Kuura Reign is on hiatus

I made a multilayered approximation of a heian era kimono for a finnish-japanese production of Nemuru Otoko, written Ikeda Riyoko, better known as the author of Rose of Versailles; costume design by Maria Sirén

I made a non-historical kokoshnik the other year, it was in a Helsinki Opera Box production of Tsarevitch

I am doing other work but I do hope to be more firmly back to millinery in the near future.

So hey, it sure was a half a year break, but here I am, working on projects when I can. I finally finished this cage/crown I had been working on since the first year in millinery school! Millinery wire, recycled chain, a key from that cellar I bury my dreams in, paper roses and a 2nd hand ostrich feather.

The last made-to-order hat I needed to finish before becoming a Real Milliner -- tomorrow is The Day, and both the client and I were really happy with this piece. Sinamay, cut and stripped feathers, “horsehair” ribbon and magic.

I’ve been so quiet here lately, what with my London internship and now having our last skill demonstration going on (then I’ll be a Real Milliner! How strange). Here we have a hand-molded base that I’m trying on different decorations with for a client. Let’s see what comes of this...

A halo of millinery wire, hand-picked and cut feathers and recycled silk, made for our fashion show, goes by the name of “Six Wings, Fifty Eyes”.

I've had this one ready for months but only now got the permission to show you! This swirly top hat is for a short film project and it was actually the very first top hat I made with this theather technique. I am quite pleased with the shapes.

A commissioned pink fedora, mostly molded by hand. The felt came from the client, it’s very fine, smooth and thin, yet still very stiff and almost didn’t want to become a hat, but I managed to persuade it.

Miss Magpie wearing my bunny ears for a photoshoot by J. Duktig! How cute is this?

Some hand-molded felt fascinator bases I made for later customization.

Some pics from the ELLK shop, aw yea!

You read that right! We’re opening with my three fellow millinery students on Nov 28th, which means TOMORROW and we’ll be open for two weeks. If you’re in HML, come by Tavastila and try on some stuff! I promise we’re not scary at all.

A client was super lucky and found the exact same fabric their winter coat was made of, and commissioned a soft winter hat to accompany it.

A dusty pink, velvet pillbox with soft hat veil, made for practice. The technique was interesting, and rayon velvet like this is always a challenge.

An autumn-y buckram hat covered with really nicely structured wool fabric (so fuzzy!), schoolwork.