Rose Mille

French Woad Dying

If you are visiting LA in in April, consider attending French General's Woad Dying Workshop.  Kaari is bringing Denise Lambet all the way from the south of France to teach this amazing process and experience French history, here in America.

I was fortunate enough to have participated in this process two times the past few summers while in France. At first, I have to admit that I was not that excited about it. I prefer to work with dry materials. But once we got going I loved it, I found that there is truly something magical with this process.

We were no longer 21st century women taking a dying class. We became a sisterhood, transported hundreds of years back in time, working together with a common goal,  turning white into an amazing hue of blue. The process was entirely natural, of course, and full of history.

If you find yourself in the Los Angeles area in April, I highly recommend taking this Woad Workshop, I guarantee you will remember it forever.

But that's just mi

xo

 A picture of the finished woad dyed hat body that is hanging on the line.

 

 

French Post Cards, Enhanced

Last summer while visiting the south of France, I found these adorable old post cards.  Each of them is hand colored, and features models who were elabrately styled even way back then. Destined to be included in one of our future lines, we've "enhanced" them by adding a colorful border of wallpaper and "Dresden"  which we think, brings out the hand coloring on each design.  The back of the cards looks just like the originals, ready to fill in with your own message and recipient's address.

Of course they are now available on our web-shop.

xo

mi

South of France, deux

The trip to France again this year, was unexpected and pretty much on a whim.  

Just as soon as I arrived, it was like I never had left. Since spending 2 weeks at Chateau Dumas last year. Now that I am home in the states, I find myself wondering, "was I even in the south of France last week?".  It's thrilling and somewhat disconcerting to be able to just climb on a jet to the south of France for 10 days no less, and then come back again.

This year, I decided, was even better because it was like going on vacation with friends I already knew to a place we had been before,  a reunion, mix in a few new creative ladies just for fun.
Not only were the old and new friends wonderful, the chateau itself, not that it needed it, was transformed. Mainly the food, again I had no complaints about last years fare. It's just that this year we were indulged, catered to and pampered. From full breakfasts, lunches and dinners, to gourmet picnics and high tea!  With every meal there was wine and deserts.  Maybe it was because of all the shopping and Woad dying etc. but I managed to get by without gaining an ounce.  (well maybe a few ounces.)

But I must admit, the main reason that I went back, with the duffel bag stashed in my suitcase, as well as all the space left from 30 flower kits I shared, was to return to the closed down hat factory in Septfond. See post from last year; Secret Side Trip or "Follow that Bicycle!" 

Last year, during hat week, Lizzie and I were privy to this factory, and in my wildest dreams I was hoping there would be some stock left for a second go. Since the week was already filled with amazing excursions and activities, it was not looking good that we would be able to return.  But lo and behold, Lizzie pulled it together, and it was the very last stop we all made, after finding some wonderful favor bags and paper wedding cones in Montauban. Sharing this find with the entire group, a small group of 12, made it even more special. 

Love those colors!

But, now there is not much left. ;-))))

Back to the Chateau!

It's off to France again as I have been asked to teach a class at this year's Chateau Getaway with Kaari Meng of French General.  I am leaving tomorrow!

This is where I will be:

This is what I will be teaching:

This year, same as last, I will  be posting about the trip. You just may be enticed to start planning on coming along next year!

au revoir!

Ribbon Lesson

Remember all that ribbon I lugged back from France last summer?  Well I'm finally getting some of it up on the web-shop.

The solid silk taffeta is scrumptious in pink, ocean and yellow and green stripes.  Real silk taffeta ribbon is hard to find, not to be confused with satin ribbon.  

Satin ribbon can be made from silk, polyester, nylon and rayon.  Some think silk is synonymous with satin but it is not. Silk is a natural fiber, like cotton and linen while polyester and nylon are petroleum (oil) based.  Silk is rather "duller" than polyester satin, but ooh so much lighter and softer, not to mention much more luxurious.  But if it is shiny you are after then there are some really nice polyester satins available. (Such as on our web-shop.)

Now that we know about satins, what I am showing here is Taffeta. Crisp and light with lots of "body", it can hold itself up when tied.  Most French taffeta's out there are rayon and have very skinny copper wires in the edges, it's very nice. But this is the real thing, silk and no wires.  Think Scarlet O'Hara rustling about in her voluminous silk taffeta gowns in "Gone with the Wind".

 

Satin and Taffeta are weaves, while silk, polyester and nylon are fibers, either natural or petroleum. Class Adjourned!

All these ribbons shown are available in very limited quantities on the Web-Shop

Secret Side Trip or "Follow that Bicycle!"

July 14, 2009

Sometimes serendipitous things happen. Actually they happen to me all the time, and this was one of them.  I believe that they happen to all of us, all the time but some don't realize it.  In dealing with people I do try to always be respectful and to always do the right thing. This is when Karma came through for me.

