November 12, 2006

About

Filed under: Uncategorized — cristinadeprada @ 1:20 pm

My name is Cristina and I live in Barcelona. I thought it would be a good idea to share my hatmaking frustrations by posting my projects and their progress.

You can contact me at: thepaperhat at arrakis dot es

24 Comments »

  1. Love that hat — the veiling is superb! Is that your own creation?

    Comment by Marie Christopher — March 8, 2007 @ 8:19 pm

  2. Hello Cristina,

    I was jsut doing a search on JetTec inkjet papers, and I see you have been using JET TEC Polysilk Adhesive paper (10 A4 sheets, ordering code 3693 JB), but cannot get it now.

    I was just sorting through my stocks, and I find I do have a quantity (at least 10 packs x 10 sheets) in my stock.

    If you were interested in any of this I can give you a price. I am in UK, and I see you are Barcelona, so I can calculate the shipping cost.

    Regards….. David

    Comment by David Wilson — May 3, 2007 @ 1:27 pm

  3. I just read Marie Cristopher’s comment, but it’s from ages ago! Yes, the hat is my own creation, made with buckram and wire and covered with cream velvet. The ribbon is from Mokuba and the veiling works really nice there I agree. Thanks!

    Comment by cristinadeprada — July 14, 2007 @ 2:22 pm

  4. Cristina,
    May I ask, what would you suggest as a stiffening product for felt – I’m looking for something that wouldn’t be toxic – I’m I’m wondering if you have used gelatin sizing, and if so, do you know when used on a felt hat, will it fall out of shape when exposed to the elements? Thanks so much for your suggestions :)

    Comment by Michelle — July 25, 2007 @ 10:00 pm

  5. Hi Michelle, for a long time I used a chemical sizing (very toxic by the smell of it, and I always had to be outdoors to put on the sizing). Now I’m using an eco friendly water based stiffener (smells like white glue to be honest) that makes a harder or softer hat depending on the dilution ratio.
    Generally speaking hats should not be exposed to the elements, period. Perhaps the chemical sizing will stand a better chance than the waterbased, but any felt hat worn under heavy rain is bound to lose it’s shape. The better the felt, the more resistant the hat is. Furfelt is much better than woolfelt (and you can feel it as you work it!).
    If you really need to make a hat that withstands the elements, check these felts that the german supplier KOPKA sells http://www.kopka.de/woolfelt1.htm They are heavyweight XL felt capelines for men’s hats made only in black and navy, they have a SCOTCHGARD® waterproof treatment. Or, sell your customers “hat covers” http://www.how2hats.com/hatcovers/index.html ;-)

    Comment by cristinadeprada — July 26, 2007 @ 10:34 am

  6. I just “found” you — I will never leave — I will each day sit at your feet and worship the HAT.
    Okay, maybe a bit much, but I did just find your blog (thanks to Miss Janey over at HATtastic) and I am so happy to find a person who can make hats, glorious, fabulous, amazing, marvelous HATS.
    I can but hope to one day make a HAT, until then, I shall wear them in all their glory.

    Comment by Carol — March 8, 2008 @ 9:43 pm

  7. Ohhhh, Cristina!

    Is there some reason that I do not live near you?! You are amazing! I just want to be your friend (it really isn’t intended as creepy as it sounds-ha ha!)! Your work is so fantastic! Truly clever, and so wonderful that you document everything, which is very open and giving for the rest of us. Your website is a rare treat! Your quality is also gratifying, in a world where quality is so often sacrificed for kitsch or quantity. Thank you for all your hard work and openness! Sincerely, zophie leslea ;-)

    Comment by zophie leslea — December 24, 2008 @ 8:34 pm

  8. I did an article on you today. I love your site. Would you consider doing a guest post for my site which is relatively new? I want to inject fun and excitement and I do not make hats myself. I will be writing about people who do make hats. I enjoy wearing hats and want to bring them back into regular style.

    I spend a lot of time on looking at hats through history and to see what we are “missing”. By the way Alice in Wonderland is my favorite book and the Mad Hatter is my favorite character – I also like the White Rabbit. My aim is to inject more current fashion into my writing. I previously had a blog called “Hat Nostalgia”.

    Thanks for being open and giving us your energy and ideas.

    Darla
    Hat Revivalist
    Many Hatty Returns

    Comment by Darla Sycamore — January 18, 2009 @ 3:36 pm

  9. Hi Cristina,
    greetings from irlanda!
    I am going to Rome for a few days and was trying to locate some milliners to look up there , but it seems difficult to find any.. so I thought to ask you if you knew of any Hatters as ourselves!!!!

    love your work ! hope you are busy ..

    lina

    Comment by Lina Stein — February 2, 2009 @ 11:46 am

  10. Hi Lina,
    I’m sorry I have not been able to reply before. I guess you’ve been to Rome and back already, and in any case I don’t know a single italian milliner…
    Hope you had a good time.
    Cristina

    Comment by cristinadeprada — February 6, 2009 @ 9:32 pm

  11. Hi!

    I’m looking to source nylon mesh discs for a fascinator base (i.e. black nylon mesh that is already woven into a circle, rather than being cut from a roll).

    Have you any idea where I might be able to find such a thing?!?

    I’ll send you a picture of one if that would help!

    Thanks in advance,
    Neil

    Comment by Neil — March 12, 2009 @ 12:29 pm

  12. Hi Neal,

    I have no idea where you would be able to find nylon mesh discs. The discs that I have seen around are either made of sewn straw (possibly synthetic) or made out of sinamay. I know that often crin (aka horsehair) is now made out of nylon, but I have never seen it woven into a disc.

