The Optimist Bead Embroidered Brooch

This piece feels exuberant without being sweet—the sharp triangular form gives all that yellow, orange and gold a strong graphic edge. The Optimist seems an apt name: bright, energetic and just a little unconventional.

A luminous faceted cabochon sits prominently to one side, flashing subtle opalescent colour against a densely embroidered field of citrus yellow, amber, orange, olive, black and warm metallic gold. Around it, tiny seed beads, bugle beads, faceted glass and irregular accents have been assembled almost like a miniature abstract collage.

The upper edge breaks free of the triangle in a lively fringe of upright beads, giving the brooch an appealingly spontaneous quality, while flashes of black provide just enough contrast to prevent the warmer colours from becoming overly pretty.

Measuring approximately 5 cm × 5.5 cm, The Optimist is a compact statement brooch that works particularly well with casual clothing—denim, linen, a simple jacket or an oversized shirt.

Bright, eccentric and determined to see the sunny side.