The world began to open up again slightly as the vaccine options developed, and though we remained hunkered down in the relative safety of rural Northumberland, we began to look forward to the beginning of the opening up process. So I thought it might be interesting to have a quick round up of how I spent the months of lockdown, and this fourth instalment covers the spring and summer of 2021.
Our friends Helen and Chris Sutherland farm north of us on the coast and their oyster farm lies in the lee of Holy Island. One afternoon when I was posting some craft materials to Helen, and I checked the farm’s website for their postcode. I was really impressed by the site, and scrolling down I noted the web developer’s name. I had long felt I needed a more visual website, so when Helen was really enthusiastic in her recommendation of their site’s designer, Andy Ditchburn, I got in touch.
Andy’s company, Perro Designs, is a local web design and marketing company with a national and international audience and after several months of working on this process, with him, I can only say I feel privileged that he has taken me onto his client list. Key to the new website is that Andy approaches web design from a marketing viewpoint. Fortunately, through my work with BusinessNorthumberland and Clare Tucker of Sacred Wellness State I had refined the parameters of the brief for my next website. So, when Andy and I had a long discussion about the style of new site that I was interested in creating, we both realised that the style of my new website was to be a completely new departure from the old one, which I had built myself when I began my journey as a couture milliner in 2013 after graduation from LCA.
Andy’s company, Perro Designs, is a local web design and marketing company with a national and international audience and after several months of working on this process, with him, I can only say I feel privileged that he has taken me onto his client list. Key to the new website is that Andy approaches web design from a marketing viewpoint. Fortunately, through my work with BusinessNorthumberland and Clare Tucker of Sacred Wellness State I had refined the parameters of the brief for my next website. So, when Andy and I had a long discussion about the style of new site that I was interested in creating, we both realised that the style of my new website was to be a completely new departure from the old one, which I had built myself when I began my journey as a couture milliner in 2013 after graduation from LCA.
One of the most noticeable characteristics of the oyster farm’s website was the images of Chris Sutherland working the oyster beds with the romantic Northumberland vista of Holy Island in the background. These images simply served to reinforce my belief in the need for powerful millinery imagery. Fortunately, at a wedding fair at Alnwick Garden several years ago I had met talented local photographer Phil Punton who specialises in portraiture. Phil too, was using the lockdown period to get his photographic business ready for post lockdown trading. Millinery was one of the few categories of imagery he had not already photographed in-depth, so he was keen to add this to his portfolio.
Through a chance meeting towards the end of lockdown with Michelle McFadyen a “school mum” friend who has a hair and beauty salon, over a cup of coffee, the concept of a photoshoot at Michelle’s salon, U Salon on Gosforth High Street, was born. A few weeks later we spent a great afternoon at the shoot, with Michelle – that’s Michelle enjoying a moment of fun wearing my Old Father Time headpiece but no time of course for make up! – she generously provided the studio space at the salon as well as the hair and beauty styling for our millinery models. As it was one of my first social activities after the lifting of the last lockdown, it was a really memorable day. After a few more weeks of hard work by Andy, the clean new website was ready, with Phil’s images of the models styled at USalon taking pride of place.
I do hope you enjoy browsing the new site and I look forward to helping you with your millinery commissions and projects over the coming months and years. If you would like more details please just get in touch via the Contact Us page
Credits
Shoot stylist: Phil Punton
Images: Phil Punton and Denise Hornby
Models: Julianne, Michelle, Romaana
Location, hair and beauty: USalon, Gosforth High Street, Newcastle NE3
Models wear – Julianne – Indiana Jones inspired peachbloom hand made fedora with hand-formed and beaded trim
Michelle – Old Father Time headpiece – pleated silk with quirky accessories – exhibition piece
Romaana – Hand dyed lace crown with vintage style button, set on a sinamay blocked hairband
Links
In case you are interested in the links I have written about here they are, there are no paid affiliations
All boxed up a millinery diary through Covid
If you would like to read the three earlier posts in this lockdown series please follow the links: