Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Photo Salvage


Last year, each and every photoshoot, I managed to forget my camera. I feebly tried to take some pictures with my phone, which is not particularly impressive and somewhat difficult to work with.  I recently dug into my phone's memory to clean it out, and am trying to salvage some of these pictures.  This one was an unstaged shot from the Marie Antoinette photoshoot last March.  Pas mal, I think, pas mal du tout.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Break Time!

This monkey's taking a little bit of a break!  Apart from shipping orders and answering emails, it's Christmas Vacation for me!

Friday, December 9, 2011

Fascinator Friday: Luna on the Moon


Glitter Panda Fascinator
 Yes, yes it is adorable.  And it's not the only specimen of cuteness on display at Luna on the Moon.  Sweet little rabbits, colorful reindeer antlers, glittery cat ears and, well, I'll just let you find out for yourself, twinkle in their boxes, all with a child-like graphic quality.  It was even named after a bunny, see if you can suppress your *awe*s.

  Kirsty Pate, creator of Luna on the Moon, curates a darling collection of headbands and fascinators that would be perfect little cocktail adornments for today's hip young woman...especially if she has a bit of a sense of humor.  She sells clips of birdcage veil separately so that you can dress each piece up a bit.

Christmas Pudding and Holly Fascinator
Black Grosgrain Triple Bow Headband
You can check out her shop here
and you can also find her at her website, on facebook, and on twitter
Happy Hunting!
Rainbow Glitter Triple Crown Headband

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Kitchen-Inspired Headwear from the 1950s!



Tee hee.

Holiday Fashion tips from LFPress.com

Old Fashioned Christmas Poinsettia Fascinator
Tips for wearing holiday fascinators from the LFPress.com:

"Hair styles are still being influenced by the royal wedding, says Nina Badr of NU Hair and Make Up Studio. “This season, accessories are very hot, especially fascinators with feathers and bits of mesh or tulle."

To make this look work for you, pull your locks up into a loose bun and add a fascinator in a bright colour. “Colour will punch up your look. Go silver or use one with peacock feathers to jazz up your LBD,” says Badr. Big curls or a loose ponytail also work, she adds."

Friday, December 2, 2011

Fascinator Friday: ClaraBelle's Hats


Kari Dalton of ClaraBelle's Hats is a long-time seamstress and self-taught milliner.  When her youngest daughter got married, she made the gowns...and the hats and with the encouragement of her friends, she decided to make a run of it!  Beginning her journey with one 100 year old (self-named) hat block named ClaraBelle, she's been experimenting with techniques from vintage hat making books.  Dabbling in a variety of materials, including knit pieces, Kari and her daughter Anni feed off each others creativity.  With a dollop of vintage grace and a pinch of Southern charm, ClaraBelle's Hats is worth a visit!
You can find her Etsy shop here.




Saturday, November 26, 2011

Winter Collection 2012

The 2012 Winter Collection, featuring warm fabrics assembled into ruffly, pillbox-shaped flower hats on headbands!
Click any thumbnail to go to the item's page, or go to the store here. Don't forget your free shipping code, available until Sunday night! SMALLSAT11

Friday, November 25, 2011

Holiday 2011!

A sampling of the 2011 Holiday and Special Occasion collection!

Click on any of the thumbnails to go to the listing for that item, or go directly to the Shoppe here.  Free shipping now through Sunday with coupon code SMALLSAT11!

Friday, November 18, 2011

Fascinator Friday: TRAMP Millinery

Brown Cocktail Hat with Zipper

Maggie Mowbray, Scottish founder of the ironically titled TRAMP Millinery (her designs are anything but trampy), spent more than a decade as a fine artist.  She graduated with honors from Duncan of Jordanstone Collage of Art.  Then, in 2009, she turned her undeniable design skills to millinery, studying traditional felt blocking.  Creating well constructed sculptural cocktail hats, her lovely wares are intended to last for a lifetime. Her shop is full of lush, luxurious designs that are delicious to behold.  Each piece comes delivered in its own hat box so that you can keep your hat nice and neat while it lasts you for years to come, and I love a good hat box)!

