OPEN STUDIOS

My studio mate and fellow milliner Bronwen Simpson and I are throwing open the doors of STUDIO 5 as part of Open studios at Marketplace studios THIS weekend 11-5pm.

Bring along a hat that needs TLC and Bronwen will help you give it a new lease of life. 

Drop in 12-5pm on Sunday to make a fabric bow headband with me and enjoy some festive cheer and respite from Christmas shopping!  

A selling exhibition of our residents work MADE AT MARKETPLACE will be open in the ground floor gallery space and the last Vintage Village of the year is on Sunday from 10-4 pm in the historic market opposite. 

Lots to see and do in Stockport Old Town this weekend...don't miss out!

Marketplace Studios SK 1 1EU

Drop in crafting on Sunday 12-5pm

Vintage Heaven

Last Sunday I was kindly asked to take part in a promotion of Hat Works Millinery courses at Vintage Village, a monthly event in Stockport's historic market hall.

This month the theme was a Mad Hatter's Fair so there was plenty of vintage millinery on show as well as more contemporary pieces by myself and Lyndsay Cooper of Pyewacket millinery.

Hats and headbands by Emma Fozard Millinery

Lyndsay Cooper centre with her work modelled and on display

There's no town more fitting for a hatter's fair, what with Stockport's millinery heritage and  the highlight of my day was talking to a woman whose first job at the age of 15 was at Christy's Hat makers on Hillgate. She sewed bows onto headfittings for £1.50 a week which wouldn't get you much of a Christy's hat now!  

Christy & Co Ltd  Christys' is the only company in the world still making high quality top hats and bowlers in the traditional way, using hatting skills established over 200 years ago and keeping a valuable British industry very much alive.

My studio colleague Bronwen Simpson is responsible for organising the Millinery courses at Hat Works and is the driving force behind them; there is a comprehensive programme on offer that runs until the Summer; Stockport Council - Millinery Courses at Hat Works

Bronwen(right) judged the competition for Best Vintage hat and outfit.

Half term visits

I see the School holidays as an opportunity to get away and this October half term I took my children to stay with my aunty and uncle in Ulverston, Cumbria.

My uncle Nev has worked in the quarry for 45 years, as director since his father retired in 2003 and has been joined by his son Richard in recent years.

I hadn't been since I was little and saw it from my perspective as a maker on our visit. 

Nev polishing the slate

View over the Lake District with quarried  slate in foreground  

Richard cutting floor tiles from lump of slate

This machine was built in the 30s and is still going strong with the addition of replacement discs; Richard cuts several tiles at once, gradually increasing the depth of cut each time. It's a slow process and takes a lot of patience.

Muted autumnal shades on an overcast day; the slate when honed is a green grey colour  

Keren, Emily and Oliver watching the slate being machined; Oliver liked wearing the ear defenders but Emily was keen to escape to the warm tea shed! 

Whilst the children will never forget their ride in the pickup boot along the windy steep track to the quarry, I enjoyed seeing two craftsmen at work using their skills to enhance the qualities of a natural material.  

#High Fell Green Slate