As if I needed more reasons to love Heal's they've managed to make that sentiment even stronger. There, I said it... I love Heal's! It's more then a shop, a mecca for design and a purveyor of quality gifts it's also a great inspiring place which for me always conducted lots of creativity but now also offers crafting and taster events! Ah, paradise!!!
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| Tottenham Court Road shop |
The formidable VV Rouleaux were there hosting a ribbon workshop.
VV Rouleaux has been a long time crush... and I have spent hours in their haberdashery shop like a kid in a candy shop! I could easily spend a fortune in there and not because everything is super expensive but more because there is so much amazing stock. Easily it has to be one of the most gorgeous shops in LONDON... if not the world. Ha, us crafters love haberdashery shops so it's understandable that we should make such a statement!
So when we were invited along to a Ribbon Workshop we jumped at the chance... besides we love learning new skills!
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| Spools of thread in lovely autumn colours! |
I never knew how much you could do with ribbon. I must confess that normally I use it for adding detail to a hem or in the more obvious use like bow making and gift wrapping!
So what was it that we didn't know about ribbon? We were shown by the amazing Annabel Lewis (founder of VV Rouleaux)
and her trusted assistant Bridgette a few nifty tricks and amazing
skills like rose making as well as ruffling plus a few trade secrets. Not surprising these two ladies were experts and shared with us not just their know how but their craft stash too!
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| Annabel Lewis |
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| Bridgette teaches us how to sew onto straw bases! |
The group was small
but fun... wine flowed, minced pies were eaten, lots of chattering and we even had a
celebrity in our midst- It was no other then the fab
British Bake-Off Queen Frances Quinn who joined us at the table and may I say that she is not just a talented baker but a nifty sewer too!- and most of all beautiful things were made!
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| My first ribbon rose!!! |
We learnt to make ribbon roses, use trims and flowers, shown how to
cover hair combs and bands and make fascinatores.
Of course as a hat
wearer I opted for a Victorian inspired fascinator... I think the
Christmas spirit took hold and by challenging
Dicken's my little beauty took shape!
Both myself and Myriam (
La Dame au Beret) went for the super festive look though her offering looked amazing and super
Bling!
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| Fellow crafter's -Myriam- gold rose... |
All in all it was a great event - I just hope they do more of these at Heal's!- in beautiful surrounding and with amazing tutors and friendly class mates. If you'd like to make your own check out the
VV Rouleaux 's web site for materials or see the
Heal's event page for further events.
Here are a few photos of the group in action...
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| Finding accents and accessories to compose a head piece... |
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| work in progress... |
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| Boxes of ribbons, beads, feathers and more...everything can be used to create! |
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| Delicate flowers added to make a headband... |
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| Lots of amazing festive pieces... |
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| Happy makers creating! |
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| And delicate flowers sewn to perfection... |
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| The group... |
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| Myriam's Bling Bling Gypsy Rose Christmas piece as she called it! |
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| A very beautiful and sweet fascinator made by this lovely lady! |
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| And Sarah is beaming with her's! |
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| Frances and Gemma made awesome hair combs which actually perfectly accessorized their outfits! Well done ladies! |
And here's my finished piece... which I'll be wearing this Christmas!
Thank you VV and Heal's for a truly magical evening!
