My Brooch badge collection #notjustabrooch evolved in winter 2018. I realized, after a studio clear up session, that I was stockpiling lots of lovely ‘off’ cuts from larger projects. On further investigation I could see small compositions that were still of interest to me throughout all these fabric boxes. I don’t like to throw anything away and try to use and re purpose most of my materials as much as possible, keeping them for kids crafts or classes. As makers we are all trying to move toward more environmentally aware practices and a ‘zero waste’ approach to production is a move in the right direction... right?

I was also preparing to exhibit at lots of festive fairs and wanted to offer customers a small price point item that they could easily afford. By isolating areas on the off-cut cloth I could select the compositions I liked and imagined them being worn as little artworks, so the brooch idea was born. I borrowed my great friend Alison Brown’s (Alison Brown Costume Designer) badge making machines to test run a few ideas (still haven’t returned them!!) and LOVED the results.

Around this time I also started to follow Just a Card Campaign who advocate, promote and network for small, creative independent makers, shops and galleries. Their overarching ethos is that if everyone who visited a gallery/indie shop bought ‘just a card’ then these small businesses would be sustainable. In other words lots and lots of tiny purchases make a huge difference to the survival of a small business.

I selected bright colorful backing card and washi tapes to package the brooches and added a contrast message tag along with my own brand stickers of course. And so my brooch badges became #notjustabrooch but a small piece of wearable art, a zero waste item, an affordable piece of original hand printed textiles, a visual story of all the projects I’ve been involved in, an easy to send ‘thinking of you’ and ‘thank you gift’, or “I need something to brighten and funky up my daily wardrobe” item. These brooch badges have been among my favorite things to create for all of the above reasons and because every small sale really does make a big difference and I love that you get behind it too.

Models - Rhian Heppleston & Ella Rose Davidson

Styling and photography - Blessed Unrest

NOT JUST A BROOCH