number of TAFE fashion students in the workshops who were very excited to discover how hats can be made.
The Blue Hat Project talk went well and a number of people took brochures and will spread the word in their community.
The next race day, the Cairns Amateur Cup, will be very colourful.
We had a huge group & made ourselves at home on the back verandah where we created hats over 2 days.
The pictures tell the story of this beautiful part of the world.
We arrived after a long drive from Richmond at Fletchervale, an huge cattle station of about 80,000 acres I guess … who knows … it is big alright for this Austrian country girl who grew up on a big farm of 10 acres!
The whole station family, neighbours & friends helped us unpack. Soon afterwards the first course participants started to arrive in country style with sleeping bags, lots of food & biccies in the boot. Their heads were of course full of many ideas of which hats to make.
Will I go back ?? Most definitely !!
Ok ….. here I am again. Sorry I have been off line over the last few days but I have had a full-on time and just did NOT get around to doing the blog.
The first thing I want to tell you is that I have decided to run a marathon! I may have said this already but today I shall prove to you that I am actually in training! “Why?” you might ask? Well … WHY NOT! … I surprised myself when it came into my head but it seems it is one of those things I have to do in life.
I have NEVER EVER done any exercise apart from giving birth to my children and having SEX; both were pretty exhausting! I left sport to my husband and other people around me because Austrians, as I used to say, are not very into sport. Well maybe it’s time I own up that I might be the only Austrian who is NOT into exercise.
I knew when I started this trip to promote the Blue Hat Project that my life would never be the same again and it WILL NOT.
Through all I’ve seen & people I’ve spoken to, I am see more and more how I am in control of my journey, my outcome in life through choices I make every day. How I can make myself miserable or add to my well being …..
The decision to run my FIRST marathon is part of making such choices.
I will run the half marathon in Melbourne on 17 September, just after the Hat Extravaganza and I will run it in the spirit as my husband Warrick would have if he had not ended up in a wheelchair 8 years ago.
The photos prove I am in training! ….. doing my best!
Now Warrick can wheel me away at the finishing line!
I was surprised we fitted all the material, my husband, our son & their luggage including a wheel chair & toilet seat … boy oh boy! ….. I did not realise how much we could fit in the ‘Hat Mobile’.
At 10am we said goodbye to Mt Isa & set off down the highway which, to my delight, was much wider than it had been during the last few weeks of driving ………. road trains are not scary if I have room to get past them.
We saw many eagles & sadly we hit one as it flew into our path …… It’s a terrible feeling to take the life of such a beautiful animal ….. just because we sit in fast, powerful things called cards !at 10am at 10am
We made it to Richmond which is about a 400km drive & set up camp at a beautiful smallish lake. I had the best ever run since I have started running … talking of running. Have I told you yet I have decided to run a marathon?
Yes I surprised myself when I heard myself say that as I have not done any exercise since 47 years I think ….. this is how old I am & several weeks ago since I am on this trip it came to me to run a marathon. I am training nearly every day & with my very good friend Robin who is a triathlon runner, I know I will be able to do it.
So today I ran around the lake & as the moon came up on the horizons this FULL, BIG, RED ball I thought for a minute the sun was going down ….. it was breathtaking ……. My run was awesome & some days it is really, really hard ……. but so is everything in life …
We arrived in town & hit the shops. After 5 weeks with no shopping centres Orlanda and I were desperate ….. we needed shoes! I’m sure many of you women out there can relate to what I’m saying, whilst others might shake their heads ….. don’t worry I shake my head about MYSELF quite often! ……. After 2 hours shopping only Orlanda was lucky enough to end up with a pair.
We filled our fridge with fresh vegies & fruit & went to “Outback Arts” where the workshop was to be held.
The photos show you the workshop outcome & the environment I was “forced” to jog in (joking!) … also my husband & son arrived over the weekend to join us for the leg to Cairns. So the “Hat Mobile” is very crowded to say the least but I have no doubt we’ll get used to each other very quickly.
