The major project I’ve been working on this week is this new teardrop fascinator that features a tsumami craft ho-ou, or many tailed phoenix. I actually finished the base hat a few weeks ago, but was doing some smaller projects and commissions before coming back around to this piece and finishing the ho-ou.
The base of the hat is made from bristol board that I patterned and taped together with standard scotch tape. I covered the bristol board base with on the bottom with pink lining fabric that I salvaged from an old dress, before covering the top with vintage French silk velvet.
I ruffled some pale pink tulle by hand and added some of the same peachy pink trim that I used for the butterfly clutch purse, then glued on some bead caps with rhinestones. Once the beadcaps were on, I sewed on some pearls that I inherited from my grandfather, who was a jeweller and watchmaker.
The ho-ou is on a wire and chipboard base that was coated with pink and rose gold crane patterned chiyogami paper. The feathers are made from a combination of silk and organza, and the feet, body, base of each long tail, and the detail wire on the body is copper (rose gold?) glitter wire. The ho-ou also has rhinestone detailing.
I’m really pleased with this hat overall XD I was planning to make a duplicate of the water lily pillbox hat I previously made for a charity fundraiser, but I don’t know that I would make a duplicate of this one - at least not any time soon.
I already have another crazy fascinator hat planned, but I’ll probably cool down with some smaller projects before I start on it.