Here I wanted to show you what I did with most of my brooch collection. I had been thinking and thinking for a while about a way to display them that was beautiful and practical at the same time and then click! The light bulb turned on.
During my latest visit to Aaron Brothers I spotted these wonderful shadow boxes. You can open the front of them as if they were doors. Just perfect, whenever I want to wear a brooch I just open the door and take it out of the box, then I can return it to the right place when I'm ready. Yay!!
The black background is fabric and under the fabric there is foam. I just pinned the brooches to the background. It works great!
Now I can wear them easily . Plus I can enjoy their beauty everyday. Aren't they beautiful!? Bellow you will see many pictures.
Oh wow, what a magnificent collection! You are right, it's a pity to keep them in a jewelry box, they look so beautiful displayed like this. Plus it's easier to choose one, seeing them all together. Hehe, or maybe it's more difficult to choose one to wear :D
Posted by: Rodica | July 22, 2011 at 10:37 AM
Oh this makes me want to start a brooch collection! So beautiful :)
Posted by: Cat | July 22, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Beautiful collection, and great way to display!!
Posted by: Elizabeth Mackey | July 22, 2011 at 11:37 AM
That is so wonderful!!! I love spotting all of the ones you've made!
Posted by: Wanett | July 22, 2011 at 11:45 AM
Que de ellos!, son todos preciosos, muy buena idea, las dos cajas quedan muy elegantes. Todos los broches son vintage, y yo que queria jubilar a los mios (algunos parecidos a los tuyos) que tengo de hace unos cuantos de años, ahora hasta me atrevere a ponermelos.
Posted by: Ana Gonzalez | July 22, 2011 at 12:05 PM
What a good idea! And what a beautiful collection you have there!
Posted by: Sandrine | July 22, 2011 at 12:13 PM
Tooooo cooool, Elsita!! I love your display--and I love the peek at your gorgeous brooch collection!!
Posted by: Betty | July 22, 2011 at 02:02 PM
?Qué preciosos! Y qué acertado, me parece que las cosas que nos rodean deben ser bellas y útiles en la mayoría de los casos.
Algunos de tus broches parecen hechos por ti :)
Qué ordenaditos, qué bonitos y qué bueno que hayas encontrado unos shadow boxes tan prácticos.
Posted by: Claudia Liliana/rasamalai | July 22, 2011 at 02:12 PM
WOWEEEEEEEEE! Elsita, they are sooooo beautiful! Gorgeous way to display them too! xxx
Posted by: Lois Collins | July 22, 2011 at 03:38 PM
I bet the sale of Vintage brooches on Ebay and Etsy will go up higher now Elsita! :0) xxx
Posted by: Lois Collins | July 22, 2011 at 03:50 PM
Thank you, thank you!!
I'm so glad that you like my collection :)
I have built it slowly, one piece at a time.
Most of them are vintage pieces found at flea markets and Etsy.
Some are made by me and some are modern made by other artists.
I love them all!
Posted by: Elsita | July 22, 2011 at 05:15 PM
Dear Elsita, this is so fabulous. I too love, love, love vintage brooches. You have probably already heard of this book, but if not, check out, "read my pins" about Madeline Albright.
http://www.amazon.com/Read-My-Pins-Stories-Diplomats/dp/0060899182/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311387249&sr=8-1
I received this book for my birthday last year and I LOVE it. A must have for a vintage jewelry/brooch collector.
Thanks so much for sharing your collection here.
xo, suzy
Posted by: georgiapeachez | July 22, 2011 at 07:16 PM
Thanks a lot Suzy for the link!
I just got the book for about $4.80 on Amazon. Yay!
I can't wait to see it!!!!
I know that I'm going to love it :)
Posted by: Elsita | July 22, 2011 at 08:03 PM
Your blog makes me smile. Thank you!
Posted by: Lucy | July 22, 2011 at 11:03 PM
You do have a wonderful collection, all worth looking at every day! I also love wearing brooches and I will pick up your idea for displaying them this way. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Josje | July 23, 2011 at 04:58 AM
Wow! Wonderful! I adore broaches and while I have a handful I would love to use this idea, too! How beautiful!
Posted by: Saskia | July 23, 2011 at 09:49 AM
I'm also going to check out that book looks fantastic! now off to find some more brooches :)
Posted by: Saskia | July 23, 2011 at 09:51 AM
The best. Simply ideal, and lovely. When art can also be practical... it's magical.
Posted by: Natalie V2 | July 23, 2011 at 01:03 PM
This is a great idea. Thanks for sharing. Your collection is fantastic too.
Posted by: Peggy Beck | July 24, 2011 at 05:23 PM
Love it!! So much fun making nice things for your home...i have a thimble collection, I wonder if I could make something a little similar..? Hmm you have me thinking yet again!!! :)
Posted by: Cathryn Stone | July 25, 2011 at 11:59 AM
I wish you could've gotten him to talk about his relationship with Janet Jackson, though, as well as the stabbing incident in Philly a few years ago.
Posted by: Ugg Boots Clearance | July 28, 2011 at 06:08 PM
Not sure which is better ...the brooches of the idea!
Posted by: Terisa | July 29, 2011 at 09:24 PM
absolutely stunning collection of brooches. and a fantastic display idea! thanks for showing us x
Posted by: handmade romance | July 29, 2011 at 11:21 PM
Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.
Posted by: homemade pancakes | August 03, 2011 at 11:29 AM
Way cool, some valid points! I appreciate you making this article available, the rest of the site is also high quality. Have a fun.
Posted by: cricket news | August 04, 2011 at 10:38 AM
brilliant! I am putting out my feelers for the same for my collection.
Posted by: Karin | August 28, 2011 at 09:15 AM
Envious !! I am envious..You have INCREDIBLE collection of brooch. How much I appreciate your work..it is splendid one...
Posted by: Vintage rings | August 29, 2011 at 12:14 AM
Indeed incredible collection.
Posted by: Stop Foreclosure | September 24, 2011 at 06:16 PM
I had always wanted to learn about this topic ... I think it's great the way you expose .. great work and continuing on with this great blog
Posted by: Timberland UK Online | November 26, 2011 at 08:50 PM
you are so creative
Posted by: Philadelphia House | December 22, 2011 at 10:44 AM
What a gorgeous collection! I need to get myself some shadowboxes too!
Posted by: June | January 01, 2012 at 08:28 AM
I like it because it's not too fancy. Plain and simple.
Posted by: idaho divorce | January 10, 2012 at 06:19 AM
Dear Elsa
Absolutely wonderful collection. As a brooch collector myself I can see the diversity of your collection. The way you have decided to display them is ingenious. I keep my 300+ brooches in jewellery boxes, your way is decorative, and keeps them dust free. I am now going to be on the look out for Shadowboxes. If you would like see some of my brooches I have a website http://www.thecasket.co.uk/ .
I too have read Madeline Albright's book and found it facinating. I hadn't realized quite how much she had used her brooches to send diplomatic messages.
Posted by: The Casket | April 05, 2012 at 01:53 AM