tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23320496266492634152024-03-15T12:29:30.716-07:00Charlotte BezzantA DESIGNER MAKER OF CONTEMPORARY SILVER JEWELLERYCharlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.comBlogger297125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-65401203786284407042017-11-13T05:57:00.001-08:002017-11-13T05:58:23.469-08:00#worldkindnessday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just leaving this here.</div>
<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-88007793389271707732017-11-08T10:04:00.000-08:002017-11-08T10:04:32.289-08:00Polar BearsThis week is polar bear week. It coincides with their migration to Churchill, Manitoba, where they wait for Hudson Bay to freeze over, so they can return to hunting seals. I absolutely love polar bears, and seeing them in their natural environment is on my bucket list.<br />
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I made this brooch right back when I started my business. It’s still a favourite. I wanted to share the awesome work of some very talented makers who also use polar bears in their work.</div>
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First up it's Helen Noakes. You can find her work <a href="http://www.helennoakesjewellery.com/">here.</a> She works in silver and resin. Some of her resin even glows in the dark, echoing the beautiful and ethereal Northern lights.</div>
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Next up is the work of Eileen Gatt. You can find her work <a href="https://www.eileengatt.co.uk/">here.</a> Eileen carves her pieces in wax and them casts them in silver. I have one of her stunning polar bear necklaces.</div>
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Dinny Pocock is a fibre artist, and you can find her stunning work <a href="http://dinnypocock.co.uk/">here.</a> Most of it whizzes off to galleries, but you can contact here if you are interested in something. One of her polar bears is on my 'one day' wish list.</div>
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Charlotte x </div>
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<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-51368728577550070132017-11-05T08:11:00.001-08:002017-11-05T08:11:11.263-08:00Teeny diamond rings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've really been enjoying making these recently. The photo doesn't do justice to the sparkle of these small but mighty, flashy 'brilliant cut' and conflict free diamonds. Earlier this year I did a mount making and stone setting course at the Goldsmith's Centre, taught by Sonia Cheadle, and I am so pleased that setting these is now second nature. </div>
Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-91000009130119735052017-05-25T12:48:00.000-07:002017-05-25T12:48:15.142-07:00Oreo cheesecake recipeEnd of exams = time for a celebratory cake in our house, and my youngest asked me to make my no bake Oreo cheesecake for him. Having posted this picture on my social media this evening, I have had lots of requests for the recipe, so here it is...<br />
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<u>Base</u><br />
22 Oreos<br />
100g melted butter<br />
1tbsp caster sugar<br />
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<u>Filling</u><br />
450g full fat cream cheese<br />
475ml double cream<br />
35gm icing sugar<br />
200g caster sugar<br />
12 chopped oreos<br />
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<u>Method</u><br />
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Whizz the 22 Oreos for the base in a food processor until they are fine crumbs<br />
Stir in the melted butter<br />
Press into a lined spring-form (or you won't get it out) baking tin<br />
Refrigerate the base for 30 mins<br />
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Roughly chop the 12 Oreos used in the filling with a knife<br />
Gently beat the cream cheese and add in the icing sugar and caster sugar<br />
Whip the double cream<br />
Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese and fold in the chopped Oreos<br />
Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm<br />
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Before serving decorate with whole and broken Oreos and Oreo crumbs.<br />
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*I used a 20cm spring-form baking tin<br />
**I can't even begin to imagine how many calories per slice<br />
***My custom gold topper was made for me by Betsy Benn<br />
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<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-74153066424395942662017-04-13T07:53:00.000-07:002017-04-13T07:53:03.183-07:00Love where you liveView from my studio today. Not bad for London.<br />
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<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-79272119887755895232017-04-09T02:48:00.005-07:002017-04-09T02:48:54.993-07:00Family necklacesI love making these little family heirloom pieces and haven't posted any on here for a while...<br />
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Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com1599tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-38214256347308277132017-04-08T07:58:00.001-07:002017-04-08T08:19:17.725-07:00My home renovations<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's just coming up to two years since I moved to King's River Cottage. Although there's still more to do here, it has changed a lot in that time. For all those who comment on IG how calm my house looks, I thought it might be nice to show you some of the transformation pics.</div>
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Estate agent sales brochure pics</div>
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When I bought this house it had a pine kitchen at the front of the house over looking the road (more of that to follow in another post). The back of the house was a big L shaped living room with a dining room at one end, and the sofa area at the other. It's walls were beige and it was carpeted in green.</div>
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This is the L shaped living area, looking in from the back of the house. By now I have already slapped white paint on the walls.</div>
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Looking from the dining end of the living space out towards the garden. It looks extra dark as the pic is taken towards the light, but this part of the room is always rather dull.</div>