In the realm of actual, keep-your-head-warm hats, Maggie also has a wonderful collection of cloches, which is my absolute favorite keep-your-head-warm hat (drool).  They are well worthy of a look as the weather grows ever colder.

She has a website, where you can take a leisurely stroll through her collections, here: http://www.trampmillinery.com
Then you can proceed to her Etsy shop to purchase your favorites here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/TRAMPmillinery
You can also find her on facebook and on twitter and her blog

Aubergine Cocktail Hat

Cocktail Hat with Pewter Cluster

Friday, November 11, 2011

Fascinator Friday: La Petite Menagerie

Green Silk Fascinator - Photographer: Levi Dexter; Model: Bernie Dexter. Rights reserved.
Ooh la la!  With the sultry and sassy selections available at La Petite Menagerie, that's all there is to say.  

Well, almost. With the allure of Pinup and the glamour of Burlesque, her high-quality constructions are truly crave-worthy.  Take for example the adorable Deck of Cards Collection, which she suggests would be great for a set of bridesmaids at a Las Vegas wedding.  Oh, how I would love to see such a wedding!   Proprietor, Shelby Robertson had a stint in the circus, and perhaps that can give you some insight into her style.  Not only does she also fashion a deluxe line of corsetry, but she also makes poi, satiny streamers for fire twirlers to practice with sans fire.
You can find her on facebook, her blog and of course, on etsy!

"The Club" Deck of Cards Fascinator -
Model: Kitty Kosmo, Photographer:
Luminous Lizzy, Hair and Makeup:
Sarah Rochelle

Strawberry Shortcake Pillbox Hat - Photographer: Christopher
Mackessy, Makeup Artist: LiAnn Li, Model: Christina Rainer

Friday, November 4, 2011

Up For Sale

"Dandy" 12"x24" Mixed Media
 Centennial Art Center's Holday Sale starts...well right about now, actually!  I have contributed these two paintings for the cause.  20% of all sales benefits Arts in the Park.  The Holiday Sale is going on through December 14th, so if you're in the Nashville Area, swing by and check it out!

 Centennial Art Center is located in the 25th Avenue North and Park Plaza Corner of Nashville’s Centennial Park and is open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. For more information or directions, call 615-862-8442. For information about Centennial Art Center’s gallery and art classes, go to: http://www.nashville.gov/parks/arts/cac.asp

"Jack" 10"x8" Acrylic

Fascinator Friday: House of Telsa

Skinny French Cocktail Hat
"Vintage inspired headwear."  That's the simple description of House of Telsa's simply lovely shop.  With a combination of traditional hand blocked bases and whimsical florals and beading, Thatiana's creations have classic style and epic wearablilty. Featuring soft fabric rosettes with rhinestone centers and sturdy felt berets, House of Telsa ranges from flirty cocktail wear to upscale casual wear.  Each piece is unique and beautiful with the potential to become a staple in any wardrobe.  Stroll on over to her shop for a new wishlist topper!

Skinny French Cocktail Hat
Miss Bennett

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Featured Adornment of the Month: Feather Corona

Feather Corona in Badger
November's featured goody is the Feather Corona!  Soft rooster saddle feathers sweep over a covered headband creating an asymmetrical and modern look that's excellent for both casual and more dressy attire. The coronas are $54.95 each. This month only there will be free US shipping (half off international) on all of the colors available in this style.  You can find the feather coronas in the "Feathers" section here.
Feather Corona in Jet Black

Feather Corona in Furnace

Friday, October 28, 2011

Fascinator Friday: Postponed

I'm working on a short history of fascinators for Fascinator Friday...but I couldn't get it done on time! This week's Fascinator Friday will be on Tuesday!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Fascinator Friday: Jellyfish Jones

from the Steampunk Collection
Ever find yourself looking for a creative yet sexy yet hip costume?  Like say...now-ish?  Allow me to direct you to Jellyfish Jones, purveyor of wild and eclectic steampunk and seafaring styled fashions.  Here you can find a beautiful, vintage looking leather master of ceremonies top hat.  Here you can order up an smoldering steampunk pirate costume, made just for you.  Rife with fancy and unexpected details like keyholes and zippers each hat is an adventure in itself!  Her shop is located here on Etsy.  Go get yourself that perfect costume!

