Clients ask me how I became a milliner and I am always happy to address their curiosity. In 1995, I had the privilege of living 'down under' in beautiful Australia. At the weekend street fairs in Brisbane, Queensland, I became intrigued by the craft of handmade felt (there are lots of sheep in Australia!) and the colorful berets and other wearable art made from beautifully hand-dyed wools. Feltmaking was something I knew I had to learn while in Australia. I wanted to be able to make my own berets!

Months later I moved to the cultural center of Australia--Melbourne. Luckily, I lived only blocks from a restored Victorian landmark called the Meat Market Craft Centre. The Meat Market provided me entertainment in the form of actually watching artisans and craftspeople doing their magic to create stunning works of art--among them were feltmakers, weavers, glassblowers, and MILLINERS!! As I strolled the Craft Centre once a week, I became more and more interested in watching the milliners block, stitch, and embellish hats the sort I had never seen before.

I soon enrolled in my first millinery class, at the Melbourne School of Millinery, and was hooked. I've been designing and creating hats since then, combining many other handwork arts including French handsewing, ribbon work, embroidery, beadwork, and crochet into my designs. And yes, I learned to make handmade felt, too--you will see it in some of my creations.

Waltraud Reiner, millinery instructor at Melbourne School of Millinery, was trained by the Queen's milliner, Rose Corey, in London. She is one of Australia's foremost milliners, using her creativity to not only inspire her students, but to create amazingly striking hats for all occassions, including the fashion frenzied Melbourne Cup.

Waltraud Reiner currently teaches millinery classes and workshops throughout Australia. If you are interested in knowing more about her classes, please contact her at 29 Ardyne St, Murrumbeena 3163 VIC; phones are: 03-95044476 or 0425-745299. Her website can be viewed at Torb & Reiner.

I would like to hear from others who have a love and appreciation of the art and craft of millinery. You may contact me at: