| Brooches |

I've recently began to collect costume brooches, yet I don't know what it is about them that I love. Eighty per cent of brooches are ridiculously tacky and I only wear a couple of these, but I still love them all to pieces.

This is one of my newer acquisitions. My mother gave me this owl brooch and I'm quite fond of it after my brief encounter with a real live owl.

A kind retiree gave this to my mother (she works at a retirement home) and then my mother passed it on to me. I think flamingos are adorable and love the tarnished silver on this brooch.

Lastly, the "medal" brooch. I like this brooch because it almost looks like a medal that would be awarded to a soldier.

Are there any strange items that you collect?

-Grace