Years ago i had seen a pattern to crochet wire into amazing chandelier earrings… and so i bought copper wire, some pearls and dug into my crochet hooks to give it a try. The first earring was a learning curve to adjust to the stiffer nature of copper wire but it turned out decent. So on to its mate… and then i realized this was not as easy as i had hoped because the second earring had a different tension and was about 3/4 inches longer than the first. What to do with them? Lets make them into brooches or pins. So i thought.
I spent a few years carefully crocheting wire and selecting unique beads to make one of a kind brooches. And in the first years i made them they sold so quickly. But the price of crocheting wire was painful fingers, and the doctor suggested i take a rest to allow the fingers to heal.
Fast forward to the fall of 2023 and i was cleaning the studio and found a box of brooches that had not sold. I put them out and they sold like crazy – leaving only the two ugly “what was i thinking” ones. Inspired by the popularity of them i began again spending the long winter nights working on them. Hearts, and feathers, and asymmetric brooches with a focal bead. Then it happened – “Someone said “Brooches, oh isn’t that so grandma! Does anyone wear them any more?”
The crazy thing was how there seemed to be a distinct audience for these brooches, but it was definately not the younger 20-somthing and 30 something crowd. So i have been spending my time trying to determine what the trends are. To my surprise i was delighted to know that on the “fashion runway” statement brooches are hot. From classic antique brooches with fu dogs, to large metal sculpture pieces. Subtle statements to accent a classic blouse, or adorn a blazer. Or added to a hat band for a bit more sparkle and style.
But what do you think? Is it worth pursuing a new line of brooches, or should i leave them to go the way of the past?