Anna Karenina

I love movies, the stories the characters and the different worlds that can be created with movie magic. Above that there are some films that are not just good or great - those movies are just beautifull. I think that the most striking film ever made is Single man by Tom Ford. It's not that many movies haven't got amazing costumes or cinematpgraphy or set or all that - but there is just something extra in those rare few gems.

And this year has brought Joe Wrights take on Anna Karenina - long awaited and not disapointing! Everything works but since this is sort of a fashing blog-thingy lets talk about the costumes and more over: hats. I loved the way they have mixed styles and periods - it's not quite 18th centyry and not modern, not quite Russian but not quite French. There are some simply stunning elements and I was very inspired by what I saw.

I especially loved Princess Betsy Tverskoys, played by Ruth Wilson, style. So different - all the colors and cuts. I especially loved the sailor style hat. I haven't found a picture of it, but look at these:

It's such a shame we dont' use hats any longer as a norm - and in Finland hardly even in weddings. But I at least will do my best to get this trend back. And if anyone happens to know: how is that veil made and attced to the hat? This is a mystery to me...

So hail Jacqueline Durran and Joe Wrigt for their vision and I do apologise for shamelesly varying, which is a nice way to say copying, some of the creations.

Back to my sketch book.
xoxo, Anu

Old goodies

The problem with not havimg a retailer is the unavoidable lazyness - lately I have done fuck all. So to get things rolling again I am trying to get a table from a sales event called Korukarnevaali that's held in Kulttuuriareena Gloria on 27th of Aprill - fingers crossed!

For what I am going to sale? I rummaged through my stock and there is definetly some potential in the old stuff. For those who don't know or Dia de los muertos, Tiny Japanese and Matroshkas are brooces made with paper and plywood and Cute as a button are made with polymer clay.

Dia de los muertos		Tiny Japanese
Matroshkas		Cute as a button

I will definetly bring these and then some... I am working on several different hats and few brooches. I will put up pictures and info as soon as I get something ready - shouln't be too long.

Untill then, xoxo
/Anu

quick note: My old email anu@nunu.fi doesn't work anymore since I changed my domain host. So if there is anyone reading and I am not just writing to keep my fingers limber - you can contact me at katukna@yahoo.com

xoxo

/Anu

Autumn and appreciation

It's raining - again. Autum is here and winter is just around the corner - first snow came last week. And what am I thinking? This:

It's not so much that I don't like autumn and I LOOOOOOOOOVVVEEE LOVE LOVE! christmas as anyone who has ever met me can tell. But I truly hate winter... Everything is dead and there are no colors except for white and cold and wet and misery. But it can't be spring or summer all the time, suppose even that would get boring.

But one can cheer up this time of the year by making something summery and bright. Here are some things I love; Rings by Dior and a hat by Philip Treacy worn in his London fashion week show by Lady Gaga. I really love the idea and have plans to make my own twist on this - something a bit - less maybe.

But for now I'll keep making plans and dream of my favorite seasons. And get ready for christmas!

xoxo
/Anu

Inventive Japanese people!

Silver clay pendant after firing being polished

On the topic of new materials I am going to explore is METAL CLAY!! *tititiii*
It's a bit of a dream material 'cos it's all nerdy-science-stuff combined with the possibilities to create something at home from a material (metal) that one really couldn't do without some SERIOUS investments.

So metal clay in short is:  crafting medium consisting of very small particles of metal such as silver, gold, bronze, or copper mixed with an organic binder and water for use in making jewelry, beads and small sculptures. Originating in Japan in 1990, metal clay can be shaped just like any soft clay, by hand or using molds. After drying, the clay can be fired in a variety of ways such as in a kiln, with a handheld gas torch, or on a gas stove. The binder burns away, leaving the pure sintered metal. Shrinkage of between 8% and 30% occurs (depending on the product used). Alloys such as bronze, sterling silver, and steel also are available. (than you Wikipedia)

Basicly play-doh that turns into solid metal! I mean - how freaking cool is that?!
And you can use a creme brulee burner of a gas stove to burn small pieces at home.

The finished piece measures 17mm. Really pleased with the result and the pendant makes a little clinking sound :)

I found this medium in the summer and bought some bronze clay and the assorted goods that are needed - like the burning rack. But haven't really done anything with it. So a few weeks ago I went into a little workshop in organized by hopeasavi.fi and made a little pendant from silver clay. The making was super simple, the patterns is pushed to the clay and then the clay is cut to a shape, dried, fired and polished. The only "problem" with the metal clays is that they are BLOODY EXPENSIVE. The pendant has about 3 gr of clay and a 7gr package cost round 20€ - so do the math.

In spite of that I am definitely gonna do something... I have plans and will keep you posted when I get something done. If you are interested in the metal clay just google.

xoxo Anu

Detour

Back to millinery after summerholiday. I have two hats under way and looking good! I love working with sinamay - it works like a charm and after testing with some simple shapes I have high hopes for the future designs.

Here is what I have done with the hydrangea hat so far:

The basic shape is made by streching two layers of fabric over a styrofoam head. The layers are glued together with pva-glue thinned with water. After that the base is simply cut to the desired shape and trimmet with some ribbon.

Now I've been attaching hudreds of little flowers to make the effect of a hydrangea. The flowers are made by cutting the shape from stiffened fabric. I added some color variation by spraying some clorite on the fabric.

But now I am finishing an order for some of my old designs - skulls and heart brooches. Back to the hats later.

xoxo /Anu

Inspiration

As I said in the last entry I have some new materials - both to fashinators and jewlery; exiting!
For hats is sinamay! Sinamay is a fabric that is used to make hat bases and decorations. The fabric is made out of banana fibres and when you wet it with water it can be stretched and moulded in to different shapes easily - well that's the idea anyway.

Previously I did the bases to the hats from wool and while that worked out fine I think this is gonna open new possibilities and enable lighter constructios. I don't have any experience of using sinamay, but what the hell - trial and error is my way.

The 1st thing I was thinking about doing is a litlle hat - homage to summer inspired by a flower that - for me - is impossible to keep alive: hortensia.

The idea is to stiffnen some light cotton fabric and make a million little flowers, attach them to a base and maybe some cream colorred widow's veil that I was able to find.

I'll get started to day and update on the prosess.

xoxo 
/AnuNunu