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Before and after. Left: looking into L shaped living area. You can see a narrow hallway and a huge utility room (plus the very huge job-lot of solid wooden floor that I bought in the sale). Right: after knocking down the corridor and downsizing the utility room. Now you can see all the way to the garden.</div>
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My old house used to have a huge live in kitchen, and this worked really well for family life. I could cook supper while supervising homework. When I first saw this house, I knew it had potential to do something similar. This time I was doing the work myself (with help) and a very limited budget.</div>
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With the help of my friend's husband and my dad, the original doorway was bricked up, the three of us put a steel in, and then we demolished the big wall under it. (Here you can see the newly created stud wall of the smaller utility room). The day we knocked it down, not only had I done all the sledgehammer work, but the old utility room was full up with a mountain of bricks. The kids were due home from school just after 4 and I knew I had to move every single brick to restore a bit of normality before they got in. That was a very tough day - made slightly worse by the fact I hadn't thought about the time needed for a skip licence so I had to move them once to the front garden, and again a few days later into the skip. </div>
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Starting to take shape. The floor was laid by me, plank by plank, and you can see some of the new kitchen stacked in place. When the kitchen was delivered, the lorry driver refused to come down our narrow road, so somehow I managed to single handedly get the entire kitchen down the road and into the house. </div>
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There was a little delay while we broke through this bit of wall.</div>
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The first Christmas here, we had this interesting feature holding up the ceiling.</div>
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As you can imagine, there were times when I wondered if all this work, and all this disruption was worth it just to add a metre or so to a room.</div>
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Slowly the kitchen was taking shape, and yes, it was all worth it for that extra metre. This photo makes me laugh as you can see where I had done the floor as much as I could (I was still waiting for that other small bit of wall to be down) and I had painted - but not a bit where the plaster hadn't dried. I obviously couldn't wait!</div>
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I think this is the day the work surface went in, as I still don't have a tap or cooker. The kitchen was a cheap-as-chips on line purchase, with a lovely white quartz composite worktop to make something very cheap look more expensive. All the appliances were sourced on-line as cheap as I could find them, and I re-cycled the cooker that was here when I moved rather than buy a new one. The table was is 16 years old from Habitat and the chairs sadly are not originals.</div>
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One of the things I promised myself when I moved here was a wood burner. This sits down at the living area of the room. I wanted to have an exposed flue like this to maximise the heat radiating into the room. </div>
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Frustratingly, I haven't got the photographic skills to catch the whole room well for you. But those two give you a feeling of how it looks now. I'm still short of the odd bit of skirting board and cornice in here, but I know I will get to them one day.</div>
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I'll show you what I did to the old kitchen in another post.</div>
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<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-23281628983194155462017-04-07T02:27:00.001-07:002017-04-07T02:27:27.510-07:00Spring is hereInfact in London it feels like Summer is here, with temperatures this weekend expected to reach 23 degrees! The apple blossom is just about to burst into flower....<br />
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Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-75781265863815615962017-02-23T07:36:00.002-08:002017-04-08T08:06:10.513-07:00New man's wedding band<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here is my newest ring. It is cast from the apple tree outside my studio, just on the river bank. My rings are often used as wedding rings, and I am delighted they have been used for both traditional and same sex marriages. I thought it was time I had a more chunky ring to sit alongside my cherry tree twig ring and my looping Arctic twig ring. </div>
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Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-76893285763724129942017-02-21T05:45:00.001-08:002017-02-21T05:46:04.390-08:00Etsy London Local TeamThanks to the lovely folk from the Etsy London Local Team who featured me in a 'Meet the Maker' interview last week.<br />
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The article can be found here below, but please do check their website to see all the fab things they are up to in London. <a href="http://www.londonlocalteam.com/">www.londonlocalteam.com</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">As part of our Meet the Maker series on our blog, we have created Friday Feature. Every Friday we will feature a team member and their Etsy shop, to give you a quick glance behind the scenes and discover more about our diverse team members. </span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Friday 17 February – Charlotte Bezzant Jewellery</span></h3>
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Name: Charlotte Bezzant</div>
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Location: South West London</div>
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Etsy Shop: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CharlotteBezzant" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out; border: 0px; color: #bababa; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Charlotte Bezzant Jewellery</a></div>
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TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF:</h4>