While at the hat festival in Septfonds, Lizzie received a tip about a hat factory that had shut down years ago and was finally selling off their inventory and equipment. Not to miss an opportunity, or adventure, Lizzie (the Chateau's proprietress) grabbed me and a few unmentionable others and off we went.

Lizzie was quite familiar with this town, and her French impeccable, but she had a bit of trouble finding the place. So she did what any efficient woman would do, she asked someone for directions. After quite a lot of discussion the Frenchman decided to have us follow him on his bicycle! 

Being good with directions myself, unless you talk to a certain Nancy, I would never be able to find this place again so don't even ask. 

Once we arrived, I left my camera in the car so as not to be such a tourist or seem vulture like, as well as not having to keep track of it.  So arrrgghhh, no photo's.

There were rows and rows of hat sewing machines for sewn braid hats. One was all set up and the gracious hat factory owner allowed me to try it, well actually he insisted and I did not hesitate. (This topic gets it's own post.)

I did manage to take a few pictures in his "garage". ? Those are bales, and stacks of woven straw hat bodies ready to be shaped into hats.

This is a human powered hat sewing machine that yes, I got to try as well! The thread spool was on the floor across the room, you can see the trail just to the right.

Upstairs in the main building were rows and rows of cutting tables, and then, over on the far side were drawers and shelves of.......OMG.......FRENCH RIBBON!!  Kaari if you are reading this, it's my turn!! :-) 

This is when the tears came, yup anyone who knows me knows that when overwhelmed, I tear up.  But only a wee tiny bit, I was busy calculating how this was all going to work.  Suffice it to say that I filled the large army duffel bag that I serendipitously packed in my suitcase, and used some as packing materials in the box with the lampshade in it, that I shipped.

I've since learned that I was lucky to be there when I was, because Lizzie pretty much bought the rest. You go girl!

Package from France

I was beginning to give up hope. Thought it would never arrive. Economy class was much cheaper, half in fact than priority shipping. At a mere 60 euros, (that's over $85 dollars), economy was pricey enough.  But lo and behold, the mail carrier left it on my porch just yesterday, Saturday August 8th.

It was on one of those errands I made with Lizzie that we mailed my box and Cathy's at the same time. (she went priority and insured it to) I must be much more of a risk taker, not sure if this time it was worth the stress. 

Hmmmm you must be wondering what all this is about?  That is the other of the 2 posts I have yet to write.

Remember the large drum hanging shade that I got at the flea market in Toulouse?  Well, it got crushed on one side. But that was the only thing damaged and even that is repairable.  So I am counting my blessings, 'cause look what made it!

This liqueur bottle has a ballerina music box inside that dances around when you wind it up and set it back down.  This was found in a shoe shop in Cordes sur Ceil the first time I went. Oh I haven't talked about second time yet. I gotta keep you coming back don't I? 

See how she is in an inner dome?  The liqueur went in the space between.  I bet it was yummy.

This is a "Marie Antoinette" plastic lamp. Not sure if it is really Marie Antoinette but why not? She is a little worn and torn and needing some cleaning but she made the long, long trip from France to Minnesota in exactly the same condition as when she was packed. 

I plugged her in at the Chateau before I left to make sure she lit up and she did!  I will have to re-wire her for use here.

You can click on the pictures if you want a closer look.  Both of these items will most likely be available to purchase sometime soon!

Bits and Pieces of "Hat Week"

July 12 through 17, 2009

Okay I'm back.  It seems I took a vacation from blogging about my vacation. I still have a few more Chateau Getaway posts yet to do, the format for the second week, hat week, is turning into not a daily log but a topic log. 

 As my residence was nearing its end, yes I did feel like I was a permanent residence around Chateau Dumas. The staff, Lizzie and even some of the guests started thinking so too, as I was going on errands into town, searching the garage for tools needed in hat class and doing my laundry in the attached apartment. I loved it. I really was looking forward to going home, but leaving the chateau was causing me to feel rather "pressed down" a long ago friend of mine used to say.

At this point I would like to share some bits and pieces from the week des chapeaux, if you will indulge me.

The Storm.

While outside the chateau gathering up things that could blow away, I took a photo of the impending storm.  The air was thick and humid, we could see lightning off in the distance but barely heard the thunder. Very different than the violent thunderstorms back in Minnesota. It had been a very hot day but this storm front brought in much cooler air for the next day, Friday, my last day. In fact the temperature never went higher than 60 degrees f. Thursday night's storm caused a mad dash to all of our rooms on the second and third floors, shutting all the windows due to the high winds and rain. It was great fun.

The view. 

Up in my room on the third floor (those in Europe would call this the second floor), I often sat at this small desk, in front of two windows that overlooked the country side. I could see a lake, forests and many sunflower fields from up there.  Basically the whole point of this photo is the corner of my macbook in the lower left corner.

Sophia.

I was lucky enough to visit again with Sophia, the magical masseuse. While I did not feel the need for another massage (pronounced MAA -sage) the second week, I sure could use one today!  Even her smile was relaxing.

