Postcards from LuLu - A Designer's Pilgrimage Part 3 - The Colour of Venice

On arrival in Venice, Louise was met with majestic storm clouds and stunning lightening that lit up the city with bold hues of ultraviolet blues complimenting the worn ochre limestone and rustic painted walls.The photos below 'strike' you with rich authentic colour and texture, making Venice the generous source of inspiration that it is.




The morning sunlight brought to light the rustic weathered walls and Venitian traditions...




(Above) Taken through the window of the Peggy Guggenheim Gallery



(Above Left) Galleria Della Academia, (Above Right) The ceiling of the gallery



(Above) Blue Dancer by Gino Severini (1883 - 1966) in the Peggy Guggenheim Gallery



Harmony of texture, tonal colour, line, repetition...







Simple Venetian romance.

With so many inspiring pictures "The Colour of Venice" is;

To be continued....

Repetition and fine detail back at Coventry Street...

Meanwhile... back at the boutique, the other half of the design team, Kristie Coakley, is holding the fort, dressing the Coventry St window with Louise and Kristie's pure and perfect White Silk Organza Peplum Bride. A meeting of clean modern lines, with layers of silk organza and beautiful hand-sewn binding.



A flounced double layer asymetric peplum sits at the waist over a full length A-line shape skirt sweeps into a godet train with double layer organza flounce. Most evident are the architectural design lines of the 1 centimetre wide binding that have been carefully placed on the sheer forms to emphasize correct proportion and subtle definition of the shapes.

The beautiful scoop neck and carefully sculptured double layer cap sleeve are simple perfection for a modern bride. All the bound edges are skillfully sewn by hand, some 8 meters of silk organza bias cut binding for the consummate couture finish. This limited edition piece can be made to measure and may be ordered in other colours.

Other unique bridal accessories available include a Rare Vintage Wax Flower Veil , Unworn Vintage kid leather gloves (both pictured above left), House of Snowball Clarabelle Bridal Cuffs (above right),



Alencon Lace Hand-crafted headpieces by Fleur Coakley (above left), Abbie Walsh Wedding Garters, and hand-embroidered Abbie Walsh Good Luck Hankies (both above right).

"something old....something new......something blue..."


By the way, the Vintage beaded shoes are a size 36 - so let us know if you are Cinderella...

Contact us for enquires info@houseofsnowball.com
or visit shop.houseofsnowball.com for more wedding accessories, couture cuffs and bridal headpieces.

Postcards from LuLu - A Designer's Pilgrimage Part 2 - Italy Inspires

Ah Italy.
Florence is the starting point in the Italian tour and elegant design is everywhere you turn.
There is an undenying and long history of taking pride in visual expression.
Repetition and fine detail seem to be a re-occurring theme...

Pictured above left; La Cerchiata( Latticework) where a long line of holm oaks have been pruned to form a continuous tunnel. This was cultivated between 1612 and 1614.
Above Right - Street lamp Pestoia Train Station, Florence

Vasca dell'Isola (Island Pond) , Florence

Chandelier and view of Florence at Knight's Lodge, Boboli Gardens


Boboli Gardens, Florence

Boboli Gardens Ceiling Amphitheatre M.Buontalenti's Grotto

Obika Mozzarella Bar (Above) is located inside the historic Palazzo Tornabuoni, in the elegant Via Tornabuoni, a famous street which is very well known by fashion lovers, looks like Louise loved this cafe spot too...

Florentine Artisan's hand-made cotton Guipure lace.
A souvenir from Florence to take back for a one-off House of Snowball design for next season.
Repetition and fine detail...
Ah Firenze.

Day to Day Creative Happenings at HOS Coventry St

While daughter and other half to the design team, Kristie Coakley is holding the fort at Coventry St boutique in South Melbourne and finding inspiration in the day to day happenings and creations...

Winter Solace; Dressing with Peplums, Belts, Collars, Cuffs and Hats.

To get this look:

Lemon Mairzy Doats Collar

Lemon Roll Iced Cuffs




Classic Wool/ Silk Detatchable Peplum
worn on the shoulders as a draped collar
over Classic Stone Midi Wool Dress with
Silk Navy Self-Covered Belt.



To see more on our e-boutique click here

Postcards from LuLu - A Designer's Pilgrimage Part 1 - Ireland

One of House of Snowball's designers, Louise Coakley, is currently on a designer's pilgrimage around Europe collecting fabrics and inspiration for the next House of Snowball collection.
Join this blog to get "hot off the iphone" updates of what she is being inspired by and maybe you might get some clues about the unborn House of Snowball collection...

First stop IRELAND!

ON THE HUNT FOR IRISH LACES AND LEPRECHAUNS, WITH A FEW HISTORY LESSONS IN BETWEEN...

Ballynahinch Castle - View from our room.

Beautiful filigree wrought iron church gate in Dublin laneway 

Gaiety Theatre. Dublin - some 'old worlde' charm...

A beautiful cotton floral toile, first souvenir to take home...

House of Snowball on 60 minutes; Black Caviar at Royal Ascot

See the 60 minutes feature on Black Caviar going to Royal Ascot with Liz Hayes interviewing Black Caviar owners, including Jill Taylor as she wears House of Snowball hats and outfits.
Liz Hayes talks to trainer Peter Moody and watches Black Caviar make history at the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in London on 23rd June 2012.

See; http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/videoindex.aspx for the full story.

Click on the 'Black Beauty' story on the right dated 25th June 2012.

Above: Jill Taylor (centre) being interviewed by Liz Hayes at Royal Ascot in the
Royal Enclosure wearing House of Snowball, Yellow and White Royal Ascot Raceday
Dress and custom-made Silk Organza Hat.

Above; Jill Taylor (second left) and Black Caviar ladies talking to Liz Hayes (centre) for
60 minutes in London a few days before Royal Ascot. Jill wears House of Snowball Yellow
Vintage Guipure Lace Jacket and is filmed trying on House of Snowball Lilac & Plum
Wide Brim Royal Ascot Hat.

Above: House of Snowball Royal Ascot dress, jacket and hat worn by Jill Taylor (left),
with husband David and his mother being interviewed on 60 minutes before Black
Caviar's winning race.

HOUSE OF SNOWBALL MEETS THE QUEEN AT ROYAL ASCOT!!!!!

Black Caviar owners being presented with the winning trophy by the Queen!

Jill Taylor (on right of the queen holding the trophy) looked simply divine, in her House of Snowball Lemon and White Wiggle Dress with custom made wide brim silk organza hat.

Jill's dress was custom designed and hand-made by the House of Snowball mother and daughter team, Louise and Kristie Coakley. Her gorgeous wide brim silk hat was hand-crafted by Kristie Coakley.

Above: Detail of the dress.

"Lady in Lemon and White Wiggle Dress"

Vintage white cotton organdy broderie anglais eyelet and daisy lace, over yellow and taupe cottons. Lemon silk organza draped straps with white silk organza edged neckline and hand-detailed yellow piping behind scalloped daisy trim lace on bust.

Yellow silk satin chameause lining with boning and hand finished zip.

Scalloped hem skirt with self-covered yellow silk belt.

"Lady in Lemon and White Hat" in progress... hand-made sinamay base with wide brim. White and lemon silk organza flouced and bagged out layers with hand-crafted yellow and white petals and vintage cotton drippy lace center.