A proliferation of jewellers. Report from The Festival of Crafts.

Life, and a two week half term for the kids, have meant that Charlotte Bezzant Jewellery has slowed right down over the last fortnight. To be honest, I was a little done in with the frantic prep for The Festival of Crafts, and a rest was just what the doctor ordered. The kids are only off two more days, and I am now desperate to get back to my work bench.

Here is a shot of my little bit of the Festival of Crafts. My stand is made up of junk shop finds, painted a unifying shade of cream, and a dressmakers stand that I rescued from outside a manufacturers in the West End when I used to work in the Fashion Industry. (Quite an eyebrow raiser as I took it home on the tube in rush hour.)

I had a great show. As a stay at home mum, who designs and makes jewellery while the kids are at school or in bed, I sometimes say 'I don't get out much'. (The school run doesn't count.) So for me being around adults, and such a creative bunch of adults, as well as the crowds that streamed through the doors, was a great buzz in itself.

It was wonderful to get so many lovely comments about my work. It was great to meet people who found and followed my work on the internet, and of course it was nice to know that some of it was heading off to new homes. I make things that I would like to wear myself, and it is a relief and delight that other people share my taste.

The Farnham Maltings is a wonderful venue. Quite a higgle piggle of different rooms on different levels. I was really pleased with the room that I was in. It wasn't one of the biggest ones, but that meant it had a lovely cosy atmosphere. As well as ceramacists, a sculptor, a woodcutter, a photographer, mixed media artist and more - there were four jewellers in my room. 

I must admit I felt a little intimidated to find I was next to Chris Boland, as his work is on a different level to mine; but I needn't have worried - he was such a nice guy, and he let me try his dramatic rings on. Check out his work here.

Also in the same room was Machi de Waard. Her pieces had beautiful clean lines. Machi says 'I make modernist pieces in silver and gold, sometimes using gemstones'. You can find her website here.

Next to her was Jane Tadrist. You will be able to see her work later this month at Desire in Winchester. Here is her snowflake brooch in silver with my favourite (and my signature) gems, aquamarine and moonstone. 

The great Hall was brimming with Jewellers, more than I can mention in this blog post. Everyone showing was carefully selected by a panel so they are all worthy of looking at if you love jewellery. Firstly Cathy Newell Price who will be very busy this weekend at The Country Living Christmas Fair. 

Helen Brice Her twinkly gemstones will also be on show at Sparkle in S W London, where I have a stand later this month.

Emily Thatcher who will be at LUSTRE and MADE Brighton in November. Liz Hancock who's studio is at the Farnham Maltings. Caroline Thompson Jewellery - Caroline will also be showing at Sparkle. Donna Collinson who takes her inspiration from the flotsom and jetsom of a British beach.

Jessica Hewitt who's floral collection is inspired by the linear forms found in nature. She also has her own gallery -  Adore Contemporary Boutique in Falmouth, which looks gorgeous. (The lucky thing!)

Lovely Claire Lowe who is one of my local jewellery buddies. Some of her jewellery includes tea set in resin. She is currently showing her contemporary Jewellery at Dazzle in the Oxo Tower.

Upstairs you could also find Chiara Bet a list of her stockists is here.

And in the cellar Emily Gliddon a Bristol Jeweller who also has her work in the lovely Made Just So in Bristol that stocks my work. I had a nice chat to her and admired her lovely work.

And now my bed is calling me, so I must apologise to all the other talented jewellers that were showing at The Festival of Crafts, and that I have not managed to mention. 

A really super, well organised event. It even had a tea trolley that came round to the makers which was so thoughtful as it is very difficult to leave your stand during opening hours. Special thanks also for the chocs and jelly babies that were brought round to keep us going, and keep us smiling. I hope you will have me again next year! 

Festival of Crafts 2013

This weekend, I have been invited to exhibit at the Festival of Crafts, at the Farnham Maltings in Surrey. It is a great event, at a wonderful venue. There will be lots of beautiful high end crafts to see. A lovely day out.

Christmas comes early.

A little while ago, you may remember that I posted about  having a visitor to the studio that warranted a Spring clean, and a bit of home baking. Well the reason for the visit, was that I had been contacted by a well known magazine (I don't want to give too much away) that wanted to write a column about the jewellery making that goes on in my little garden studio. 

Armed with a pot of fresh coffee, and some homemade shortbread, the mag's Deputy Editor and I, pootled down the garden for a very relaxed interview. It will be published in the December issue of the magazine, and I promise to let you know when it hits the news stands.

A few weeks after the words were done, the accompanying picture needed to be completed. 

As you can see, I had to dress the studio for Christmas. I even had a tree (thanks to my next door neighbour who has one in a pot that she takes indoors every year.) 

(Not sure what the chickens made of it!)