Lavender Wands.

Early in the week Lizzie and I were thinking about what other fun things we could do at the chateau. I asked her, "with all the lavender around here is there someone who could teach us how to make those wands?" Sure enough, Crissy, who was around the previous week on woad day, who also makes a lot of wonderful things for Lizzie's gift shop on site, also makes these lavender wands!  So on Friday, cool cool Friday, we gathered around the dining room table and made these wands.  I love ribbon, I mean I LOVE ribbon, but I kind of like the wand without the ribbon better, don't you?  Tres natural.

There were two other "events" that happened during hat week but they are getting their own posts.

au Revoir

Hat making with Dillon

The course

July 13 - 17 2009

First some background information

As an instructor of millinery off and on for over 15 years, I am mostly self taught. Sure, I took the one day classes at local sewing establishments such as The Sewing Workshop in San Francisco where I learned straw hat blocking, and G Street Fabrics in DC, (my family was on a 3-month tour there) where I first blocked with wool. I even studied with a series of buckram hat making from mail order kits by "The Wonderful World of Hats". But mostly I learned from books. I devoured any kind of millinery or hat-making books I could find. My first was a book by Denise Dreyer of the Guthrie Theater, with others soon to follow. Sure there was millinery instruction at FIT in New York, but I had a young family and could not re-locate across the country.

Along the way I met other women who wanted to learn how to make hats as well, so I started teaching what I knew. Just by teaching I learned so much. It is true what they say, "If you want to learn something, teach it". During this time I was making custom bridal veils and hats for clients all over the San Francisco Bay Area. And then in 1998 I open Rose Mille in San Jose's Willow Glen area. But that's another topic, lets get back to France somehow.

When I learned about the hat week following Kaari's week at Chateau Dumas, even though many years had passed since my hat-making days, I knew I had to stay on. Taking a class from a milliner to the Royal Family in England, someone who had, I'm sure, much more formal training than I, would be the finishing touches to my knowledge base. Even though this was set as a "beginners class" I knew I would learn a lot. And I did.

Dillon Wallwork is a very talented and gifted artist. Hats and their decor literally come out of his hands perfectly molded as if by magic. Every hat made in class during that week has a bit of Dillon's magic in it. Working on staff with Philip Somerville, a well known milliner in England, Dillon is more than ready to break out on his own.

This week there were 9 students. Any more would be way to many. And as it always is with hat-making we worked anywhere and everywhere. It is really hard to contain work areas with this particular craft. We soon learned that whenever Dillon was demonstrating a technique to a student, we all gathered around with our full attention.

 

We even received a visit by Carole and Nigel Denford from The Hat Magazine, "the voice of the hat trade, and unceasing in the promotion of the making and wearing of hats, worldwide"! 

Claudia, from Germany was new to hats but definitely not new to working with her hands. She has amazing skill.

 As you can see in the following photo's gorgeous hats were made by beginner and established hat makers alike!  What fun we had wearing our creations to dinner on the last night.

 

This is Naomi, a soon to be famous movie star! Isn't she beautiful?  And what a voice! She entertained us all week.

 

And Gabrielle, fashion designer extraordinaire!

Cathy D. was an angel, complete with wings. Which explains her amazing talent for making this masterpiece, her first hat no less.

Oh, and watch out for this one, Joe, the sleeper of the group who did not even take the course! 

As the finishing touches to my new classroom are being made behind my shop, I am developing a class schedule which will include resurrecting my hat-making courses with elements from this weeks course with Dillon. Send me an email so I can make sure you receive the latest information.

Septfonds Festival du Chapeau

On the first day with the new guests arriving from all over the world, we went to the international hat festival in Septfonds. Not the largest event I have seen but amazing none-the-less.

 

The entire town was decorated for the event. Here and there I saw the posters and these charming cement hats springing up from the ground!  I am not sure if they are there permanently or not. Septfonds is the hat capitol of France and has been for many years.  This is where Willy's hat making factory is that we visited last week.

The first place we visited was a display of vintage french hats!  It was really hard not to touch these, as I wanted to examine how they were made.  So instead, I photographed them all. Here are a few of my favorites.

 

 

 

You can see more at Vintage French Hats

 

In the next exhibit there were lots of hats entered into a competition. As you can see the hats were very whimsical and made out of just about anything!

Then it was outside to the festival itself!  There were many booths with skilled artisans demonstrating their craft, from lace-making and hat forming to hat stand carving.

Lace Making

Hat forming (by machine)

Hat stand carving

And of course there were hats for sale! All kinds and all price ranges. Some of the favorites:

 

Lucy's darling mom with a "to die for" hat!

And these fabulous creations made with vintage straw braid from Italy:

 

A great time was had by all at the hat festival. Getting us inspired for our week of hat making with Dillon.

Note, I am back-dating these posts to the actual day that they occured. I wrote this one on July 24, 2009.