Latest gemstones

London was basking in Spring sunshine today. Only it could have been mistaken for Summer sunshine. It was glorious and 17 degrees.

I had an appointment with my gem dealers. Before they went on their last two month buying spree to India, they had left me with 4 whole packets, and a tiny box of gems. A large assortment of aquamarines and the palest watery green amethysts. They left them with me on trust, for me to pay for what I used - gulp.

So, I have slowly been making rings from my stocks. All aquas so far, non of the green amethysts just yet, as the aquamarines are so popular and I only work at a certain speed.

Every single ring I have made I love. Somehow I am always selling them, and don't have one for myself yet. I must rectify that.

The trouble with this sort of deal, was today I had a hefty bill to pay. That's the downside, but the upside was that I loved having gems on hand for when I needed them, and also lots of options to show my customers.

You may remember, before Christmas, I made this huge beauty for a customer...

Well my gem dealing pals had bought a packet of treasure on their shopping spree with just me in mind. 

So now before I have started making, I owe them money all over again! I came away with these gorgeous aquamarines. How could I resist? Just look at the scale...

So if you want your own slice of 'water of the sea' heaven, please get in touch, as aquamarines like this are very hard to come by.

You won't find these in my online shops, please email me at twocharlies@blueyonder.co.uk (I really must get round to changing that address, since the other Charlie is walking his own path these days) or you can get in touch by my busy facebook page for Charlotte Bezzant Jewellery

I really, really enjoyed working with one of these aquamarines before, and I know I will feel just as happy working with these.

Stone setting - a master class

...Poor neglected blog. I am still here, but life is not being kind right now, and I have to pick where I put my energies. I can't believe that March is just about upon us, and the year is whizzing past. Still, at least it means that Spring's full blown arrival should be imminent. We are already getting days with some sunshine and blue skies, such a change from the grey rainy skies that have sat over our island for weeks on end. In the garden the snowdrops are fading, but the daffodils are bursting forth with their sunshine colour. I am looking forward to the feeling of re-newel that I seem to get in Spring. When everything around me is bursting into life, I seem to get a new blast of vitality myself. To be honest, I desperately need it.

My return to my blog is brought about by the fact that I have just spent some time in the classroom again. A snatched day - but a whole day; immersed in trying something new. I love to learn. I love to expand my knowledge. At the start of the year, when I tried to sit and make plans for the year, I was finding it tough. Circumstances are making it tricky for me to plan anything, my life is rather frustratingly out of my control just now. I asked myself about the things I knew I could achieve. There is a lot to be said for putting your energy into the things you can control, while not wasting energy on the things you can't. I came up with two things that were definitely on my 'to do' list for the year. One was to improve my Photography, and I started an online course to do that almost straight away. The other was to increase my stone setting knowledge. I think it would be fair to say that I am already an OK stone setter - better than many others I know, but I had a desire to try grain / pave setting which is more specialist, for finer work than I am currently known for.

Finding a course was tricky. I looked at West Dean, The Cass, Holts Academy, London School of Jewellery etc. Turns out, if you want to learn to set a cabochon, there are lots of courses for that. In fact I could teach you that myself. But what I wanted to study was proving illusive.

I logged in to the forum on Cooksongold, and found chat about a certain setter who I can only imagine is a very busy man. Everyone seems to use him. Not only that, he is the man who set the diamonds and sapphires in none other than Lady Di / Princess Diana's engagement ring, now worn by Catherine The Duchess of Cambridge. The wonders of the internet lead me to a little workshop in Kent where he was teaching, and a quick e-mail just managed to get me in, to snap up the very last place on a day course. You know sometimes when you just think 'this was meant to be.'

We started the day with the tutor showing us all his amazing samples. Little works of art. From those, we could select which type of setting we wanted to work on. Most people went for gypsy or flush setting (the top one), but I can already do that. One went for a little row of claw settings ( I picked one of those optimistically thinking I would do both in a day!). Someone was setting a big stone in a claw set ring she had made in the workshop the day before. I was the only one to pick grain / pave.

Next the tutor showed us how to grind our gravers, and then in fact mainly did them for us. Having done an engraving course before I was very relieved. If you get the steel too hot on the grinders, it 'blues' and you have to temper it again - yucky scientific stuff that I couldn't master before, so was relieved not to face it again. (...and now I know the bottom kind isn't spelt Spitz, we even thought it could be 'spits' for a while!)

We heated setters wax, and melted our settings into place.

Patiently and with great skill, Tony showed every person how to do one of their settings, while the rest of us watched on and took notes.

Then we all scuttled to our benches to have a go.

The radio was on, the atmosphere was relaxed, and of course there was lots of jewellery discussion as there was a mixture of hobbyists, jewellers that could do some setting, jewellers that sent their setting away for someone else to do it etc. As I work alone in my studio, I loved being surrounded by other like minded people, and having a good natter. There was a pause for lunch, and a chance to look through Tony's photo albums of some of the amazing things he has set. (Including a pic of 'that' ring.) Then we were back to work for the afternoon. The time absolutely flew past. 

By half past four I had produced this. Not quite as impressive as Tony's, but each stone had taken me less time than the one before, and the last stone and its little grains were definitely so much better than the first. 

So now its practise, practise, practise if I want to improve. I am thinking of signing up for another day, and perhaps doing the row of claw settings that I came away with un-started.

