Brooch Boyfriends was born in the autumn of 2012 in my home in the Beaches neighbourhood of Toronto. Each brooch is cut, embroidered, and stitched by my own two hands.

After the initial prototype (which turned out surprisingly well) I began selling my work at the Arts Market, a year-round indoor art & craft market in Leslieville. I then began applying to small craft shows around the city and had my first official show at the Central on Markham Street. Though there were few customers, I had been bitten by the craft show bug and couldn't wait to get as many under my belt as possible. I have since been able to show at the One of a Kind Show and City of Craft in Toronto and Make It Vancouver.

One of the most fun and challenging parts of making Brooch Boyfriends is creating custom orders. I have to break down a person into their most basic features, colours, and shapes. I then illustrate the 'broochified' version of them and use it as a template to create their felt persona. It's great to hold up the final result beside their photo. The brooches are uncannily similar!

Brooch Boyfriends are sold at the Drake General Store in Toronto, White Elephant in Hamilton, and 3 Singing Birds in Whistler, BC. I have been featured on the Space Channel, Breakfast Television, and in Cineplex Magazine.