The Australian National Brooch Show 2017   

2017 hails the 10th year of the CAS Inc. Brooch Show

3 August to 27 September at Fitzroy Library

The Australian National Brooch Show 2017 Try & Buy, Saturday 5 August

  Review by Susan Gustafson  

The Australian National Brooch Show ‘ Try and Buy’ event was held at the Fitzroy Library on Saturday 5 August, 2017 from 11am to 1pm. As a new committee member I was involved in the set-up, and to lend a hand at the ‘Try and Buy’. This event is such a wonderful idea and truly unique. I was very impressed with the amount of effort each of the participating artists had put into their brooches. Each brooch is a ‘one-off’ original, mini artwork to be worn and enjoyed by the purchaser.

As soon as the doors opened we had a steady flow of excited, eager customers ready to view this year's selection of brooches. Most of the people that came were buyers of previous brooch shows and were well aware that to find a real treasure you have to be there early. There were many happy customers at the end of the ‘Try and Buy’, and although many sales were made, there is still a variety of brooches available until 27 September.

The Brooch Show setting up team

Two Brooch Show Try & Buy visitors being assisted by the CAS Vice-President

These two ladies tried and bought and are now proudly showing their new treasures

The ‘Try and Buy’ allows each customer to come and browse, at their leisure, the many original and beautiful brooches, until they find the one they love. Committee members and extra helpers were there to assist the customers in trying the brooches on, as well as giving the customer a brief history of the ideas and work involved in making each brooch and the artist who created it.

The variety of brooches to choose from was vast. They were made from materials such as sterling silver, metals, polymer clay, ceramics, felt, beads, pencils, wood, paper, polyurethane, plastic and many other mediums. The subject matter was also extensive. Everything from owls, leaves, landscapes, birds, flowers, abstract, people, bicycles, bowls, and the list goes on. You can see all the brooches HERE.

For anyone looking for that special gift for themselves or somebody else, I would highly recommend this event. The brooches are individually unique. I look forward to next year's exciting show with a whole new range of ideas made into mini artworks to wear and enjoy.

A delighted brooch collector