Millinery
Unleash your creativity with
an all-inclusive arts & crafts holiday
Available Dates
DATES 2023/2024
All of our craft or activity holidays run for 5-nights from Sunday to Friday and start from £879 per person.
The above is based on single occupancy. A £100 per person discount is applied for art, craft and activity guests on a shared occupancy basis.
“I really fancied the chance to make my own hat for an upcoming event but didn’t know where to start. These millinery classes were a real lifesaver.”
About The Course
Finding millinery classes near you is no easy feat which is why we had to add it to our course catalogue.
Have you ever looked at a hat or fascinator in a shop and wondered how do they make them?
Join award-winning milliner Susie Rodgers as she takes you on ‘An Adventure in Millinery’ into her world of fabulous fascinators and magnificent hats. In this 4 day Introduction to Millinery Susie will share the techniques you need to design and create 3 head-turning headpieces that you’ll be able to wear to any occasion where the best dressed heads are wearing magnificent millinery. You’ll learn how to block a hat, manipulate crin, and create feather mounts and trimmings.
Day 1 you’ll be shown how to manipulate and sculpt crin to create your first fascinator. And we’ll begin to think about the designs you might like to make for your blocked piece.
Day 2 you’ll be learning how to block you first headpiece. Blocking involves stretching fabric over a mould to shape it. You’ll be using a straw fabric called sinamay to block with. Your blocked pieces will be left to dry overnight and while they’re drying you’ll make a fabulous feather fascinator.
Days 3 and 4 you’ll finish your blocked pieces and Susie will show you how to make trimmings to decorate them and advise on where to place the trimmings. Will you make flowers or swirls? Will you want feathers or a veil? Or add some crin, lace or beads? Your design will be your own unique creation.
You’ll be handsewing to assemble your headpieces. The stitches we will use are back stick, blanket stitch and stab stitch. Don’t worry if you can’t sew, Susie will teach you all you need to know.
Course Inclusions And Coverage
This course is an all-in-one package which includes the following:
Tuition
Booking for this course includes 4 days of specialist tuition from Susie Rodgers.
Equipment
All specialist equipment will be supplied but there will be a few essential items that you will need to bring. Please see our terms and detailed information section below.
Food & Accommodation
Full board catering and 5-nights accommodation are included when you book.
Transfers
Complimentary transfers are included when you book - subject to certain conditions.*
* Transfers from Stirling train station are available on the arrival and departure days (pick-up from the station at 15:30, departs Gartmore House at 9:15). Transfers from Glasgow or Edinburgh Airports are available at an additional cost.
Here's what a previous participant has to say about this course:
“Exceptional value for money. You made us feel welcome from booking to departure. Nothing ever appeared too much trouble and that level of service is something to be exceptionally proud of. We will return next year to enjoy the house and crafting courses. With heartfelt thanks.” – Guest, Millinery Holiday
Picture Gallery
tERMS & DETAILED INFORMATION
If you’re coming on one of our holidays and would like to bring a friend, partner, or member of your family, then we have you (and them!) covered. Accompanying guests will enjoy full board catering and shared accommodation with you. We also have a full programme of day trips and activities on offer for them. Please add them and day trips at the checkout stage.
How to book
To book online, please click on your preferred date above.
For any questions or to book direct please call 01877 382 991 or email mail@gartmorehouse.com
If you have any questions, you may like to take a look at our FAQs but if you have any further queries, please contact our team directly.
TERMS & CONDITIONS OF BOOKING
To confirm your holiday:
A non-refundable 25% deposit is required to secure your booking.
Payment of your holiday:
The balance of your payment must be received no later than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement of your holiday. In the case of non-payment, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and any cancellation fees will apply.
If you cancel your booking:
All deposits are non-refundable. Should you need to cancel your booking up to 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, we will refund any monies paid, less your deposit. If you cancel less than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, no refund will be given.
We do advise you to take out holiday insurance for this reason.
More Reviews...
Lovely atmosphere for learning and relaxation. Afternoon tea ‘treats’ much appreciated.
Guest
Millinery Holiday
Please note: The above reviews come from past workshops and courses run by the tutor out with Gartmore House.
Your Course Tutor: Susie Rodgers
Millinery was not Susie’s first career. She studied chemistry at university and was a very successful health and safety professional. Following the birth of her son she decided it was time to hang up the safety hat for good and became a stay at home mum. When her son went off to school, so did Susie. She allowed her creative side to flourish and enrolled in a millinery course at Cardonald College and finally discovered that making hats was what she was meant to be doing with her life. She launched her label, Susie Rodgers Millinery, and began selling ready-to-wear hats at artisan markets. As her business grew Susie discovered her real passion lay in creating bespoke, custom pieces for clients to wear to special events. So far her hats have been to many weddings, race meetings and upmarket restaurants, and one hat even took tea with The Queen at a Royal Garden Party.
2019 marks the beginning of a period of transformation and growth for Susie Rodgers Millinery as she begins the process of moving the business away from her studio on top of the hill she calls home. She successfully applied for a place on the InCube business incubator programme run by Renfrewshire council and through workshops, mentoring, coaching and peer support her business dreams are starting to become a reality.
Faq
Where can I find out more about the course?
If you need any further information about your course that is not on our website, please get in contact with us and we can provide you with the tutor’s contact details who can assist with your query.
What do I need to bring on my art, craft and activity break?
Your required kit list for your specific break is shown on each course’s webpage. Your tutor will also be in contact with you, prior to your course to confirm kit lists and questions you have.
Should you have any queries, then please feel free to contact us.
What is the art, craft and activity holiday booking terms and conditions?
To confirm your holiday a non-refundable 25% deposit is required to secure your booking.
The balance of your payment must be received no later than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement of your holiday. In the case of non-payment, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and any cancellation fees will apply.
All deposits are non-refundable. Should you need to cancel your booking up to 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, we will refund any monies paid, less your deposit. If you cancel less than 3 months (90 days) prior to the commencement date, no refund will be given.
Holidays are subject to availability and subject to change. There is a minimum number of guests required to run each course. If a course is cancelled due to low numbers, you may transfer any monies paid to an alternative date or a full refund will be issued. We do advise you to take out holiday insurance for this reason.
What time do your transfer services for the art, craft & activity holidays operate?
We offer a complimentary transfer services to and from Stirling train station. Collection is at 3:30pm from the station on the day of arrival, and our drop-off service departs from Gartmore House at 9:15 am on day of departure.
The closest airports to us are Glasgow and Edinburgh airports. If you require a transfer to and/or from either airport, please select this option at the time of booking. Transfers to/from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports are available at an additional cost. After booking your flights, please update your Customer Portal with the time you wish to be collected from the airport on the day of arrival and the time of collection at Gartmore House, returning to the airport, on the day of departure. Please allow 60 minutes for your transfer between Gartmore House and Glasgow Airport, or 90 minutes for your transfer between Gartmore House and Edinburgh Airport.
Can I bring a partner/friend to stay with me while I am on an art, craft or activity break?
If you’re coming on one of our art, craft or activity holidays and would like to bring a friend, partner, or member of your family, then we have you (and them!) covered. Accompanying guests will enjoy full board catering and shared accommodation with you. Please add them at the checkout stage.
Spots on this course are limited!
Book your spot now and join us at Gartmore House. We are confident it will deepen your understanding of millinery.