I can really recommend Edward and his studio, Tony and the course, to anyone interested. You can find their website here.

A gentle start to the year

I am taking a couple of weeks to do a photography course. Nearly every single image you see on my blog or facebook page is taken by me, and I decided it was time to learn how to do it properly.

These were a few of the efforts from day one. 

So far day two and three have been rather technical, but I was particularly pleased with some of the results from today. It's so great to be learning something, and also to be pushing myself too.

Looking back and moving on.

Lots of us bloggers will be writing our end of year posts, looking back on the year, and the things that have happened. 2013 has been an incredibly tough year for me, so I considered avoiding looking back over it, but... Charlotte Bezzant Jewellery has gone from strength to strength, and sometimes it helps us to remind ourselves of the good bits. Apologies in advance, this is a bit of a long one!

January

A burglary and filing for divorce. The toughest of starts to the year, especially as I have two children.

Febuary

A small furry joined the family, and unwanted little kitty from the local pet rescue centre. The boys gave him his full name of 'Bertie, black cat, le miowler Bezzant'. He is a great addition to our gang.

March

I had my first few shells cast. A lovely reminder of the previous Summer holiday every time I make something with these.

May

More small furry things in the house. One of my boys had always wanted chicks, so this year his dream came true. We added to our flock with Honey and Sweetie who lived in Oliver's bedroom for a bit. One happy lad.

A lovely sunny few days on Moondaisy, my parent's narrow boat.

June

A lovely Abigail Brown bird making workshop with of my best friends and my mum. Our finished birds.

July

The boys finished the academic year on a high, one awarded the Public Speaking Cup, and the other the History Prize. (#proudmummy)

...and I taught myself to crochet.

A few days on the boat again.

August

Happy holiday adventures in Dorset with my folks and my boys. the highlight was the seafood feast we made from Mackerel, shrimp, and cockles caught by the boys - although the cockles didn't take much catching!

Country Living deputy Editor visited the studio to interview me.

September

An illustrator in the studio to draw me for the Country Living article.

October

Took part in Festival of Crafts at Farnham Matings and loved it.

November

Took part in Sparkle and exhibited with the Teddington Artists for the first time. Busy making things for Christmas including some of my signature aquamarine rings. 

Really thrilled that some of my work was included in a gallery exhibition entitled 'Aurora'

December

Still busy making things for Christmas. Christmas Open Studio to tie in with the Country Living article in December's magazine.

Final orders posted and shops shut ready for a restorative break.

Phew.

Writing this has made me realise how many good things happened this year. I am generally a cup half full, and count your blessings type person; but sometimes it has been hard to remember that the sun is always shining in the sky, even on the days when it is hidden by cloud.

I want to end this post with some thank yous. Firstly to my utterly amazing parents. I could not have held my head so high and kept going without your never ending support. You are both incredible, and I am very lucky.

To my boys (who won't actually read this) for being resilient in the toughest of times, and brightening my life with your good bits.

To my stockists, on line and bricks and mortar, who have sold my work, and in some cases been very supportive. Thank you.

To my friends, especially Allie and Claire. I am lucky to have chums like you. Nothing like a year like mine to make it really clear who your friends are.

To the new friends I have made along the way during my jewellery journey this past year or so, often on line - It's lovely to chat with you. Sometimes I feel like I am checking in at the office with my far flung colleagues.

..and to everyone else who has taken the time to look, comment, and sometimes purchase my work. A HUGE thank you to you all. You have given me a reason to keep going with it all, you have raised my self esteem on the low days, and you have given me lots of smiles during very tough times.

Here's to 2014!

My virtual Christmas Stocking

Having just loved picking all the thoughtful bits for my boy's Christmas stockings, and thrilled to watch their faces light up as they opened the perfect gifts that 'Santa' had left them, I was thinking about what I would put in my own Christmas stocking if I were to fill it. Come Christmas time, I think my own eyes would light up in wonder if my stocking were filled with...

Beautifully selected and stylishly packaged haberdashery from Merchant & Mills.

An ancient 'Frozen Charlotte' (Sorry, I don't know who's image this is, but will gladly credit). These little dolls were named after a story where 'young Charlotte' went on a sleigh ride, but refused to wear a coat which would cover her pretty party dress. She froze to death. These teeny china dolls are often dug up near German doll factories. As you can see from he pictures, they often have missing limbs.

Pretty Japanese paper Washi tape. I am seriously addicted, and not a parcel leaves this house with at least two types on. This little lot comes from Wonderland Room on Etsy (and no I haven't got this particular collection - I am fighting the addiction!)

A little bundle of fabrics for crafting. In fact I just bought a these really small scale print Tilda fabrics from Pretty Fabric and Trims on Etsy, as needle and tread are calling me.

Chocolate. Post recent new eating plan, this is my favourite, and apparently it's good for you too! 

A new wooden handled address stamp, but this one will have to wait. My divorce means there will be a new house in 2014, but I don't know yet where it will be be.

A photography course. I'm considering this one. (Image from Pinterest, will happily credit)

Some teeny pottery houses by  Julie Whitmore. These ones are beads, but I am dreaming of a little row to stand at eye level on my studio windowsill. I wonder Julie, if you are in the mood for a new commission?

Finally I would add a new duplicate book, (carbonless) as they are so useful, and sellotape sticky dots to use when gift wrapping my jewellery. 

Too much? Oh well, good job I'm only dreaming.

x