It's been a while since I last documented the newest additions to my Erstwilder collection on the blog, so I've got a bit of a back log to work through. I'm going to start with the second half of my Exuberant Easter Parade brooch collection today, and then I can start showing you newer pieces- like my purchases from the recent Erstwilder Care Bears collection!
A few months ago, I reviewed the first half of the Easter collection for you, but three of the six brooches I purchased were on lay-away until May, so I chose to split the reviews in to two posts. I'd intended to blog about the second half as soon as they landed on my doormat, but I've been struggling with my health over the last few months, so it's all just gotten away from me. I know it's a bit weird to be blogging about Easter brooches in July, but these three pieces aren't distinctly Easter-themed, so I hope you won't mind too much.
So, the Exuberant Easter Parade collection is a nineteen piece jewellery collection featuring adorably kitsch brooches, necklaces, and earrings designed by Carmen Hui. While it is an Easter collection and it naturally features Easter inspired designs like Easter bunnies and Easter egg baskets, there are plenty of cute animal designs included in the collection subtle enough to be worn throughout the year. The three pieces I have to show you today definitely fall in to that category.
My favourite piece from the collection has to be the chipmunk brooch- Chocolate the Chipmunk. It's easily one of the cutest brooches I've ever seen. This little critter's made from the most amazing caramel-coloured wood-effect resin, with a white bubble resin for its stripes, and dusky pink and lime green ripple-resins used for the flower she's carrying in her mouth. She's perfect down to the last detail. This brooch is definitely one of my favourites right now, and I've worn it quite a few times over the last couple of months- even if I have only been wearing it around the house, sometimes just pinned to my pyjamas. She's too cute to keep caged up until life returns to normal.
Since it was Easter when I purchased these brooches, and I used to have a couple of pet bunnies, I had to add an Easter bunny to my brooch collection. I choose Junior & His Tulip. Junior is a happy-looking grey and white bunny made from beautiful textured resins, with a giant yellow tulip nestled in the crook of his arm. (Yellow tulips are one of my favourite flowers, so I was sold on this detail alone). The greenery features the same lime green ripple resin as the chipmunk, and the flower is a vibrant yellow bubble resin. It's such a lovely design, and subtle enough that it doesn't just have to be reserved for Easter. It's a great piece for wearing throughout spring and summer, and could be worn all year if you really wanted to. I've been enjoying rocking it with black and white polka dots lately.
The final piece I bought from the collection was Proud Mother Hen, a brown mother hen rocking a vibrant red bonnet with her adorable little yellow chick by her side. I love the retro style of the design, and the brown and white marbled resin the hen has been crafted from- it's so beautiful. While the design is quite simple, the little splashes of yellow, orange, and red bubble resins make it really fun and eye-catching, and it definitely makes a statement out of any outfit.
Fun fact: when I was in my late teens and early twenties, I worked in a pet shop out in the country that sold chickens as pets. (I live in The Corswolds; a lot of people have farms or a lot of land). They all had their own personalities and some of them could be really affectionate. Chickens are so underrated, but I always enjoyed looking after them. I guess part of the reason I was drawn to this brooch is because it reminded me of that era of my life, spending my days surrounded by animals. Sometimes I miss it; so much has changed in my life since then.
Fun fact: when I was in my late teens and early twenties, I worked in a pet shop out in the country that sold chickens as pets. (I live in The Corswolds; a lot of people have farms or a lot of land). They all had their own personalities and some of them could be really affectionate. Chickens are so underrated, but I always enjoyed looking after them. I guess part of the reason I was drawn to this brooch is because it reminded me of that era of my life, spending my days surrounded by animals. Sometimes I miss it; so much has changed in my life since then.
If you'd like to see the other three pieces I purchased, you can find part one of my Erstwilder Exuberant Easter Parade reviews here.
Many pieces from the collection are still available from Erstwilder and their stockists around the world, and there's no better time to help some small businesses out by buying a cute brooch, or even getting ahead for next Easter. I still have my eye on Dolly the Dainty and Buttercup the fawn.
Have you bought anything from Erstwilder lately? Which piece do you like best?
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Erstwilder Exuberant Easter Parade Part One
