The brooches started in quite a different place and part way through the process I decided to start again! I was trying something new and I didn't feel like I had enough time to resolve everything - I'll come back to them in the future. So I started again and I'm really happy with how they turned out. These photos show some of the journey:
Marking shapes in card to cut out and model brooch ideas.
First card models.
Different woods ready to cut.
Wood cut with wooden sticks added so that they are easier to hold whilst shaping.
Wooden shapes formed and sanded.
Trying some colour on the wood. I wanted to see the grain through the paint so had to try a few and try different ways of applying it. This needs more research to get right!
So I decided to start again! I went back to the very beginning, looking at images and photos of plants, fields and gardens. I traced plant silhouettes - strong shapes are hugely important in my work so this was a search for some new ones that work with my aesthetic.
My favourite shapes in card.
New brooch ideas in card.
Press forming shapes in silver.
Soldering silver. I worked on all five brooches simultaneously so that they develop together and work well together.
The card models on the top line and the brooches developing below. Shapes are simplified and refined. Colours are changed. Different techniques are considered. I had a lot of storks and stems in my card models but these slowly disappeared in the pieces I made.
An idea that I decided didn't quite work.
An early idea for the grain brooch. 
Working into the surface of the laminate.
Inlaid silver dots in one of the brooches.
A progress shot of all five side by side.
Working on the brooch backs with inlaid silver dots and frames.
Getting closer, oxidised silver frames and steel pins.
Keum boo against oxidised silver.
Small components, oxidised silver, 18ct gold and laminate.
Deciding on placement.
Keum boo dots on the silver pressed form.