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<span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"A London girl born and bred, I currently live in S W London with my two boys. We have a little house that backs on to a river so it actually feels more rural than urban especially when ducks and swans walk up to our back door. I originally trained in Fashion Design, and started making jewellery just as a hobby. It's now my full time job. When I am not in the studio, I love being outside. I am a keen runner and have run four marathons. I also spend my time looking after our little menagerie, as well as all the visiting waterbirds, we have a cat, four chickens, and a bearded dragon."}" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">A London girl born and bred, I currently live in S W London with my two boys. We have a little house that backs on to a river so it actually feels more rural than urban especially when ducks and swans walk up to our back door. I originally trained in Fashion Design, and started making jewellery just as a hobby. It’s now my full time job. When I am not in the studio, I love being outside. I am a keen runner and have run four marathons. I also spend my time looking after our little menagerie, as well as all the visiting waterbirds, we have a cat, four chickens, and a bearded dragon.</span></div>
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HOW DID YOU GET STARTED ON ETSY?</h4>
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<span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"When I started my business, Etsy was the first place I sold online. I love the fact you can find beautiful handcrafted items from makers around the globe on there. I have bought from people around the world, and my jewellery has been bought by people in Japan, Finland, America and even as far afield as Australia. It is a unique platform in that sense. Challenges: Because Etsy is such a huge platform, like many people I wonder how anyone ever finds me on there!"}" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When I started my business, Etsy was the first place I sold online. I love the fact you can find beautiful handcrafted items from makers around the globe on there. I have bought from people around the world, and my jewellery has been bought by people in Japan, Finland, America and even as far afield as Australia. It is a unique platform in that sense. But because Etsy is such a huge platform, like many people I wonder how anyone ever finds me on there!</span></div>
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TELL US ABOUT YOUR DESIGN/MAKING PROCESS:</h4>
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<span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"I am inspired by everything around me. Sometimes words, sometimes objects, sometimes just the gemstones I buy. I love to cast little found objects in silver. I also love to add names and dates to my jewellery to make them totally unique to the wearer."}" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I am inspired by everything around me. Sometimes words, sometimes objects, sometimes just the gemstones I buy. I love to cast little found objects in silver. I also love to add names and dates to my jewellery to make them totally unique to the wearer.</span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?</span></h4>
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<span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"I love making jewellery, and by running my own business I am able to do something that makes me genuinely happy every time I am 'at work'. I'm sneaking a second thing in here, but running my own business also allows me to work with the ebb and flow of being a solo parent to two boys, and all the challenges that brings. I do believe life is about balance, and I do believe I have found it."}" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I love making jewellery, and by running my own business I am able to do something that makes me genuinely happy every time I am ‘at work’. I’m sneaking a second thing in here, but running my own business also allows me to work with the ebb and flow of being a solo parent to two boys, and all the challenges that brings. I do believe life is about balance, and I do believe I have found it.</span></div>
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WHEN AND WHY DID YOU JOIN THE TEAM?</h4>
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<span data-sheets-userformat="{"2":513,"3":{"1":0},"12":0}" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"I joined the London Local Team back in 2016. I love to connect with people and I believe in strength in numbers, the sharing of ideas and resources, and our combined powers to motivate and elevate others. "}" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I joined the London Local Team back in 2016. I love to connect with people and I believe in strength in numbers, the sharing of ideas and resources, and our combined powers to motivate and elevate others.</span></div>
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To find out more about Charlotte follow her on social media:</div>
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Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CharlotteBezzantJewellery" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out; border: 0px; color: #bababa; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">CharlotteBezzantJewellery</a></div>
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Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/CBezzant" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out; border: 0px; color: #bababa; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">@CBezzant</a></div>
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Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-24290989305811275892017-02-21T05:31:00.000-08:002017-02-21T05:31:55.673-08:00Spring is hereI think Spring could really be here. Well even if it isn't quite; there's nothing like a bunch of daffs to raise the spirits!<br />
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Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-71703954606034845632017-01-12T05:33:00.001-08:002017-01-12T05:34:15.135-08:00Dreaming of snow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are waiting to see if snow falls on London today. It is forecast, and flights have been cancelled from Heathrow in anticipation. It's not happening yet. London does seem to grind to a halt with just a few flakes, but I love snow so I have my fingers crossed.</div>
