A tip of the hat!

Wow, another great WI evening at the Tea Rooms on Church Street! Thank you so much to Claire Strickland who talked us through her education and career thus far and her pivotal decision to become a bespoke milliner. she told us some great stories, showed us some really inspirational work and gave us many hot tips about craft materials, techniques and suppliers.

Claire says:'Milliner. Hatter. Bonnet beautician. Fedora Fancier,I go by many names. Mostly, though, people call me Claire Strickland, and ask me to make bespoke hats and headpieces for them. My hats and headpieces have starred in theatres, films, operas and pantomimes, at public events and corporate promotions. I’ve even created personal, private commissions.My speciality hat? I love any kind of challenge, but my eyes get especially bright when clients say things like ‘sculptural’, ‘outlandish’ and ‘historical’ to me.