a diary of brooches, and the people who wear them

Sidelights — Vol. I

read on ↓

the bedroom, sunday

Sidelights — 02 November 2026

Young woman on a bed holding a hand, flower brooch in her hair — she kept it in all dayNº 006, faded rose

A couple embracing on a bed, ribbon brooch on his navy t-shirt — his, borrowedNº 007, tea-dyed ribbon

The couple sitting together, his arm around her — around elevenno one got up

Close-up of her asleep with the flower in her hair — asleep, still wearing itSidelights — 02 Nov

the petals are tea-stained, on purpose

cut, shaped and stitched by hand in london. one at a time, so no two are the same.

We started making them because the ones in shops all looked like each other. Now there are a hundred and eleven of them out in the world, and every one is slightly lopsided in its own way.

the window, first frost

Sidelights — 09 November 2026

A woman sitting on a window sill with a cream double-rose brooch, yellow autumn trees outside — the trees went yellow overnightNº 021, cream double rose

The same woman sitting cross-legged on a parquet floor — two roses, one pinparquet, white wall, noon

two roses — sewn back to back so they lean toward each other

brick & ribbon

Sidelights — 11 November 2026

A woman leaning on a railing in a dark coat with a large ruffled rose brooch and long ribbons

4pm, the sun goes sideways down mare streetNº 014, the ribboned rose — 40cm of tail

Sitting on a kerb in a long coat, brooch at the collar — waiting for the 55Hackney

Standing on a box in a long coat against a brick wall — a whole outfit, built round a flowerSidelights — 11 Nov

three girls, one blue flower

Sidelights — 13 November 2026

A girl in a vintage fur coat with a cream rosette brooch, glass block wall behind

her mother’s fur, our rosetteNº 034, oyster silk

Three friends standing against a pale wall, one wearing a cobalt blue flower — old compton streetskipping double maths

Extreme close-up of a flower pinned in dark hair — up close it’s all frayed edgesNº 031, smoke peony

the blue one was a coat lining once

how one gets made

notes from the workbench, E8

A flat poppy rosette brooch pinned on a grey knit shoulder

i. cut

Old silk, linings, a wedding dress from a car boot. Petals cut freehand, never with a template.

Two fabric flower brooches resting on a navy t-shirt

ii. shaped

Steamed and pinched and singed at the edge until it stops looking new.

A ruffled rose brooch with ribbons on a dark coat

iii. stitched

Sewn by hand onto a brass pin, numbered on the back, and never made again.

currently looking for someone

Each one exists once. When it’s gone, it’s in someone else’s diary.

Ribboned rose brooch worn at a coat collar — the ribboned rose
make it yours — £145

Cream double-rose brooch on a black vest — cream double rose
make it yours — £120

Flat poppy rosette on grey knit — poppy, unbleached linen
found its person

Cobalt blue flower brooch on a white vest — cobalt
make it yours — £110

London, November

write back?

Once a month we send a letter — what’s on the workbench, who’s been wearing what, and the next pieces a day before anyone else sees them.

love,