<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-60340474307308510462016-12-29T16:16:00.001-08:002016-12-29T16:19:22.050-08:00The in between days. A time for reflection.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This year I hosted Christmas for the first time since moving to King's River Cottage. It was a relaxed affair with my boys, my mum and dad, and for the first time ever I extended the hospitality to a non family member - a friend who was going to spend the day alone. It felt right, and kind, and that felt good. The fire was lit, the tree sparkled, the table looked beautiful, there were presents to unwrap, a perfect (if slightly late) Christmas lunch, and I spent my day enjoying it rather than photographing it. </div>
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Just a few days days later, it all seems so long ago. The days between Christmas and New Year have taken on their own unique pace like they do every year. For me they are a strange blend of anticlimax, relaxation, contemplation, slight restlessness and forward planning.</div>
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Yesterday I took some time to tidy the house and blitz the studio. I was completely pooped before Christmas - juggling running a small business, the school holidays, Christmas shopping, and all while solo parenting. I had just closed the door on weeks of mess. It seemed the best idea at the time.</div>
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Today I was back at the bench for a while in my refreshed clean and tidy space. I have a few pieces of jewellery that have to go out in the next few days. I have also started thinking about 2017, at least for the business. At the end of last year I invested in a Kickstarter campaign by The Design Trust who have produced the most amazing action planner called Dream Plan Do. Full of useful prompts, and spaces to scribble. I do find it most helpful to be directed through the process of looking back, then looking forward. Thinking about what you achieved, what you want to achieve, and how you can go about making it happen.</div>
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2016 has been a hard year, and there is no question, I will be glad to see the back of it. It felt like a year of standing still instead of moving forward, but already I am beginning to realise that wasn't the case in so many ways. Roll on 2017.</div>
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I will leave you today with a photo of the Bauble Bushes in our local park. (now at the top of the post) We took a chilly walk to see them this afternoon. Every year the baubles appear, young families add more, and then just as quickly they disappear. So glad to have a moment to visit them before they are gone.</div>
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Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-75455436071111155122016-12-27T07:44:00.002-08:002016-12-27T07:44:53.503-08:00Christmas 2016<div style="text-align: justify;">
A big old weather-worn galvanised tub for the tree in the living room. I love the small of real Christmas trees. This year I covered it in silver and white and sparkly lights.</div>
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It's a bit more colourful in the studio. A little living tree. I think the toadstool obsession is getting out of hand though!</div>
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Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-68794065108552009092016-12-22T04:44:00.001-08:002016-12-22T04:44:58.676-08:00FamilySome beautiful and personal commissions celebrating families finished before Christmas.<br />
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Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-66233577607316487412016-12-03T07:53:00.001-08:002016-12-03T07:55:05.918-08:00Aquamarines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My signature gemstone. Lots of beautiful aquamarines waiting to be made into rings. Please do get in touch if you want to commission something using one of these exquisitely coloured gems.</div>
<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-78443060184179945572016-11-25T01:50:00.002-08:002016-11-25T01:51:29.481-08:00Fair Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here in the UK, we are used to Boxing Day sales which start after Christmas. Over the last few years we have somehow adopted the American sales which happen after Thanksgiving. The day is known as Black Friday and it sure has put a spanner in UK retail. Shopping patterns have changed as customers hold off shopping at what used to be the peak retail period. Understandably, they all hope to bag a bargain. It is very hard not to join in the price slashing explosion, because the customer's attention is easily caught by the thought of paying less. But as my photo says, I charge a fair price for a fair job every single day, and if I were able to slash my prices like the huge retail giants, it would either mean I am charging too much everyday, or that I am not paying myself fairly for the work that I do in order to bring you a bargain.</div>
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#shopsmall</div>
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<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-42264430149068361482016-11-18T09:24:00.000-08:002016-11-18T09:24:32.380-08:00Charlotte Bezzant on InstagramI have just changed my IG name to @charlottebezzant I see someone has already jumped in and snaffled the old @cbezzant one so please use my full name if you want to join me over on Instagram.<br />
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Instagram: @charlottebezzant</div>
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Pinterest: @Cbezzant</div>
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Facebook: @charlottebezzantjewellery</div>
<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-38786061137734292982016-11-18T08:02:00.003-08:002016-11-18T08:02:21.134-08:00Mistletoe necklaceI can't believe it's nearly Christmas. This morning I made a handful of mistletoe necklaces as I have had some festive orders for them already.<br />
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Your can find them in my Etsy shop </div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CharlotteBezzant">https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CharlotteBezzant</a></div>