Swashbucklers Sea Hat
Steampunk Pirate Costume


Friday, October 14, 2011

Fascinator Friday: Order and Abandon by Apatico


Stovepipe hats with orange tentacles climbing from the pipe, red and white spotted toadstool fascinators, top hats with white bunny ears sprouting up from the brim...these are just a few of the wonderland of oddities found in Apatico's collection.  Based in Seattle, WA, Megan, the creative madwoman behind Apatico, is dually inspired by both decadence and simplicity.  Equally, she searches for a balance between order and abandon, hence the name.  Enamored with styles ranging from Victorian Mourning to Burlesque to Modern Japanese Kimono styling, it's no wonder she can't get her ideas into hats fast enough!

You can check out her Etsy shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/orderabandon
And find her on facebook and twitter by clicking the links!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Gatherings Magazine


Gathering's Fall issue is out, and it's beautiful!  It's full of lovely design, delicious looking recipes and amazing photography.  The Victorian spread that I worked on with Heather is also there (on the cover too!).  Enjoy!

Friday, September 30, 2011

Fascinator Friday: Janine Basil

"The Queen of Hearts"
Ode to glitter (in the form of a bad haiku):

dazzled, the magpie's eye flutters
twinkle on her cheek, stuck forevermore
sparkle, glint gleam glitter, shine

The collection of Janine Basil is a much better homage to shininess.  Retro, rockabilly, and graphic inspired pieces pack a punch!  Catering to the flashy burlesque connoisseur, many of her pieces have a costume-feel, while others have a lovely, graphic quality that would serve to jazz up a daring fasionista's everyday garb.  Bold colors and shapes, all those rhinestones and glitter, looking through her collection is like browsing a deluxe candy shop.  No, really, my mouth is watering.

Janine Basil's web page: http://www.janinebasil.com
Social Media: Facebook and Twitter

"Pow Rhinestone Fascinator"
"Burlesque Heart Fascinator"

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Nouveau Victoria

Mini Top Hat in Lady Chiltern and Orange Rose Sash Cover
Sometime this summer I was approached by Heather Thompson of Gatherings Magazine, whom I worked with during the Alice in Wonderland shoot, about coordinating a feature for her fall edition.  She wanted to feature some of my accessories in a Modern Victorian style arrangement focused on fall colors and soft, romantic scenes.  She had already selected her photographer, the amazing Amber Beckham, who's now branching out into fashion photography.

Mini Top Hat in Orlando and Floral Collar
 With a limited budget, we searched our own wardrobes for things that could be assembled to look psuedo-Victorian.  What resulted was an interesting combination of valuable vintage and heirloom pieces and some unusual Goodwill finds, which, when layered, gave rise to looks that were both modern and old-fashioned.  I did my best to coordinate the colors of the accessories while using them to push the color scheme out into the autumny loveliness that Heather was hoping for.


A key acquisition in this production was Chalita Tharpe, a makeup artist I'd met at a runway show, who not only knew exactly what would work best for makeup, but also took over the hair design, which was going to be my, much less successful job.  That being done, she hung around to help the inexperienced model (that would be me) some tips on how to make her body look interesting.  Without her and Amber giving me direction all the time, it would have looked like we had grabbed whomever was around to wear our clothes. Which we had.


 Having had to cancel because of a little fringe of tropical storm that bounced off this fair city(causing the lacking models problem), we had a perfect evening weather-wise: clear blue skies with light floaty clouds, and a cooler than usual temperature as a result of the storm.  Given all of the clothing layering that was going on, I was really grateful.
And let me just say - I was seriously sore the next day!  The hours of standing and twisting and stretching, and holding myself up at odd angles...it was exhausting.  No life of modeling for me! I plan to stick to the decorating of models, thanks very much.

Floral Hat in Victoria, Purple Rose Sash Cover and Purple Shoe Clips
I'm really looking forward to seeing what Heather does with this in the magazine (as well as the rest of it, it really is a lovely magazine)!  I will post up a link when it comes out!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Shiny and New!


