It's a smallish brooch that absolutely anyone can make.(photographed by the handcream to give an idea of size) So if you fancy making your own flower brooches, but don't want to sew them, this is something you could do. Earlier this week, I was reading 'Easy Living's' April edition, and spotted this on the fashion pages.
I think it's fabulous, but at £595 from Basia Zarzycka, absolutely out of my reach. Yes, you read that correctly, five hundred and ninety five quid! Yikes! I recently bought some vintage forget-me-nots, and considered using those as a brooch, but they are far too delicate.
I could rewire them and then use them, but I bought them because they were so old and delicate, rewiring would totally ruin the integrity of them. They would not stand up to being a working brooch. Luckily, today I had a quick jaunt to my brilliant haberdashery shop in town, and bought these paper flowers. 
I always have a glut of brooch pins, and the green velvet ribbon (which is beautiful, don't you agree?) I bought online. Paper flowers are very pretty (and inexpensive), and are so reminiscent of days gone by. All you need to do to make a paper corsage brooch is remove the flowers from the card backing, tie a ribbon around them and then attach the brooch pin on the back with glue or with a few stitches. If you don't have brooch pins,then you can easily use a safety pin instead, and *ta da* a very pretty little cluster of flowers are ready to be used as a brooch. The total cost of this was less than £5,which is about £590 cheaper than to stunning Basia one. I admit, if I was rich I would order Basia's corsage in a flash, but this is a reasonably good interpretation. And a more wearable size. Though I must add that I would happily wear the massive corsage,and when I find some similar silk flowers to those used, will be recreating it as best I can!
While in the habderdashery shop, I had a lovely time buying a few ribbons. I bought them knowing full well that when I got back home I'd be making another cushion. And here it is.
I'm undecided about finishing it off. I was going to stitch on some pearls and these ribbon roses..
.. but now I'm not so sure. I bought this thin gold and pink ribbon because I loved the detail of it, and I think that adding roses and pearls might take away from that.
I'll give it some thought, but I admit that I rather like it just the way it is. I know some of you have said you are going to try making your own Union Jack cushions, and I say to that 'Go for it'! They are pretty straightforward to make, and look so nice. Remember, you don't have to stick to red, white and blue, you can make them in any colours, use any type of fabric and embellish them in a way to suit you and your style.
I thought I'd show the back of the newest cushion, so you can see how I avoid having to put in zips.
Just a basic flap opening. Nice and easy. I always make my own cushion pads too, makes life a lot easier.