You know the feeling. You walk into a huge stationery store or art supplies shop and you start getting grabby. Too many pretty colours and gorgeous textures. One day I happened upon an antique store with a back room, filled with shelves of antique buttons, boxes of lace and trims, and baskets of vintage fabrics. I wanted it all. What would I do with my purchases? I didn't know and at that point it didn't really matter. It was mine, all mine!

I love using vintage lace in my brooches. There's character, a patina, a depth, and sometimes even a great story. What sort of woman would wear a bright violet crimplene dress with lace cuffs and collar? There's no way to know, but I bet she was a whole bag of fun. And she might even like the idea that a part of that dress is now in a brooch, being worn by a girl in Sweden, or a bride in Australia.

I like to surround myself with beautiful things, and with my help, you can too.