So, with all this decorating, you are probably assuming a photographer came visiting too? Well, you would be wrong. An illustrator came with a big sheet of water colour paper, pencils, ink, paints and brushes.

With an illustrators eye, a bit of furniture moving, and a tinsy bit of artistic licence,  Lucy put together a little scene that she thought would work well for the magazine. 

It was so exciting to see the picture take shape. (I have just hopped up from my chair to take a peek and take a picture.) It was a really nice way to spend a few hours, relaxed and chatting, with the doors wide as it was a beautiful sunny day.

 I hadn't thought too much about how Lucy would work, I think I assumed she would make sketches, and do the finished piece later, but she doesn't like to work that way. She likes to catch the moment and keep things spontaneous, by completing the work in situ. A wash of water colour later, and I have never seen my white space look so colourful!

I was going to give you a sneek peek of the finished picture, but I think I will show you after it's published. It certainly captures the essence of me, and it's amazing to notice all the little details in my studio that Lucy spotted. 

You can find Lucy's website by clicking on this link.

Lucinda Rogers Illustrator

September - Back to school

Summer's drawing to a close. September has arrived. In a few days, my boys will be back at school. This means I can take off the 'pause' button that's held me in limbo, and get on with all the things I haven't been able to do for the eight long weeks of school holidays.

I thought I would write this post for all of you who might want to consider a spot of school for yourselves. Now this is not your average type of school. This place is fantastic, a bit of an indulgence, and I highly recommend it!

So this is West Dean in Sussex. Heard of it? If not how has it escaped you? You can do the most amazing courses here, with the most amazing teachers. You can do little taster day courses, or ones that are a week long. There's no requirement to stay on site, but I always feel that those who disappear off each night miss a little bit of the West Dean experience. There are some lovely rooms, great food, a well stocked art shop, super studios, enthusiastic students, a bar, and a big oak panelled drawing room which sometimes has a roaring fire, where you can retire after supper with a nice glass of something. (That's if you can drag yourself away from the studio, as the bubbling creativity is contagious.)

 I have picked a handful of courses from the latest brochure that I would love to do myself.

Jessie Chorley

Make an embroidered textile treasure

November 7th

A one day course where you can create a textile brooch or treasure to wear or display.

Zoe Arnold

Story, image, object - create a necklace

November 17th - 22nd

Create a necklace thats tells a story - an imagined history or a family myth or legend. This course treats jewellery as an art, while traditional jewellery making skills are taught. (I would LOVE to do this one, I am such a fan of Zoe's work, but unfortunately this course is longer than I can be away from my boys, and it clashes with an event I am taking part in.)

Julie Arkell

Handmade narratives

November 17th - 22nd

Stories, lists poems all conjure up images. Use paper mache, fabric, wool, broken toys and found objects to develop quirky characters with a tale to tell.

Maxine Sutton

Screenprinted textiles with stitch and applique

January 27th to 30th

Layer colour and texture as you develop skills in basic stencil screen printing, combined with traditional needlework techniques. I have done this one, it was great, and Maxine is lovely. We produced a really large body of work over our long weekend, including finished objects.

There are also wonderful technical courses for jewellers and silversmiths, painting courses, sculpture, photography, photoshop... in fact you really must take a look.

If I could, I would visit every year. It is so wonderful to be able to spend a few solid days learning something new, or perfecting a skill. Being able to totally immerse yourself in something with like minded people. It is pure escapism, and I always return feeling refreshed, recharged, and ready to get on with life.

www.westdean.org.uk

Time for reflection

Pause, take a breath, be calm, think, evaluate, consider.

There are key times in the year when I take time to consider what I have been doing, how things have changed, and where I want things to go. New Year is one, when the chaos of Christmas is past, and there is a little stillness for the first time in weeks. And again as Summer ends, and the long school Summer holidays are over (two months in my boys case), there is another time for reflection. Come late August, I am itching to get on with all the things I haven't been able to do I for two whole months. Time to take the pause button off life. It may start with a de-clutter, a huge cleaning session, and an ironing mountain to work on, but then I can turn to my lists of things I haven't had time to do, things I need to do, and things I want to do.

Despite a jolly public face for Charlotte Bezzant Jewellery, it has been an extremely hard year on a personal level. Not the sort of stuff I have wanted to share, and who would want to read about it anyway? I have asked myself over and over if I should even refer to it in anyway in a blog post. Finally I came to the conclusion that what I experience is what makes me tick, it is intertwined with my creativity. The short version is, early in the year I nearly stopped making jewellery. My spirit was crushed and broken, and it all seemed rather fruitless. I had been under pressure for sometime not to run a business, and it seemed that was what was going to become reality. The little energy I had was needed to keep me and my boys going through the most difficult time of my life. I had no energy for creative things.