Sai-Sai Arts now has its own shiny new website!  For now it just has links to the shop, this here blog, and some contact information and history.  Coming soon will be a section devoted to individual collections, such as Alice in Wonderland and Nouveau Victoria, and a press section, because there is about to be press!...and I've been checking every day to see if it's out yet.  I'll have more information on these soon, but for now I wanted to acknowledge that I suddenly up and changed the blog without warning, and the reason for that was to make it match and flow with the new site.

You can navigate the new site via the menu bar at the top of the page, or check it out here!

Friday, September 23, 2011

Fascinator Friday with La Coco Rouge

"Butterfly Noir"
Step into the Etsy shop of La Coco Rouge and you find yourself surrounded by an eclectic array of hair adornment with art deco flair and a twist of tribal energy and theatrical flair.  Stephanie Farley of La Coco Rouge, a retired gemologist/jeweler, has a background in high end jewelry design and it shows in her millinery.  Focused on creating quality pieces that are intended to last through generations, her unique style also has a lasting quality.  Featuring beautiful draping bead work and elegant feathery flourishes, these pieces would be perfect for a range of dressy occasions.

"Black Swan"
"Arc de Triomphe"

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Our Fonts, Our Friends


I quite enjoyed this video on fonts from Veer...I just like looking at the pretty fonts and imagining the pretty things I could make with them.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Fascinator Friday with Miss Ruby Sue

"Gretta"

Missrubysue's shop is bursting with color.  Flowers, feathers and frills are piled together into sweet and exciting combinations for babies, toddlers, adults and even puppy dogs.  A short description of her products reads "Accessories for Happy People" and it's impossible not to feel a playful joy just looking at them - imagine wearing one!  I had such a hard time excluding pictures from this post because everything is just so dang cute!  She also keeps a blog full of helpful advice for the makers out there trying to get a foothold, and from someone who's been featured on "the View" and "Good Morning America," that's really something.

You can find her shop at missrubysue.com
She is also on Facebook and Twitter, and her blog is missrubysue.blogspot.com

Enjoy!
"Just For Fun"


"Beyone the Playground 3"

Monday, September 12, 2011

Hats and Art: Made for Each Other

"Derby Hat by Arturo Rios" by Feelingartsystudio

Remember Arturo Rios? He was my Fascinator Friday Feature from Sept. 2? Well it seems his head art has inspired the other kind. Feelingartsystudio offers this watercolor painting of his derby hat. I've always felt that art and hats go together quite well!

You can find this piece and other works here: http://feelingartsystudio.etsy.com

Friday, September 9, 2011

Fascinator Friday: Orphelia


Black Mini Top Hat with Black and White Trim

Who isn't immediately drawn to a mini top hat? I'm certainly a fan. They're somehow both adorable and elegant at the same time with the added bonus of being able to be cocked at just the right angle - and as Frank Sinatra says, when it comes to hats, "angles are attitudes." Orphelia has quite a selection of attitudes in her shop. Catering to the burlesque, the steampunk aficionado as well as the stylish modern bride, her creations weigh more heavily on the elegant side of the scale while maintaining a sense of jaunty gaiety. So charming are her pieces, in fact, that the Victoria and Albert Museum acquired some for their new hat exhibition.

All hail the mini top hat!...and hats off (sorry) to Orphelia for giving them a new life!

You can browse her lovely wares on Etsy: http://orphelia.etsy.com


Mini Ivory Veiled Top Hat

Friday, September 2, 2011

Fascinator Friday: Arturo Rios

Couture Black Wings Headpiece

Switching style gears, here's Arturo Rios, a high fashion, avant garde style designer creating modern art sculptures for the head. He calls himself an "ordinary guy who makes out of the ordinary hats." And indeed, these asymmetrical structures have caught the fashionable eyes of Daisy Fuentes and Paris Hilton, among others. Seeking out antique materials and exotic feathers, Arturo strives to create highly modern headpieces out of precious stuffs. Add to that the $150-$250 range that most of his pieces fall under, that's a lot of fashion bang for the buck! You can find his shop on etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArturoRios
Couture Bow Headpiece


Pheasant Tail Fashion Headpiece