On Sunday morning I spoke on ABC local radio to Australia All Over’s “Macca” (Ian McNamara) & to try & spread the word a little further about beyondblue & hat making.
It is very, very beautiful to drive over the ridge into Mt Isa from Boulia because as much as I looove the red sand, I also love rolling hills!
I have heard Macca on ABC radio’s Australia All Over a number of times say how beautiful “the Isa” is ….. today I understood.
The only worry about driving are the road trains! They are long alright, sometimes up to 50 meters long & they do NOT move off those very narrow outback roads …..
Anyway I have arrived safely in “the Isa” & set up for the night near the very beautiful river, which of course comes with mosquitos!
The “Hat Mobile” is unpacked & ready for teaching tomorrow, so tomorrow night I might have some hats to show you.
I am very exited too, as my husband & my son arrive on Sunday to travel the leg Mt Isa to Cairns with me; the “Hat Mobile” will be nice & “cosy” with all of us on board!
It’s wonderful to experience how many people love hats, want to make hats & the joy a finished hat gives to people.
We took the short flight of 60 klms from Boulia to Bedourie because our “Hat Mobile” insurance does not cover driving on dirt roads for more than 10km. The “Hat Mobile” remained in Sally & Matt’s garden in Boulia & was well looked after!
Bedourie has about 100 people living there.
I met quite a few of them & they all were as helpful as can be; I was wonderfully looked after by the Bedourie nurse who tried her best to remove an infected bindy (grass seed) from my foot.
The workshop went late into the night because most women worked during the day. As it was they brought their kids along in the afternoon & at one point we had 7 children under the age of 5!
The Bedourie school covers Grades 1-7 & has about 15 kids all up. High school children must board away from home.
How would I like to let go of my children? For the women of Bedoure, do they have a choice? I take my hat off to any woman ….. we cope with a lot, wearing many hats & changing them all the time!
Between roses and eagles soaring ……. hats were made ……. what a day ……. what a week ……. what a life ………..
A long drive but very much worth it. Australia as a country & the people who live in it will never cease to amaze me. Trully a wonderful place to live in. The distances are long and the mind has space and peace to wander as one drives for hours, meeting very few cars as one goes along. What one does see a lot is road kill and I can not help but feel saddened by the dead kangaroos, wild pigs, cows, birds and the odd echidna which are all lying in their dozens on the side of the road ……….. Even I, who avoids night driving, kill numerous beautiful butterflies and the odd bird as I drive along ….. It’s not a pretty sight looking at our vehicle & what got killed because of ME alone ……… I understand roos provide a living for many people out here as they shoot and hunt for meat and skin, and I understand that road kill is just part of life here. A woman in one of our workshops said driving home at night meant hitting 3 roos and 1 wild pig ! …. she has a good strong bullbar on the front of her car so she and the car were fine …. yes .. not so familiar to my “city girl’s” ear with a tendancy towards animal rights …… but what does this mean out here ? …. Here it is about living and suvival.
The road was very narrow and I did worry when the first road train passed me; it was at least 40 meters long ! …….. I hoped I would not have to pass another one …. and thankfully I didn’t !
What a great place with great people and a great pool. Boy did I love swimming in that pool! Thankyou for having me and thankyou for supporting the Blue Hat Project talk which made a few more people aware of the work beyondblue does and also that we do not need to suffer depression in silence. I think some of the Blackall ladies might send in some blue hats to support the Blue Hat Project Auction on the 31st August at Federation Square in Melbourne – www.bluehatproject.org.au for details. beyondblue’s “Tracking Depression In Schools” video will hopefully be ordered from the beyondblue website by the Blackall community and made use of in their schools & community.
Off to Boulia which will be my next stop!
Afternoon tea at Roses N Things
The Flying Arts workshop was held in a beautiful wooden building right next to Barcaldine’s very beautiful old Masonic Lodge.
On Saturday afternoon several people joined us for the Blue Hat Project talk & screening of the newly released beyondblue video that deals with depression in adults & children & has proven very helpful.