Then suddenly there was a realisation. To stop would mean I was defeated. It would mean my dreams had been crushed. It would mean all I had been doing to build my little business had been a waste of time. Then there were other things that became important to me. The need to bring up my children showing them that if you want something, and you work for something, there is a big chance you can achieve it. That it's OK to dream, and sometimes your dreams come true. And on a more basic level, my future was completely uncertain, and it seemed important to be able to produce an income of some description, however tiny, because it could be vital. Making jewellery is something I do when the children are at school, or when they are asleep. As far as they are concerned, they have a full time mum. That's important to them, and important to me. I am always there - for school runs, to ferry them from clubs, to sit and do homework, to make sure they are clean, washed and well presented, well fed and nourished, and that they are tucked into bed at the end of every single day having had the time to talk, a bedtime story, and a big kiss. On top of this my lovely boys are really proud of mummy and her jewellery making. Bless them. As well as the fact that they tell me what I make is beautiful, I'm under the impression they actually think I'm famous!

So now, as the Summer heat has died away, and the mornings are becoming fresh and Autumnal. I have to consider what to do next. I must evaluate all options.

The reality is I could definitely earn more money doing something else. Anything else really. But this is about more than money. It's about striving and achieving, its about learning and growing, it's about being appreciated, and making people happy. It's about self esteem. It's about being there, and also being a role model for my boys.

Creativity is in my blood. My parents are both creative. It's as important to me as breathing. From an early age I knew I would go to Art School, and I did. I have always made, drawn, sewn. Where I am now with my jewellery making grew from a hobby, an evening class. If I don't sell jewellery, I can't afford to make jewellery. I don't want to stop. If I am not making jewellery, I would be making something, anything else. I always have done.

I believe in the things I make. Everything I create is something that I would chose for myself (except perhaps for earrings, my ears are nearly always bare.) It means I can talk about it with a passion. I have grown in confidence as I have seen there are others who like the same things as me.

Making commissions brings me real pleasure. The fact you know someone is getting something unique, and so special to them, makes me feel warm inside. I know how much thought and effort, and 'the extra mile' that I put into commissioned pieces. Other makers do to, and I love to be able to support them by buying hand made things when I can.

Makers like me are now facing the run up to Christmas. I know that seems ridiculously early if you are not a maker, but out there there are many like me ordering packaging, thinking about stock levels, getting on with producing stock. Last Christmas was the first real Christmas for my business, this year I have a better idea of what to expect, so I want to run with it. In January, I can look back and decide if that's right for me. It needs to work with role as a mum, Carol Concerts, School Christmas Fairs, cake sales, writing Christmas cards, filling stockings etc.

So now, no more procrastination. I'm off to write a 'to do' list. I know I really WANT to do this. I just need to prove to myself that I really SHOULD do this.

Inside my studio

Yesterday, my little studio had a visitor. Now there's nothing special about that - I positively encourage it, but I don't usually get the cleaning things out for visitors (I'm sorry to admit). I do believe in 'take me as you find me', and anyway, my studio is normally a quite tidy place. 

However, it was time to wash away polish dust that had settled, and the finger prints that were everywhere from when I am working. (There are many that would think I was mad to work in such a white space, but it's just so me, and I wanted to create the perfect little spot to work in when I bought this with my savings a year and a bit ago.) I finally got some little display cabinets on the wall, and arranged all the little things that I find and love on my Special shelves. With the place so spick and span, it was the perfect opportunity to get the camera out. would you like to see?

There's the working end...

Lots of inspirational and pretty bits and pieces.

(I've always been a magpie.)

An area to store the cabinets I use at shows that makes a sweet little display area. The little wall frames were a TKMaxx bargain. They didn't look so pretty when I bought them, but a lick of paint and a new inner later, and they are just perfect.

(I had baked tiny shortbread stars to go with our coffee. Beauty is in the detail!)

Here's a pile of my used sketchbooks...

Some of my boxes and cards...

And finally, the latest bits that are burning in my mind, that will hopefully become lovely jewellery soon...

Hope you enjoyed the tour.

x

Delightful Dorset

I have just come back from a wonderful week away. A week spent with my favorite people, my two boys, and my parents. A week spent under canvas. A week enjoying the British countryside and British beaches. In this glorious Summer we are having, it is a perfect way to spend time with the kids. I am sure the time will soon pass when they are happy with a bucket and spade, a crab line, and a body board. I intend to savour these times while they last.

Wonderful Corfe Castle that Enid Blyton based Kirrin Castle on.

A little Hobbit House at the base of the Castle.

This year the castle had a Medieval Village in it's grounds.

Pretty Corfe Village beyond.

Beautiful unspoilt Shell Bay, a National Trust beach. 

This was where I found all the little shells last year, that are cast in solid silver for my shell jewellery. Once again I walked bare foot, stowing little treasures in my pocket as I wandered.

Happy days with my nearest and dearest.