Page 83 - The Digital Cloth Issue 6

her wedding dress. Of English crown jewels. I Hydrangea crown It is such a privilege to the final piece, stitching,
course, I was honoured, sent images of my tiaras, design and create cutting and hand
if a little daunted. Whilst and they said they would something so personal beading, using glass beads
making the dress I came like to commission several and special to be worn and Swarovski crystals.
up with the idea of along with matching Nuno as a statement and as the
making her a tiara, using felt wraps (I specialise in crowning glory of an outfit Modern technology makes
the free machine and burnt Nuno felt), along with for a special occasion. it easy to update my client
cutwork techniques. I felt jewellery to compliment along the way, no matter
I could make something the tiaras, made using the I begin by discussing with where we are in the world.

to compliment her dress, same technique. The my client ideas of shape, Each piece takes weeks and
which was a gold commissioned pieces were specific details, maybe a sometimes months to make
underdress with a gold then displayed for sale in particular era, historical or so I like to have as much
embroidered cream lace. the shop during the tiara theatrical feel and of course time as possible to create.
She loved the idea and exhibition. colours, before I find that the ‘thinking,
looked every bit a princess making a sketch. The planning and sourcing’
on her wedding day. Since then I have made for sketch is then worked up part of the process can
a London catwalk, in more detail and I make often take as long as the

I continued to experiment various weddings, and samples of the different making. Fortunately, by
and made several different most recently a lady in aspects of the tiara to bring the nature of weddings and
designs. A friend Pennsylvania USA, who alive the sketch. Once my special occasions, deadlines
mentioned that the commissioned a tiara to client is happy, I spend are usually many months
Victoria and Albert add to her tiara collection! many happy hours creating into the future.
museum in London were Lily crown
having a tiara exhibition,
which was to show all the
tiaras and crowns from
around the world
including Russian Tzars
and of course our own

Tatiana catwalk crown