Our 2 days in Barcaldine went fast and were productive, they ended with us all going to “Roses N Things”, a lovely tea garden filled with roses! With our hats on we looked very glamouros sitting there enjoying tea & eating scones!
”Blue Hat Project” – on the Road Talks – free admission
In addition to the Flying Arts millinery workshops, I offer each community a FREE presentation at the end of Day 1 at 4pm.
Everyone is welcome at the Flying Arts Workshop location to enjoy a short presentation about the Blue Hat Project.
The presentation gives people a chance to see what I do, who I am & to get an understanding of the Blue Hat Project & how it works.
I will also provide information & brochures on “beyondblue the national initiative against depression“.
I will show a beyondblue video just officially launced by the federal Minister for Health & Ageing, Tony Abbott; & beyondblue Chairman Jeff Kennett
It is a free DVD called “Tackling Depression in Schools”.
It is available via the beyondblue website & provides information on depression symptoms, what to do and how to help.
I am sharing in the presentation my own personal story of dealing with depression throughout my life and how I dealt with it and how the Blue Hat Project came about.
The aim … to raise awarness about depression
… to open our eyes to depression across Australia
… and lift the hat on the stigma attached to depression
Depression happens ….. so what !? …. depression does NOT need to be suffered in silence ….
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We hope to see you at the presentation.
Goodbye Augathella … G’day Barcaldine ….. I set off later than I wanted to today as I had rather a slow morning. The sky was overcast and I felt a little that way myself when I awoke. After wearing my “Mother’s Hat” and blowing my top at my daughter for being a 14 year old, I put on my “Driver’s Hat” and headed towards Tambo. 330 klms later we arrived at the Cultural Association building which was to host the Flying Arts workshop over the weekend. The building is really quaint, with lots of light inside and before I knew it I had unpacked and set up for the next day. …………… and we saw our first group of emu’s …………
Millinery enthusiasts from all over the globe will converge on Charles Sturt University’s Wagga Wagga Campus in January 2007 to learn from and network with internationally renowned millinery tutors from all over the world.
CSU Community Education, with assistance from local Wagga Wagga milliners and Melbourne based company Torb and Reiner, is pleased to present the inaugural International Millinery Forum; a series of hands on workshops, presentations, seminars & demonstrations, networking events and a trade expo from 20-25 January 2007.
The first of its kind in New South Wales, the International Millinery Forum will provide milliners of all skill levels with the chance to experience quality creative guidance from proven professionals who hail from the United States of America, England, New Zealand and Australia.
Waltraud Reiner, Neil Grigg, Peter Jago, Georgina Conheady, Liz Evans, Jean Carroll, plus many more world renowned milliners teaching at the one forum…
This is an opportunity not to be missed!
An international Guest will be announced later this year.
For Details Contact:
Program Coordinator
CSU Community Education
p: 02 6933 2064
e: commed@csu.edu.au
www.csu.edu.au/student
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Our day finished with an amazing sunset as you can see and the hats were just as amazing. I awoke to a very very cold morning; I thought it would snow any minute! … “Yeah right!” I hear you say! ….. the sun rays were crisp and the day was fast.
Yesterday it looked like my steamer had burnt out … but this was not so … a friendly Augathella “sparkie” came to my rescue ….. before I knew it he had found the problem, fixed what needed to be fixed and I had a steamer which worked! ………. I could only say “Thankyou, thankyou!” ….. and the best thing about the sparkie (which means electrician in Australia) ….. the best thing about him was his nice dog, and people with nice dogs can only be nice people! ….. I learnt that a looong time ago.
So with repaired steamer in hand, we finished our hat making day and the Blue Hat Project talk in the evening topped the day.
Thank you Augathella for having me ….. the outback’s first amazing sunsets are starting to happen …….
The country is dry and it never will cease to amaze me how wonderful the stars are at night. Every night before I go to bed I stand outside, look up & marvel at how the stars have shown the way, given joy and amazment to so many people before me. The universe we live in is just breathtaking.
