Louise Macdonald Milliner

05/07/2026

What a week! ✨

Five incredible days of millinery, creativity and connection kicked things off with our intensive beginners course. Together, and I had the joy of teaching students who travelled from Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria. There was no shortage of felt hats, straw hats, handmade trims, laughter… and, as always, new friendships formed around the workbench.

Friday night was all about celebrating Australian millinery at the Gala Awards, recognising the winners of the Millinery Design Award. It was a wonderful evening catching up with talented milliners and passionate students from across the country and celebrating the extraordinary creativity within our industry.

Then it was straight to Ballarat for the Millinery Convention! I loved sharing a brand-new technique with a packed room of intermediate and advanced milliners, before joining the Sunday evening hat blocking demonstration. Weekends like these remind me just how generous and inspiring our millinery community is.

A big thank you also to and for showcasing such beautiful products and supporting our industry.

And… we’re not finished yet! 🎩

This week I’ll be live on , answering your questions about my Contemporary Sinamay Techniques lessons. If you’ve been working through the course—or are simply curious about these techniques—I’d love you to join me. Bring your questions and I’ll see you online!

Feeling incredibly grateful to be part of such a creative, generous and inspiring millinery community. 💛

30/05/2026

15/04/2026

⸻

Step into the world of millinery ✨

Ever dreamed of creating your own beautiful hats?
Join my 5-Day Beginner Millinery Intensive and immerse yourself in the art of hat making — from first stitch to finished piece.

Over five inspiring days in Melbourne, you’ll learn essential techniques, explore materials, and create your own unique headwear in a supportive, small-group studio environment. No experience needed — just curiosity and a love of design.

Guided by over 30 years of millinery experience, this course is designed to build your confidence and creative skills from the ground up. 

June 29 – July 3
Limited places available

https://learnmillinery.com/products/5-day-beginners-millinery-intensive

31/03/2026

And just like that — six weeks of millinery making comes to an end! 🎩✨

This fabulous crew didn’t just learn… they flew. Working at lightning speed, they dreamed up and created hats of their own design — bold, beautiful, quirky, elegant… and everything in between.

At times the room felt like it might burst — ideas flying, laughter, inspiration everywhere you looked. (And hats… hats everywhere!)

Watching confidence and knowledge grow alongside creativity and fun has been an absolute joy. 🤩

With the help of .j.ritchie getting 8 plus projects off the ground on the first night. 💕

19/03/2026

Vintage Clothing Sale this weekend March 21st and 22nd, opens 10.30am , ( 9.00am for National Trust members) .

26/01/2026

Tuesday Millinery Course – Registrations Open!

A 6-week evening course with Louise Macdonald in Melbourne.
Perfect for beginners and those with experience — make a new hat from scratch or finally finish your UFOs with expert support.

🗓 Feb 24 – March 31, 2026
⏰ 5.45pm – 8.45pm
💰 $780 AUD

Creative, hands-on, and a lovely group of fellow hat-lovers.

https://learnmillinery.com/products/tuesday-millinery-class-february-march-2026

05/12/2025

Last night was a blast! 🎉
Organised so beautifully by , we were treated to an evening with the renowned British milliner — and proud patron of the Millinery Association of Australia — Stephen Jones. What a generous, creative and utterly gracious human.

Through a brilliantly run Q&A, he shared stories of collaboration, experimentation and the problem-solving that lies at the heart of millinery. His insights were gold for the 40+ Australian milliners in the room. And to top it off, he patiently posed for selfies with everyone who asked!

I’d promised myself I wouldn’t bother him… but then a gap opened in the queue and, well, resistance was futile. 😅 Scroll to the last photo for me as a giggling fan with wildly behaving hair under very questionable lighting.

It was also a joy to catch up with so many fellow milliners who’ve become dear friends over the years. The first photo is of me with the fabulous .

What a night. My creative cup is full. 💕👒