In a Flutter by Georgina Bellamy

Although jewellery has been as much a slave to fashion as any other form of adornment, one trend that seems to have shown itself lately is the wearing of brooches.

Nowadays, brooches can be vintage, handmade, subtle or striking, but brooches have a long history as symbols of power, status and passion.

With evidence of brooches being worn even before the Bronze Age, these early pieces, made of thorns, horn or bone were generally utilitarian. Designed to hold a cloak together, it took some time for them to evolve into something beautiful.

As time went on, the brooch became a way of symbolising status, with richly jewelled pieces being worn on hats or clothing to demonstrate the wearer’s wealth.

Their use as a symbol of power might have started early, but was consolidated during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. In many portraits of the Queen, her richly embroidered costumes are bedecked with ostentatious jewellery and huge brooches.

Although Elizabeth encouraged her court and subjects to emulate her style, it was forbidden to outshine the Queen herself. There were to be no brooches bigger than Elizabeth’s.

During the reign of Queen Victoria, the mourning brooch became de rigueur to indicate one’s sorrow to the world and memorialise the lost relative. Queen Victoria famously had a range of mourning brooches which she wore throughout the 20-year mourning period for her beloved Albert.

In the twentieth century, and thanks to fashion icons like Coco Chanel, costume jewellery became popular and the brooch became an item that everyone could afford.

Imagine the statement you would make with ‘In a Flutter’, the exquisite lorikeet brooch by Georgina Bellamy.

Georgina’s lovely goldwork piece from Inspirations issue #105 emulates various brooches of the past. The body of the lorikeet is covered with gold, green and red metallic purl, which glitters and sparkles in the light just as the highly jewelled aigrette brooches of the 17th and 18th centuries did.

This project is one which, when you’ve completed it, allows you to show your embroidery off to the wider world. What better way to do that than to wear your embroidery as part of your wardrobe? But because of that, your stitching needs to be firm and each attached element needs to be secure as this piece of embroidery is going to face a lot more wear and tear than most.

But then, why wouldn’t you want to shift this magnificent bird, with its wings outspread and its eyes alert, from one outfit to another?

Brooches make a statement. They might express your beliefs, your passions, your style or your personality. In a Flutter will express to the world your love of needlework and your skill, patience and care in undertaking it.

We bet you’ll lose count of the comments you receive when you go out wearing Georgina’s unique and gorgeous lorikeet. You’ll wonder why you never thought of wearing your embroidery before.

Make Your Own | In a Flutter

Step 1 – Purchase Project Instructions

In a Flutter by Georgina Bellamy is a lively lorikeet brooch with metal thread embroidery and organdie feathers.

Step 2 – Purchase Ready-To-Stitch Kit

The Inspirations Ready-To-Stitch kit for In a Flutter includes everything you need to re-create this gorgeous brooch: Fabrics (unprinted), wool felts, kid leather, brooch pin, cotton and embroidery threads, bead and needles.

Please Note: To cater for flexibility of purchase, instructions are not included with our kits. For step-by-step directions on how to create this project, please refer to the magazine/digital pattern.