November Events

This weekend you can find me and my shiny jewellery at 'Sparkle' which is a wonderful Christmas shopping type event of Contemporary Craft and Gourmet food gifts. It is held in the Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington, SW London. A beautiful old converted Church. 

Sparkle is open on Friday 22nd 6 - 8.30 pm

Sat 23rd & Sun 24th 10 am - 5 pm

The following weekend, I will be out and about again. This time the Teddington Artists have invited me to take my jewellery along to their 'Christmas Fair', where you will find my work amongst that of fine artists and photographers. I am really delighted to be asked. 

Saturday 30th

10 am - 5.30 pm

Mince pies and mulled wine.

Those lovely folk at Country Living Magazine, persuaded me to Open the studio to the public to tie in with the article they wrote about me in the December issue. I can't promise snow, but the pastry on my mum's mice pies is exceptionally good!

Aurora

One of the big inspirations for some of my work was the most amazing trip I made into the Arctic Circle. I had always wanted to see the Northern lights, and on my 40th birthday I was lucky enough to take a trip to the very North of Finland to see if I could spot them.

The jewellery that I designed following that beautiful and inspiring trip has recently been included in an exhibition in The Fenwick Gallery in Northumberland. The exhibition is called Aurora. It's difficult to convey how excited I feel about being included in the exhibition. I feel it's perfect that my Arctic inspired jewellery has found a place among along side other beautiful objects celebrating something as magical as the Northern Lights.

This is me at -28 degrees. It was so amazingly cold that you could feel the ice crystals form up your nose as you were breathing. 

That particular day I was searching for a twig that I could cast in silver. It is an extreme environment there, but some varieties of flora and fauna thrive. I picked a small birch twig that was emerging from the snow and ice. I wrapped it in tissue and carried it back to the UK for it to be small batch cast for me to use. Every time I see that twig I am transported back to that day.

While I was there as well, as spending every night hunting the Northern Lights, I also drove my own team of Huskies, went ice fishing, travelled by skidoo right out to the Russian border through the wilderness where wolves run wild, and forged my way through thick virgin snow on snow shoes; pausing to look at the dips in the snow where the reindeer had rested and peering eagerly at tracks of small arctic mammals.

It is that day and having all the animal tracks pointed out to me that led me to produce my arctic hare pieces. It was the lolloping footprints that inspired me as I didn't actually see one! 

Of course, this blog post would not be complete without some pictures of the lights. I didn't manage to take any good one! But fellow traveller Stephen Worrall took these...

"The snow fell like dust and sparked like glitter"

We stayed at Nellim Wilderness Hotel which really was just on the edge of the wilderness. The husband and wife who run it are amazing. You are treated as an individual - our snowshoeing was just with the owner and his friend, our dog sledding was with just one other guest on her own sledge plus the dog handlers on theirs. I really cannot recommend the place enough if you are an outdoor type who really wants to experience the Arctic. They also have a facebook page where they post the amazing pictures of the Northern lights.

This winter is the 'Solar Maximum.' The Northern lights are caused by solar flares from the sun, and the cosmic dust moving across Earth's atmosphere. We are in twelve year high period of the sun's activity, so the Aurora will be at their best this season. Go in February, if you go now you might get the lights, but not necessarily the snow. You need to be there in the snow! 

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