CLASSES
Sunday June 14th 10am-5pm with a hour for lunch
Sinamay is a beautiful and versatile light weight straw from the Philippines. In this class you will learn to block and finish a simple fascinator base and sculpt sinamay flowers, feathers and other elements, combine colors and arrange your design elements to make a beautiful airy fascinator.
All materials provided in a lovely array of colors. End the class with a unique finished piece to add to your wardrobe or for the Kentucky Derby.
Saturday July 18th 9am-12pm and Sunday July 19th 9.30pm-1pm
Learn to block a classic straw fedora / cloche / or widebrim on the first day, as well as learn about the different materials that can be used and possible shapes. Return on the next day and learn to finish your chosen hat, shape it and trim it.
You will end the workshop with a great addition to your summer wardrobe.
Basic hand sewing skills a must. All materials included.
Sunday September 13th 9am-6pm and Sunday September 14th 2026 9am-6pm with a break for lunch each day
In this two day class students will weave a simple western red cedar cap or hat . First learn to prepare the bark for weaving, then the different weaving techniques before weaving your own unique piece from cedar bark. The majority of the hat will be plaited, but also require a touch of twinning. Most of the fine tuning and shaping will take place on your own head.
All Materials included - no skills necessary.
Sunday September 20th 9am-6pm and Monday September 21st 9am-6pm with a break for lunch each day
In this two day class students will weave a western red cedar bark flatcap. First learn to prepare the bark for weaving, then the different weaving techniques before weaving your own unique piece from cedar bark. The majority of the hat will be plaited, but also require a lot of twinning. Most of the fine tuning and shaping will take place on your own head.
All Materials included - no skills necessary although taking the basic class will make it much easier.
Saturday September 26th 2026 9am to 12pm and Sunday September 27th 2026 10am to 1.30pm
Learn to block a classic fedora / porkpie / cloche / top hat in felt on the first day, as well as learn about the materials that can be used and possible shapes. Return on the Sunday and learn to finish your chosen hat, shape it and trim it. Work fast and you can block a second piece to finish at home (there is a additional charge for materials for the second hat).
You will end the workshop with a great addition to your wardrobe.
Basic hand sewing skills a must. Materials included.
Monday October 12th 10-6pm
Catherine Zehr is the costume designer for Ballets with a Twist and an expert in tiaras for movement. In this one day workshop you will learn to design and construct a wirework tiara suitable for a ballerina, the class will take you through wire work, adding jewels and finishing the tiara for use on stage.
No sewing skills are required.
All materials and tools are included.
Saturday October 17th 9am-12pm and Sunday October 18th 10-5pm with a break for lunch.
Cloche hats came into fashion during the 1920’s. They were usually made out of felt and were designed to be worn low on the forehead. Their bell-like shape closely hugs the head, making it a cozy and stylish hat to wear during the cold winter months.
Tierre Taylor is most known for her incredibly beautiful couture cloches, in this 2 day workshop she will share the draping secrets along with the trim detailing that makes her work so unique. In this workshop you will learn how to create a unique cloche shape by draping a felt hood on a balsa utility block. Once the shape of the hat has been created, learn how to stabilize the head size by adding a sweatband to the inside of the hat, and how reinforce the overall shape of the hat by adding millinery wire to the cut edge. Finishing details include, covering the wire with a grosgrain edge and adding decorative trim to highlight the beautiful lines of your chapeau.
All Materials included, hand sewing skills required.
Feel free to bring any decorative elements that you might want to include in the finish of your hat.
Monday October 19th 10-5pm with a break for lunch
Felting is a magical process where layers of merino wool are agitated with hot soapy water, in order to create a fabric that is both strong and texturally interesting.
During this workshop you will not only learn about the process of felting, but will gain understanding on how to create a seamless sculptural form that lends itself to making hats, bags, and vessels. Each person will have a fully felted, blocked hat finished by the end of the class.
All Materials included, no skills necessary.
Sunday October 25th 10-5pm with a break for lunch
In the depression a serious lack of funds and materials gave rise to some incredibly innovative millinery. In this workshop Tierre Taylor will take you though some effective techniques to make dramatic cocktail hats from off cuts or old hats. An adventure in sustainable fashion.
During this workshop you will not only learn about the process of draping with unusually shaped felt, but will gain understanding of use of line and trim how to create a stunning sculptural headpiece. Each person will have a lovely little percher (or 2) finished by the end of the class and a whole set of tricks in their pocket.
All Materials included but feel free to bring favorite scraps or unloved felt hats to work on, no skills necessary.
