This carrot-topped happy face clown brooch can’t help but make people smile when they see it! I made this one-of-a-kind 3x6cm art brooch from a wooden frame chock, a small tile, two screw heads, crushed washer and a glass ‘carrot’, all found on the streets of Melbourne.

Working as NancyDee Sculptures, I normally create larger wall sculptures and 3D sculptures from the wood, metal and tiles I find. Recently, however, I had a chance to think smaller. Through Instagram I met handmade jewellery designer Lynn Powers from New Orleans. She regularly encouraged me to try something ‘jewellery sized’, but I never had.

Then I saw that the Contemporary Art Society of Victoria was holding its annual brooch exhibition, and I entered. Making brooches has been great fun. Five of my pieces were on display in the 2019 Australian National Brooch Show, and now my brooches are available in-store and online through Incube8r Gallery as well.

I am committed to sustainability in designing and creating my brooches. I hope that you enjoy wearing this happy face as much as I enjoyed making it. I also hope that it reminds you of the 5Rs: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle. Saving our Earth is sadly no laughing matter.