Bridal Millinery--Birdcage Veils, Handmade Hats, etc.

I do quite a few bridal shows each year. Today was the last of the season. It was in an intimate setting with a select group of wedding professionals showing their wares--florists, dress salons, event planners, photographers, bakers, muscians, and a milliner!



Because of the lighting in my space, and because I chose a black and white color scheme, the photos have a beautiful monochromatic look which I really like. Wanted to share them with you.

Above is one of my handmade flowers, made of silk organdy and centered with AB rhinestones that sparkle like crazy. The necklaces are vintage and from the selection at my shop.

Beautiful Juliana necklace. This is a totally over-the-top necklace with AB rhinestones and crystals. Very collectible! Also very pretty on a bride...or mother-of-the-bride.

Shot of a toasty tulle headpiece spotted with pearls (L) and a huge, no, HUGE, handmade silk flower headpiece (R) with a vintage rhinestone pin as the center.

Winter wedding. Snow. Dr. Zhivago? Faux sheared beaver headband and hand muff. Both with vintage rhinestone brooches as accents. Vintage ostrich boa--full and fluffy.

Lovely beaded clutch and a white handmade silk rose. Love the shadows!

Here's to bridal season!

New Millinery Shop--aMuse's New Beginning

aMuse has a new home! For the past 2 months I've been not only making hats, headpieces, flowers, and running the shop, but I've also been painting ceilings, walls, floors, and trimwork. It has been a loooong 2 months. BUT, as of May 4th, I've relocated the shop to downtown historic Wilmington, North Carolina. Wilmington was incorporated in the 1700's, is a beautiful city on the Cape Fear River, about 7 miles from the Atlantic Ocean.

Here is the building aMuse is housed in. That's aMuse on the bottom floor behind the black door and that's our storefront window. This building was built by a French baker in the 1870's. The bakery was where my shop is located, and the family lived upstairs in the 2 top floors. Cool, huh?

Here's my front window. Not exactly what I want, but with all the moving stress it is going to have to work for a week or so. The old shop didn't have a storefront window so this is a treat for me. Passersby will actually be able to see my work from the street!

The sandwich board!

Our next door neighbor. Not too shabby! This is the DeRosset House, a private club where many weddings are held. The gardens are magnificent as well as the restaurant and the lodging rooms. We like it downtown!

And now for a few inside shots.

Here is what was a pass-through window for the 1870's bakery. Now it is a display nook.

Candy pink slipper chairs in front of the double-sided original fireplace. Rustic but beautiful. Exposed brick and original ballast stones from Europe make for some great charm.

Jewelry cases housing our huge collection of vintage costume jewelry. We carry most of the top costume designer names from the 1940's, '50's, and '60's including Juliana, Vendome, Hobe, Ciner, Haskell, Kramer, and many others. Lots of bling!

We still have lots of work to do to get everything in perfect order. The atelier is still a wreck, but it getting better. Very fortunate to be in such a fabulous new shop. New beginnings....

Vintage Costume Jewelry

Most everyone who reads this blog is here because they have an interest in hats: looking at them, learning about them, discussing them. But I started this blog as a showcase of not only what I do as a milliner, but what my shop, aMuse, carries other than hats and headpieces.

This is my first entry about the fabulous collection of vintage costume jewelry aMuse has in the jewelry cases. Jewelry started as a tiny portion of the merchandise at the shop, but I quickly determined that practically everyone who came in was mesmerized by the bling. Sparkle in the cases, sparkle in the eyes!

aMuse is known in town as a place you can get quality vintage jewelry from the 1880's to the 1980's. Most of it is from the 1940's through the mid-1960's. There are LOTS of rhinestones! Think back to the vintage Vogue magazine photo shoots--the models in their gorgeous clothes and jewelry draped everywhere--necks, ears, arms, shoulders, fingers. That's the kind of jewelry we have.

The above necklace is in the style of Haskell, Robert, and DeMario, although it was not marked.

This sparkler is a verified Juliana necklace--one of the most sought after designer names in costume jewelry.

Very wide brushed gold-tone bracelet spaced with rhinestones. Can't you just see this on a glam arm holding a dry martini?

Bling bling!

Oh. My. Gosh! These rhinestone earrings are about 3" long and full of fire! Notice the different shapes of stones. Quality stuff.

Pave rhinestones that twinkle all over the room, especially since the bottom teardrop swings freely.

I'll post some other jewelry in the future. Just thought it was time so show off some of the great pieces in the collection, which changes constantly due to the popularity of vintage costume jewelry. Doesn't hang around the shop too long! Make a statement at your upcoming holiday parties with vintage costume jewelry; get noticed!