Monday, October 26th 4.30-7.30pm
Needle felting is a dry felting technique that uses a specific barbed needle to felt the wool. This way of felting best lends itself to adding decorative details to an already created piece of felt, or wool garment. It can also be used to create sculptural forms.
In this class we will be needle felting decorative details onto previously made wet felted hats. It is literally painting with wool!
Best taken in conjunction with the wet felting class - but can be taken alone if you bring a felt piece to needle felt into.
Materials included, no skills necessary.
Saturday November 14th 2026 9am - 12pm
Silk and Sinamay are two familiar materials in the world of hat making - But what happens when you combine them together? The lack of raw materials and the desire to break conventions inspired Maor to develop the Sina-Silk technique.
The Sina-Silk is a material made by the two different fabrics in a unique method, that provides the advantages of both worlds.
In this taster class we will learn about silk and sinamay, discover the secret method for combining the textiles together, then learn how to manipulate this new material. We will create an incredible Waterlily.
Maor will guide you through from the initial idea to the assembling of all the pieces into a beautiful flower.
All you need is a creative eye.
$195 per person. All Materials included.
Sunday November 21st and Monday November 22nd 2026 10am- 6pm with an hour for lunch
Silk and Sinamay are two familiar materials in the world of hat making - But what happens when you combine them together? The lack of raw materials and the desire to break conventions inspired Maor to develop the Sina-Silk technique.
The Sina-Silk is a material made by the two different fabrics in a unique method, that provides the advantages of both worlds.
In this master class we will learn about silk and sinamay, discover the secret method for combining the textiles together, then learn how to manipulate this new material. We will create patterns, discover types of painting techniques and turn the flat material into three dimensional magic.
Maor will guide you through from the initial idea to the assembling of all the pieces into a wearable and finished work of art.
All you need is a creative eye.
$595 per person. All Materials included.
Sunday November 15th and Monday November 16th 2026 10am- 6pm with an hour for lunch
Join Maor Zabar for a 2 day workshop learning to make your creations float on air.
One of the most fascinating and challenging techniques in hat design is the ability to create the illusion that elements are floating effortlessly in midair. Over the years, I have developed a method that uses cleverly manipulated wire structures to make materials appear as if they barely touch the surface.
In this immersive workshop, we will explore the art of sculpting with wire to create gravity-defying headpieces that blend fantasy, whimsy, and technical precision. Participants will learn how to shape, cut, bend, color, and connect different materials—combining them with structural wires to create striking visual illusions.
Through hands-on experimentation, we’ll delve into balance, negative space, and the delicate tension between structure and freedom. The final creation will not only be wearable—it will seem to hover, dance, and soar above the head, turning the wearer into a walking dreamscape.
This workshop is ideal for artists, designers, and curious makers who want to expand their sculptural language and explore how theatricality, illusion, and fine craftsmanship can meet in a single piece of wearable art.
$595 per person. All Materials included. If you attended the fantastic flowers workshop the pieces can be combined.
UPCOMING EVENTS
JUNE
Introduction to Sinamay Workshop with Julia Knox
Sunday June 14th 10am-5pm
JULY
Make Your Own Straw Hat with Julia Knox
Saturday July 18th 9am-12pm and Sunday July 19th 9:30am-1pm
AUGUST
No Classes
SEPTEMBER
Introduction to Weaving Cedar with Paul Rowley
Sunday September 13th 9am-6pm and Sunday September 14th 9am-6pm
Make Your Own Felt Hat with Julia Knox
Saturday September 26th 9am-12pm and Sunday September 27th 10am-1:30pm
Weave a Cedar Flatcap with Paul Rowley
Sunday September 20th 9am-6pm and Monday September 21st 9am-6pm
OCTOBER
Ballet Tiara with Catherine Zehr
Monday October 12th 10am-6pm
Couture cloche draping and finishing with Tierre Taylor
Saturday October 17th 9am-12pm and Sunday October 18th 10-5pm
Wet Felting with Tierre Taylor
Monday October 19th 10-5pm
Innovative Felt Fascinators with Tierre Taylor
Sunday October 25th 10-5pm
Needle Felting with Tierre Taylor
Monday, October 26th 4.30-7.30pm
NOVEMBER
Sinasilk Taster Class with Maor Zabar
Saturday November 14th 9am-12pm
Sinasilk Sculpting Masterclass with Maor Zabar
Sunday November 21st and Monday November 22nd 10am-6pm
Defying Gravity
Sunday November 15th and Monday November 16th 10am-6pm