Cobar Shire Council is offering locals the opportunity to learn some millinery skills as part of their series of free Crafternoon events.
The first of two local millinery workshops was held on Saturday morning at the Cobar Library with Leah Le Lievre from Millinery Darling sharing with participants lots of millinery skills and tricks of the trade.
Leah’s creations (whether for a client or when she was wearing them) have been winners of a number of millinery and Best Dressed prizes at race meetings right across the western area including Orange, Bourke, Cobar and Warren.
“They provide exposure for my work but my biggest sense of achievement is when a client loves the hat or headpiece I create for them,” Leah said.
Leah is a combination of trained and self taught milliner.
“I’ve travelled to workshops held under the banner of the Riverina Milliners Association such as the International Milliners Forum and a workshop with Phillip Rhodes,” Leah said.
“I’ve completed online courses and when Waltraud Reiner, Milliner, tours the Outback areas of NSW under Outback Arts and Catholic Mental Health Funding, I always attend her workshops.”
Leah’s taking a “casual approach” to these workshops and said participants don’t need to have had any prior experience.
They just need to bring a hat or headband they have at home that they would like to update. Participants have the option of using any of the trims Leah has in stock up to the value of $50 (which is included in the free workshop) or she can shop with them to pick up items.
Leah said it also helps if participants bring in their race outfit that they want to match their hats to.