    You can see an example of the sewn straw bases here: http://www.macculloch-wallis.co.uk/Product.aspx/HeadDressAccessories!HAT40

    I hope it helps,
    Cristina

    Comment by cristinadeprada — March 12, 2009 @ 1:42 pm

  13. Hi Cristina, greetings from Singapore. Thank you for sharing the information and I truly enjoy reading your blog which is so educational too.

    Comment by Zorgball — May 19, 2009 @ 3:04 am

  14. Hi thanks to Cristina for all her tips on millinery I loved the blocks from cork – I have some made by me by hand (from espartre and white goo +toxic+ that you paint on) and I understand the attention to detail it all requires, thanks for the blog and I have added you to mine, thanks for the inspiration I will add my hand made blocks to my blog so you can see what I am on about ! cheers JULIE FLEMING, Australia

    Comment by julie fleming — August 4, 2009 @ 8:47 am

  15. Dear Christina
    Lovely site and very inspirational
    I have a little home based business developing corsage flowers and hand made jewellery and props for the fashion trade for windows and wholesale. I am trying to source new books and ideas for corsage making and wondered if you had any ideas on the subject. Mostly I just sketch patterns and the factory develops the shap or pattern but I have also started making my own flowers from scratch, however the books and patterns for this seem a bit rare and are a bit disapointing. particularly when it comes to leather work. Any tips or ideas would be very welcome. Ps have only visited Barcelona once when I was staying in a little holiday resort down the coast but on my you are a lucky lady. London is fab but not so chic
    All the best
    Tom

    Comment by Tom Clarke — September 4, 2009 @ 10:44 am

  16. me encanta tu trabajo, podrias decirme donde puedo encontrar moldes para hacer sombreros y algunas formas de tocados? mi principal diseños son las joyas pero hace poco que estoy realizando tocados..
    Muchas gracias

    Comment by andrea — October 28, 2009 @ 1:15 am

  17. Hola Andrea,
    Me alegro que te guste mi trabajo. Supongo que ya has mirado bajo “millinery suppliers” donde hablo de un proveedor de moldes.
    Mi recomendación es que te hagas tus propios moldes de corcho, ya que para tocados puede ser lo más comodo y entonces seguro que se ajustan a lo que necesitas. Precisamente ayer escribí sobre el tema en el blog.
    Un saludo,
    Cristina

    Comment by cristinadeprada — October 28, 2009 @ 9:43 am

  18. Hi Tom,

    I just realized I had not replied to your comment. I have never worked with leather so unfortunately there’s little I can say to help you. On the other hand, I recommend you check out amazon.co.jp because the japanese make the best books concerning flowers…

    Good luck,
    Cristina

    Comment by cristinadeprada — October 28, 2009 @ 9:47 am

  19. You have such beautiful hats! Years ago I purchased an electric iron with different tips and I’m now looking for an iron that makes petals for spider or spoon chrysanthemums. You pull the fabric through to make a tube. Where did you purchase your beautiful tools? I took lessons from a Japanese woman and have several early books from Japan. I would appreciate your help. Elaine

    Comment by Elaine — November 4, 2009 @ 11:52 pm

  20. Dear Christina,

    First, as I know you are from Barcelona, I wondered if you have ever seen the dance company MOMIX. I was the company’s manager for many, many years until I started my millinery business.

    I want to say that I simply love this site. And I have ordered the book from France. I love making le Bibi and just completed one for a friend of mine.

    Thank you and I hope 2010 is wonderful for you, your family and every millinery-loving person who comes to this site.

    Laura Daly
    Laura Daly Millinery

    Comment by laura daly — January 28, 2010 @ 10:06 pm

  21. Hello,
    I have just discovered your wonderful website. I wondered if you could please tell me where the new French poupee was from?
    Kind regards,
    Ann

    Comment by Ann — January 29, 2010 @ 10:13 am

  22. Hello,

    I just realized I did not answer to Elaine. Hi Elaine, I think Lacis has that kind of tool (looks like a tiny hammer) and you pull the fabric through to make a tube… I wish I had one of those, I love the flower stems made of curled fabric!!

    Laura, I do not know the dance group Momix, although I have just googled them and they look very interesting! Thank you for your best wishes for the new year, and the same to you!!

    Ann, I’m glad you like my website. My French poupee is made (and has been made for decades) by the company Siegel Stockman. If you google Siegel Stockman you will find them!

    Thank you to everyone who follows my blog!

    Cristina

    Comment by cristinadeprada — January 29, 2010 @ 5:11 pm

  23. Hi There,
    I love hats just as much as you do. I was lucky enough to spend a week with Waltraud Reiner a Melbourne Milliner. She travels around teaching people who want to learn. You do some interesting work. I hope you will sometime visit my blog. In the mean time I’ve marked your site on google reader.

    Cia.

    Rosie

    Comment by Rosie — February 1, 2010 @ 6:27 am

  24. Hello Christina

    I am so excited to have come across your blog…..even more excited as I scrolled through your listings to see what you have been posting and came across the info about the chain stitch machine…I have one that sits idle as it has reduced me to tears on more than one occasion….I am looking at it with new eyes and little more love in my heart again….will be trying your recommendation. Also sculpting your own blocks out of plasticine or augmenting an already existing block…fantastic…I have done that before but not with material that can be sculpted…… opens up a whole new world of possibilities! You are inspiring, looking forward to following you.

    Kindest Regards,
    Loreen

    Comment by Loreen Lightfoot — February 4, 2010 @ 5:09 pm

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