Hat designs: Wendy Susan

special edition made and designed for Lyssy May's Think Pink Party, to raise funds for the Wesley Hospital's Kim Walters Choices Program supporting families dealing with breast and gynaecological cancer. sold

Handmade and Original

Each one of a kind head piece is handmade and crafted by me. The quality of the wool, the process of felting and finishing, every stitch sewn, every piece of detail, every feather, custom made, designed, and crafted by my two hands. It takes me approx 30 hours to make each head piece. No machines, no assembly line, no two are the same.

If you would like to purchase my head wear please contact me at candiceherne@bigpond.com

I am interested in participating in and/or collaborating on projects based on contemporary art, enviromental and cultural awareness, photographic projects, exhibiting, textile exhibitions, fashion shows, art couture, styling and design. Please contact me candiceherne@bigpond.com Candice Hernexx

Artist Statement

As an artist, these one-off hat designs connect me to my environment and the natural world. I have created them to be unique, sculptures designed to support your sense of individual expression and couture style. I have been inspired by two distinct aesthetics - Victorian era millinery and Japanese Ikebana.

Victorian era bonnets and hats embraced an ostentatious aesthetic and risk-taking approach to fashion. I admire the bold brash designs, the flamboyant flowers, feathers and embellishments. This was a period of change (towards the exotic) in fashion with the introduction of decorative birds and feathers. Whole native birds and feathers adorned bonnets and hats, ushering in the start of the feather and plume trade while controversy surrounded the idea of animal cruelty. The past offers limitless inspiration. In hindsight the boldness, the risks and the over-the-top designs of this period are obvious to the contemporary artist.

The architectural style of Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) captures my imagination and delights my sense of design etiquette. There is a sense of mission, spirituality, style, balance, flow, minimalism, intimacy and an intricate sense of grace and sculpture. It is a disciplined art form where nature and humanity are brought together. Ikebana requires that all elements are organic, drawing emphasis towards natural shape, graceful line, form and colour combinations all creating an implicit meaning. These sculptures are symbolic of the sun, heaven, earth, man and moon. The style gives one a sense of closeness to nature – relaxation for the mind, body and soul – highlighting the parts of nature we often overlook. Proponents of Ikebana express a desire for people to become more patient and tolerant of differences not only in nature, but in general.

I have embraced these influences in creating contemporary, sculptured ‘art couture’ head-pieces. These pieces embrace my idea of living a more connected and peaceful existence while paying homage to a little risqué, fun, flash and flavour.

Wendy Susan

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Wendy Susan 2008

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