<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-78858469166865458572016-11-13T02:47:00.002-08:002016-11-13T02:47:24.226-08:00Sunday treat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-38812001773151745202016-11-12T09:12:00.002-08:002016-11-12T09:13:25.395-08:00Remodelling a sentimental price<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sometimes you have a piece of old jewellery, that is very special to you for sentimental reasons. You might wear it, or it might be languishing in a drawer, because it is not your taste. Rather than leave something unworn, you might want to reconsider having it remodelled, so it can be worn and enjoyed again.</div>
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The story of the remodelling of this ring is not a case of it being unloved in a drawer. It was loved, and it was worn. It belonged to the grandmother of a bride to be. </div>
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The ring was really the only piece of jewellery that the bride to be wore. I suggested that we could use the sapphire from this ring to create a new ring. It meant that the special connection to her grandmother could be worn all the time, while fitting in perfectly with the more contemporary look that she wanted for her wedding and engagement ring.</div>
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When the sapphire was removed, I gave it a good clean, and it was a joy to see it looking so blue and so beautiful.</div>
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It was paired with two new sparkling white diamonds.</div>
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Setting the stones</div>
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To be worn and treasured afresh.</div>
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<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-9223225474884526302016-11-12T08:48:00.003-08:002016-11-12T08:49:59.107-08:00A secret engagement<div style="text-align: justify;">
A lovely man got in touch. He wanted to propose to his girlfriend and he was looking for a special engagement ring. When we got chatting about what kind of ring he was looking for, it became clear that he wasn't really too sure what he wanted.</div>
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He thought she might like emeralds. He thought she might like sapphires. She wasn't a big jewellery wearer, so he didn't have many clues. Rather than risk the wrong choice, we settled on a a very special proposal ring.</div>
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This beautiful and simple band is set with a sparking flush set diamond. The inside of the ring is engraved "Zoe Will you marry me?"</div>
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This ring seemed right for so many reasons. It gave the couple the joy of springing a surprise engagement. It gave them the possibility of designing a forever ring together. It meant Zoe would have an engagement ring that she truly loved. The other thing that seemed so right about this Zoe is a triathlete, and it meant that when she was competing, she could wear this ring, rather than anything set with big gemstones as she ran, swam, and biked for miles.</div>
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I am happy to report that she said yes!</div>
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<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-2137817139621647312016-06-13T15:25:00.001-07:002016-06-13T15:26:25.919-07:002016 Summer Open Studio<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you would like to see me at work in my studio, I am throwing open the doors as part of the Borough of Richmond's upcoming ARThouse Open Studio event. This is a great opportunity to visit lots of artists and creatives in their diverse work spaces. </div>
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Dates and times are as above, and you can find the studio at:</div>
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King's River Cottage</div>
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21-23 Wolsey Road</div>
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Hampton Hill</div>
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Middlesex</div>
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TW12 1QP</div>
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I love having visitors so do pop by and say hello.</div>
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As well as being able to watch me at work, I will also have a selection of my work on sale, or you might even like to take the opportunity to commission a unique piece of jewellery. It will be a lovely relaxed and informal, and should be great fun.</div>
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Further details on the Richmond website: </div>
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http://www.arthouseopenstudios.co.uk </div>
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or you can e-mail me at <span style="text-align: center;">charlottebezzant@gmail.com</span></div>
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Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-75260650743253240982015-12-30T05:34:00.005-08:002015-12-30T05:37:27.248-08:00King's River Cottage - the studio<div style="text-align: justify;">
When I had to move house earlier this year, it was especially hard to leave behind my beautiful garden studio that I had had built in my old garden. It was my happy place. Always calm and always a great place to escape to.</div>
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My new house had a much smaller garden, but I was determined to build a new studio to house my business. Even though the garden is smaller, it has a little 'river' (shallow canal type waterway) at the end of it, and before I moved in I was imagining myself working away in the studio in the Summer, with the doors open and the swans floating past.</div>
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I decided to get used to where the sun went before working out where to build it. In the meantime, my bench was shoved into a room that had once been a garage, and that was the general dumping ground for the removal men of lots of our belongings, that we couldn't fit anywhere else.</div>
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Despite looking out over the river, I found it impossible to work in this chaos. I tried to have a sort out, but that didn't help much.</div>
