Introduction to Victorian Hairwork with Diane Irby

Join material culture historian and artist Diane Irby for a captivating, historically grounded, hands-on workshop that reclaims the beauty, skill, and rich cultural context of Victorian wirework hair flowers and wreaths. You will leave the workshop having successfully created a beautiful five-petal hair flower using the traditional 19th-century basic gimp technique. 

Often misunderstood and dismissed, 19th-century hairwork flowers and wreaths were an exquisite form of domestic artistry - a fine craft that transformed sentiment, memory, and love into tangible, enduring forms. This beginner-level workshop offers a rare opportunity to learn the foundational technique of the intricate craft of wirework hair flowers, instructed from primary source materials used by American women in the Victorian era. This workshop masterfully blends rigorous historical insight with hands-on fine craft. 

About the Instructor 

Diane Irby is a historian of art and material culture, practicing artist, and educator whose work centers on reclaiming and elevating Victorian hairwork - specifically wirework hair flowers and wreaths - as a significant, yet often misunderstood, part of 19th-century American cultural heritage. She approaches her work through a scholarly lens, emphasizing the intersections of class, gender, emotional labor, and memory within this historic craft tradition. She advocates for cultural nuance and respect for the women whose domestic artistry has long been overlooked. 

Class registration fees include admission to the Whatcom Museum, all the materials needed to complete one hair flower using synthetic hair, and an informative booklet with tips and tricks on how to analyze hair wreaths and continue your practice at home.  

All workshop registrations are final and non-refundable, but you may transfer your spot to another person by notifying us in advance.