Hi! I’m Nella Puddin :)
Welcome to my shop!
A spoonful = a morsel, a taste. A small, singular moment in time. There has never been one like it, nor shall there be again….
Making a living as an artist can drain all the happiness and fun out of the creative process. I am fortunate to be able to hold onto that joy and passion by making the things I WANT to make. I create exclusive, one-off, customizable, beautiful things - things that make me feel happy, or warm, or pretty, or clever - and then I share them with others in the hopes that they, too, can feel happy, or warm, or pretty, or clever.
I hope that you find something you love. 💛
About the Collections
Explore each collection to learn about its inspirations and obstacles, my process and practice, and to browse what’s available in the shop.
My inaugural collection of work, DAMSEL, is an effort towards greater sustainability within the fashion and wedding industries. While working as a shopgirl in high-end retail shops and bridal salons, I became obsessed with discovering ways to reduce the enormous amount of waste created by practices at every level of production.
The jewelry and hair ornaments in this collection are made from sample bridal accessories deemed unfit for sale due to wear and tear. Though seemingly ruined, these exquisitely hand-beaded elements have been rescued from the landfill and painstakingly refurbished into one-of-a-kind, signature pieces for the ecologically conscious and fashion-forward femme.
This collection represents more than 25 pounds of textile and embellishment waste which was diverted from landfills; it is also an ongoing labor of love.
More than that, this collection represents hundreds of stories that will get to continue being written. Every piece within DAMSEL has already lived a full life: as belts, tiaras, or gown embellishments, they were tried on by countless brides, and handled daily by consultants and seamstresses. They worked hard, and they were well-loved. Now, they will get to live an exciting new life - you decide what kind.
Though not meant exclusively for bridal purposes, the works which comprise DAMSEL represent, to me, the way every bride wants to feel - i.e, like a princess. Of course, everyone defines “princess” in different ways, but all contain similar facets: luxury, beauty, excess, power, adventure…. These ornaments are meant to delight and adorn warrior princesses, pillow princesses, drag princesses, and all other manner of princess in between.
I hope you find joy in their sparkle for many years to come. ✨
My second collection, CELESTIELLA, is a collaborative one. More than a decade ago, an artist and friend of mine, Celeste White, created a huge inventory of incredible fascinators and masks, which she carried around to sell at markets and fairs of all types.
After some time, she grew frustrated with looking at the same handful of unsold pieces. Eventually, she cannibalized them for their best parts, and brought what was left to me, saying, “You can burn them for all I care - just take them from me now or I’ll do it myself!”
I told her I’d do much better. Each piece she gave me has been refurbished with love and upcycled materials. Every headpiece retains the base structure made by Celeste, as well as the gorgeous vintage feathers she dyed and cut by hand.
These headpieces and fascinators represent the ways in which artists can learn from and build upon one another’s work with respect and admiration, as well as a continued effort towards low/zero waste in design and manufacturing. All of these beauties would have been chucked in a landfill, but now they will continue to live on.
The two very different artists who made them hope that you enjoy them, and that they continue to turn heads for many years to come! 👒
My next collection is coming soon!
Stay tuned for new items from my ongoing collections, DAMSEL and CELESTIELLA, as well as for the launch of my next collection, LUCREZIA!
About Nella’s Stage-Ready Guarantee
I know how painful it is to lose or accidentally destroy a beloved garment or accessory, especially one which is integral to a costume, an act, or a LOOK. That’s why every item in my shop priced at or above $75 is automatically insured for repair or replacement* through Nella’s Stage-Ready Guarantee. If it is within my power, I will fix your item for free - no questions asked, at any time. If it is not within my power to fix the item for any reason, I’ll work with you to find another piece that you’ll love just as much.
*From current stock only, exclusions apply.
About Nella
Nella Puddin has been a model and performer since 1993, a fashion designer and seamster since 2003, and a burlesque dancer since 2017. Her work has appeared on international festival stages, at cosplay conventions, and in theatrical productions, and she has sewn clothing and accessories to fit the lifestyles of farmers, lawyers, healthcare workers, teachers, brides, children, and circus performers. Nella is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and delights in experimenting with new textiles, hand-sewing exquisitely tiny stitches, and gluing rhinestones onto ALL the things.