After spending a day making hats with people, then looking at the stars last thing at night ….. how can my soul not jump sometimes, and my heart miss a beat or 2.
We had a great day and after a long day of stitching the first hats started to emerge.
Augathella is a small country town with about 500 people in the community. Again there is no high school in town and kids attend boarding school or travel quite a way every day to high school.
Hats are needed for the sun or the races of course! Every town has their races and it’s a big excuse to dress up!
Straight after the workshop we left for Roma which is a short drive of about one hour.
No day off in between, so I was glad we had some daylight left after we arrived there. From 4pm onwards kangaroos hop across the road in front of you like there is no tomorrow! Sometimes I smile to myself, thinking they are just like people who think the grass is greener on the other side; it’s not really … and you run great risk of being “killed” in the process.
Anyway, we set up that night in the local tennis club … a treat in itself.
The workshop next morning was also a treat when all my ladies arrived and almost all turned out to be Aboriginals; I knew I was going to learn a lot and I did. The sense of colour, laughter and fun those women brought to the class warmed both mine and Orlanda’s heart.
2 of the girls, Leona and Susan, are into making handbags. They won an award this year for one of their bags and they are great. Roma is the biggest cattle selling town in the southern hemisphere and now those award winning bags will no doubt go out with matching hats.
I got up about 6am the next morning & did an interview with the ABC Radio. I told them quite a bit about the Blue Hat Project.
As we were about to depart, Cliff the husband of one of my students, brought some of his writings he’s done over the years to show me. This was rather magic; his words starring at me from the pages were very moving and obviously I needed to hear those before I set of for Augathella.
Wow! ……. and all this because of hats!
The drive to Surat was a short 2 hours. We pulled up late in the afternoon at the RSL hall & unpacked for the workshop the next day. Bubbly, beautiful Lisa Gibbs welcomed us and we were shown another great workshop space. Surat has a wonderful museum, it’s beautifully done. A small town with 7 or so shops is clearly very proud of their relatively large museum & library; I was blown away! Surat also has a great little shop that sells cloth, quite nice hats & many other little surprises ……….It was all a surprise to me alright! My daughter and I had the BEST fried fish for dinner, and not just because we were hungry!
The hats turned out in the workshop speak for themselves, and Surat race meetings will never be the same! The girls were talking about starting a new “Model Millinery” section in the race day fashion competition!
What a place. This stay was quieter than quiet. I loved every minute. Like so many places I go to that all have their special points, I left Begonia having loved every minute I spent there. The special thing about Begonia was its size & situation; a very small, beautiful community of about 9 families or 120 people. The local school hosts 14 children, Grades 1 to 7. I take my hat off to the school teacher who must do an incredible job all day every day. Imagine keeping 14 kids under ‘one hat’ and teaching each child their individual year level.
The Flying Arts workshop was held in the multi-purpose build tennis club house; a tin shed with lots of space and everything we needed to create great hats!
Our students included a 15 month old girl, a 3 year old boy & my own 4 year old niece too!
In the morning we woke & found ourselves surrounded by kangaroos and the sound of birds flapping their wings as they passed over us. And as if all this was not enough bliss! … I also saw the emerald green meteor many people in south Queensland saw ….. Life couldn’t get much better than this !!! …..
This was a stay I was very much looking forward too. I caught up with the Wagner family, who kindly sponsored the Blue Hat Project stickers on our campervan, a heartfelt “Thankyou” for your support! We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with many hat lovers and the next hat workshop was planned!
I drove the next day to St George as I was going to teach in nearby Begonia.
The drive to Beaudesert was beautiful & we arrived safely where the Flying Arts workshop was to be held on a beautiful property. As we drove down the driveway, the sun setting behind the wonderful old homestead took my breath away!
Watching the stars at night, going to sleep in the counryside and waking to sounds of cows and dogs was just wonderful! It was full moon too; after making hats life could not get much better!
As part of the 2 day workshop I did a Blue Hat Project presentation so more people in the Beaudesert are now know about beyondblue and may have a different way to think about depression.
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