To everything there is a season, so the saying goes. And that is very much the case when it comes to millinery. Millinery, and especially fancy hats for special occasions such as weddings, horse racing and garden parties takes off as the cuckoo calls in Spring. It is generally held that milliners (in the Northern hemisphere) ramp up their business and production from about Easter/April and go flat out until late Summer/beginning of September. In the UK, this period coincides neatly with what is referred to among the gentry and aspirant hangers-on as ‘The Season’, something dating from the 17th century, peaking in the 19th century, and still very much observed among the smart set today. Annual, very exclusive, events form the bones of The Season and are occasions at which to be seen and in which to participate in order to maintain one’s social, and historically, political, credentials. Events include the merry-go-round of Glyndebourne, Chelsea, Ascot, Goodwood, Henley, Wimbledon and Cowes (not a definitive list by any means). Hats for both men (in the order of boaters, top hats and panamas) and women (tending towards floral, Summery, confections) are very much part and parcel of these proceedings.
It is useful to set the seasonal scene (refer above) because it explains, to a degree, the flurry of activity that has taken place since my last journal entry back at the beginning of March ’23. Dear reader, things have hotted up. I have been busy. And some exciting projects, planned and prepared in the depths of the Wintery off-season, have finally come to fruition. In order not to confuse or bewilder, I have selected five highlights from the past five weeks. Hopefully, this will give a taste of the depth, breadth and pace of Goodrum & Merryweather activity at the moment. In sum, these ‘5 in 5’ display clear progression of, and development in, my millinery endeavours, and I am proud of these achievements. Rather than writing acres of text (we’d all be here for an age), I’ve decided to present my ‘5 in 5’ in the form of an annotated gallery. Click on.
Highlight ONE: A Goodrum&Merryweather headpiece was selected by the esteemed jury for inclusion in the ‘Bold Perspectives’ exhibition, which ran at The Forum in central Norwich, 11-19 March 2023. 
Highlight ONE: ‘Bold Perspectives’ was part of the Norfolk Makers Festival, an annual celebration of craft in the region. The festival had a marvellous, diverse and packed programme of demonstrations, events, and workshops. There was such a buzz. 
Highlight ONE: My exhibition piece was a response to the theme of ‘Bold Perspectives’. The headpiece is named ‘Her Infinite Variety’. 
Highlight ONE: The headpiece was accompanied by an artist’s statement, as follows, “The piece plays with perspective through aesthetic contrasts: positive space/negative space; decorative/plain; smooth/textured; straw/silk. Viewed from varying angles, it reveals its differing perspectives and personalities and uses a riotous colour palette to bold effect. The headpiece has been made using traditional millinery techniques and blocked and stitched entirely by hand.” 
Highlight ONE: It was such a thrill to be part of a jury-ed exhibition and involved in this high profile event. The exhibition was professionally curated and looked very smart. 
Highlight TWO: 29th March 2023. I took a half-day course with Yorkshire-based milliner, Jenny Roberts. The class was an introduction to the intriguing material called ‘buntal mats’. I have long admired the sculptural quality of these mats and have been desperate for the opportunity to learn how to use them effectively. Here’s my resulting hat, which I’ve named ‘Shoo Shoo Baby’ in reference to the 1940s vintage vibe going on here. 
Highlight TWO: The buntal class was online, with participants from Australia and the US, as well as the UK. It was fun and informative. I am pleased with the outcome and have a couple more mats ready to be sculpted in my studio. Buntal is now my thing! 
Highlight THREE: Who’d have thunk? At the end of March, I was awarded ‘student of the month’ by the London Embroidery School for this organza rose. I’d been gifted a LES teach-yourself tutorial as a Christmas present and had posted the results of my trials online. I am keen to get to grips with flower-making but it is quite a specialised skill. Practice will make perfect, I hope. It’s so encouraging to receive this recognition. 
Highlight FOUR: Another Goodrum&Merryweather hat on exhibition. In London. 6-15th April 2023. With an accompanying auction of artworks in aid of The Brain Tumour Charity. 
Highlight FOUR: The exhibition was themed around ‘TIME’ and the many interpretations this might have in relation to serious illness, caring, recovery and finding a cure. Some 150 artworks were on exhibition. 
Highlight FOUR: It was wonderful to have the opportunity for my work to be seen in the metropolitan context of Islington, London. The Business Design Centre, where the show was located, is a well-known landmark. There were some internationally renowned artists being showcased at the event, including David Shrigley. How exciting to be rubbing shoulders, metaphorically speaking, with the likes of him. 
Highlight FOUR: ‘TIME’ achieved lots of publicity and was promoted across the London Tube network and in the free London newspaper ‘Metro’. This visibility is a bonus for me and, of course, a very important profile raising device for The Brain Tumour Charity. 
Highlight FOUR: And here’s my TIME headpiece, titled ‘Take Time To Smell The Roses’. The base of the hat is made from parasisal straw. Then there’s trim, lots of trim, in the form of silk abaca and jinsin swirls and some lovely silk flowers. 
Highlight FOUR: The headpiece reflects some of my own experience: receiving a diagnosis, undergoing treatment and convalescing from a brain tumour. Chaos and beauty in combination. 
Highlight FOUR: The Brain Tumour Charity has been a tremendous source of support to me over the past few years. It is a privilege and a pleasure to be able to return this by getting involved in the exhibition, even in a small way. 
Highlight FOUR: I wonder how many gallery visitors spotted the little bug hidden among the floral festoonery of my hat? It was fun to add this humorous twist to my design but there’s also metaphorical symbolism here, too. 
Highlight FIVE: And in just the past week (w/c 10th April 2023), Goodrum&Merryweather has been accepted onto the ‘Norfolk Wedding Directory’ website. This is a hub for all wedding related services, suppliers and small businesses in the region. Weddings are such an important part of the millinery world, whether or not it be mother-of-the-bride statement hats, pretty little flower girl headbands or something quietly sophisticated to match a smart outfit. I’m excited to see where this collaboration takes me and my millinery. 
Highlight FIVE: Even better, the kind folks at Norfolk Wedding Directory decided to nominate Goodrum&Merryweather as the ‘featured’ listing in their Bridalwear category. This support and recognition is much appreciated and gives me a very welcome boost. Onwards and upwards, and always in a hat.
Goodrum & Merryweather 