Tutor: Anne Tomlin

The aim of this course is to experiment with different techniques of couture flower making using a mixture of traditional French and Japanese somebana heated tools. You will gain skills that you can use after the course has ended to explore the craft and find your own personal way of creating flowers and leaves.

The course is suitable for all levels but some hand sewing skills would be helpful.

Throughout the course you will be shown how to make several different flowers and each stage will be demonstrated with samples. You will be encouraged to experiment with dyes to make particular colours and advise on painting techniques and colour will be at hand. There will be a variety of leather and silk both new and antique to use. At the end of the course you will have a basic understanding of the shapes that the various tools create, construction of your flowers and advice on balance and form when combining and attaching them to wires and sewing to a small hat base or handmade wire head band.

Techniques and skills covered:

Stiffening leather

Making templates

Mixing dyes and silk painting techniques

Bonding layers and hiding wire

Making different types of stamens and leaves,

Clever binding of stems

The tutor will help you through the different processes with plenty of individual attention. At the end of the course we will review all the techniques involved and you will be given information of suppliers of silk, tools and materials used.