I know it doesn’t seem like it today with this amazing post (or almost post!) summer weather we’re having, but autumn is approaching, and with autumn, my mind starts to remember all my……brooches! I think they’re often an overlooked adornment, and they can be sooooo useful too, and not just in a “dress up your outfit” kind of way!
This is the first brooch I ever purchased for myself, I love the whimsical blend of tech and more conventional jewellery components. Made by hand, I purchased this about 25 years ago at the Cabbagetown Fall Fair, made by a duo of women who called themselves JADS.
You can use them to jazz up a plain-ish shirt, or to pin a scarf in place as the weather gets a bit cooler, but my favourite, it to wear them on one of my many jackets (I do have alot of them!).
They can be fun and whimsical (like the ones below), or more substantial. Also, you know, once you have one, people start giving them to you!
A friend of mine gave me this one-it’s enamel on brass, I think it probably came from Fair November in Guelph.
the two on the bottom (the cat and origami) were stocking stuffers, and the tweedy one was a leaving present when I left Scotland last year (very appropos!)
This one is pretty cool, it’s silver wire and beads, with twirled paper, and I think it’s made from Architectural Digest pages–It’s a lot of fun! And orange, which I don’t wear much of, but I love!
There are lots of cool forms you can get, especially in metal. And I like them because although I don’t necessarily want huge jewellery, I do like a nice substantial metal brooch.
This is a multi-layer enamel panel that I made some years ago, it’s about 2 inches by 1.5 inches, and it’s fairly heavy, so I sent it in a sterling frame, making it very wearable as a decorative brooch.
This is a copper brooch made with the Repousse and chasing technique.
A couple of examples of whimsical animals. the one on the bottom left is a little wren (although I like to think it’s a robin :), made for me by my good friend Morag Hickman, in the UK.
Although I have to admit, my all time favourite is this one:
I bought this in an auction as part of Ready, Steady Jewel, a number of years ago, which was pretty cool (and not just because I love this brooch!). A UK goldsmith called Deme Wolfe-Power made it, it’s sterling silver , cubic zirconia and leatherette. All told it’s about 3in by 4in, and it really makes a statement!
So, hopefully I’ve encouraged you to think about brooches! Come into the studio and check out our selection from our resident goldsmiths, including Helena, Vera, and Fiona. Can’t see quite what you’re looking for, but like the style of something in the studio in particular–that’s okay, we do that too!
Have a great Saturday, and I hope to see you soon!
-Robin (House of Cassady)