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Then, when I did get on with work, I began to see the potential of this space. It had a few big advantages. Being in the house meant it felt nice and secure, and importantly, it was easy to work at night. I am single mum to two boys, so when I had the garden studio, I used to be back trying to work on the kitchen table when the boys were in bed, as down the garden seemed a million miles away. The room also has great light; windows at both ends (blind closed in below photo). One side I can see the road, and the other side has french windows looking out over and leading on to my garden with the river beyond.</div>
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Drastic action was called for. More belongings had to go (the downsize has been tough, yet liberating because of this.) The green carpet and wooden blinds were stripped out. The magnolia walls were given a coat of white paint. My 'new' studio once again oozed peace and tranquility.</div>
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I bought this whitewashed oak flooring very, very cheap in a sale and laid it myself. I bought two glass display cupboards for a steal in my local auction room, the one above I painted grey.</div>
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I arranged my workbench, tools and bits (including my 'This is my Happy Place' print especially done for me in pink by Snowden Design & Print). It has become a truly lovely work place. Importantly it also has space for me to run workshops again in the future. There's still more to do. I need to finish a bit of floor and install a longer workbench; but for now it's perfect. </div>
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My dad bought me this little potted Christmas tree for the garden studio a couple of years ago, it moved house with us and it was lovely to bring it in to the new studio and decorate it.</div>
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Best of all, I get to look out the window, and see this sort of thing...</div>
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... Not bad hey? I'll leave you with a few more views from the studio window.</div>
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Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2332049626649263415.post-1844633129814357812015-07-28T06:51:00.000-07:002015-07-28T09:21:40.341-07:00My beautiful feathered friend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Arriving home on the hottest day of the year, we found this little chap on the ground. A young swift, newly fledged? There was no sign of injury, or a near nest. Swifts fly from the moment they fledge and feed, drink and sleep on the wing. They land only to breed, this chap would normally spend the first few years of his life on the wing. Swifts share our skies for just three months in the Summer before heading to Africa for the winter.</div>
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I wondered if the poor thing was suffering heat exhaustion and had simply fallen from the sky? I picked him up as to leave him on the ground left him to the mercy of the neighbourhood cats, and he rested calmly in the palm of my hand with his eyes closed.</div>
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We took him inside. With the tiniest syringe we were able to give him water that he would normally scoop up during flight. It seemed very welcome?</div>
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We found a small box and placed a tea towel in the corner to replicate the nest of a swift. We put our little friend inside, and in all honesty, I didn't expect him to survive the night.</div>
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Cautiously peeping in the box the next morning, it was such a relief to see our little swift was still with us. (In this photo he has shuffled in to another corner.)</div>
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We kept giving him water from the little syringe, and then scoured the garden for tiny spiders and midges. Swifts feed nearly constantly, so I was concerned about being able to provide enough food. Feeding our swift was hard work, as if he didn't want to eat. But I was determined to restore his seemingly ebbed strength if I could.</div>
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Over the next few days our swift rallied. It was magical to pick him up and be able to make eye contact. I definitely feel he was quite content. When we felt he was strong enough we took him outside, determined he would fly again. I spent many hours holding him aloft, or up a stepladder in the garden holding him higher still, willing him to take flight.</div>
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When I swooped my arm down, he would unfold his wings to balance himself, but seemed to want to close them quickly and just enjoy the sun. He watched with interest birds flying overhead. And he looked around taking everything in, but was happy to do this from the comfort of my palm. </div>
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High above, other swifts wheeled and called, their scythe shape dancing acrobatically in the sky. Their high elfin cry making me feel quite emotional - so easy to imagine it was the swift's parents calling to him, as I am sure they could see him from their lofty heights. </div>
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Although swifts fly at low levels to feed, they have been observed at over five and a half thousand meters over Ladakh in the Himalayas. Over the coming days, the best we managed was that on a couple of occasions, we managed to get him to take flight, but only to flutter down to the lawn. </div>
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As each day passed, and the swift had no interest in leaving, I wondered how long we would be able to keep him going, I knew he was taking in such a tiny amount of food compared to what he would normally eat.</div>
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Finally on day 10, we came downstairs to find the swift was dead. I picked up his tiny body, and tucked his wings close by his sides. I marvelled still at his beauty. He was wrapped in tissue and placed in a little box and buried deep in the garden with solemn children standing by. </div>
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It was such a magical privilege to spend so much time with such an elusive bird, that because it spends it's entire time on the wing, we know so little about.</div>
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<br />Charlotte Bezzanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02271884708405699620noreply@blogger.com4