More to Love

Valentine's is near! To celebrate, I have updated the online store and all Kazuri ceramic jewelry is 50% off. I've also been keeping busy with custom work.

Helga owned costume brooches that she never wore. The designs were outdated, but the pearls were still in mint condition. I carefully removed the pearls and redesigned them into an elegant cluster necklace - suited to Helga's personal style. She is a realtor and dresses professionally, so this will go well with both her daytime and evening wear.

Here are the pieces "before":

 

And here is the necklace transformation :

 

I added vintage swarovski and aurora borealis crystals, as well as a few extra vintage faux pearls I had on hand. Set in sterling silver, this piece is now a timeless treasure to be worn again and again.

The Right Foot

January in Toronto is cold. There is no escaping it really….unless of course you have the budget and flexibility book your all in one beach vacation for right after New Years. January is the time when I sit down to take a scrutinizing look at the past and make calculated plans for the future. It is a time of reflection, of hope, and excitement for what is to come. This year my goals include taking more custom orders and getting more deeply involved with Fair Trade. To start the year off on the right foot, I’ve been working on couple of wonderfully challenging custom jewelry transformations.

Anne inherited a lot of old jewelry from her mother and grandmother. Particularly sentimental to her were a string of pearls and a string of crystals that she never wore because of the outdated style.  Here are the original pieces:

And here is the newly transformed necklace.

With the addition of Afghani Malachite, Rose Quartz, and my very own handmade figure eight chain, this triple strand necklace evokes both a nostalgic and modern flair. Two clasps have been included so that the silver chain can be removed and the piece can be worn in a shorter style. With the bonus of versatility, the piece is sure to be worn often.

Susan came to me with quite a lot of jewelry that she received as gifts but never wore. The stones were spectacular – huge chunks of turquoise, black pearls, artisan glass, and swarovski crystals to name a few. We talked about her sense of style and what would work best with the suits she wears on a daily basis. It was quite the tricky puzzle for me to incorporate all of the different beads without it becoming too crowded. She wanted it to be sleek. Here are the original pieces:

And here is what I did with them.

 

 

The necklace includes two detachable pendants, and can be worn in any number of combinations. With the leftovers I created a nice little charm bracelet and matching earrings.

And what of the Fair Trade plans? Well, I’m currently researching NGOs to get involved with. In the meantime, I was lucky to get the chance to meet Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, when he spoke at the Toronto Reference Library a couple of days ago. It was incredibly moving to hear him talk about the work he’s doing in northern Pakistan and Afghanistan. Having lived in that area and seen what he has seen, his story really resonates with me. He is a true hero, and inspires me to keep going forward with my interests in international development.

 

2009: Looking Back with Gratitude

Looking back on 2009 - it has been one of the most inspiring years of my life. I’ve learned and grown exponentially – and have many accomplishments to be proud of. In addition to receiving lots of great press and refining my strategic planning skills, I also introduced new products, brought on new retailers, successfully built and implemented my first-ever fundraising campaign, traveled to Uganda to set up a sustainable community project, became a board member of the Canadian Association of Women Executives and Entrepreneurs, and completed an intensive international project management course at the University of Toronto. On a personal level I’ve incorporated music and exercise back into my life – thereby achieving a work-life balance that makes me truly happy.

In a recent interview I was asked what inspires me the most and I answered “People - The people I’ve met in my many travels, the people I talk to at events – even people that pass me by on the street. I’ve always been intrigued by character, story and background.” This year I have been very fortunate to have the support of fellow business owners and friends – people who work hard to be the change they wish to see in the world. I’d like to give sincere thanks to those who influenced me the most in 2009:

– Judi and Nick Hughes of Your Planning Partners - www.yourplanningpartners.com. Judi and Nick have given me the tools and confidence to achieve my goals.

– Moksha Yoga Danforth - www.mokshayogadanforth.com. A community atmosphere that has made me strive to be a better person – physically, and spiritually

– Clare Thompson of The Brit Boutique – www.thebritboutique.ca. A fellow artisan, like-minded soul, and supportive friend.

– Anne Sowden of Here’s Looking at You – www.hereslookingatyou.ca. A positive, successful business woman who understands my true gifts. It is a pleasure to do custom work for Anne.

– Haig Baronikian – www.efuel.ca – instructor at U of T who taught me how to manage international projects in six weeks despite my never having taken any project management classes before.

– Chris Chopik of Evolution Green - www.evolutiongreen.com. A passionate environmentalist who it is an honor to collaborate with.

– Amanda Montgomery of Simply - www.simplybyamanda.com. Thank you for giving me the idea for the Moksha silver pendant.

– Melvine Baird – chiropractor - www.doctorbaird.com. Thank you for introducing me to New Choir, for healing my injuries, and for buying my jewelry!

– Ian Crowly – director of New Choir – www.newchoir.ca.

– Calvin Knight of Kirabo Canada – www.kirabocanada.ca. Calvin lead the trip to Uganda, and in doing so gave me the opportunity to achieve social change.

– Thank you to all of the generous sponsors who donated to my fundraising raffle – especially Lesley Stoyan of Daily Apple – www.dailyapple.ca, who allowed me to sell raffle tickets at the Appletree market.

– Thank you to everyone who purchased raffle tickets. The funds were used to purchase enough fabric, thread and scissors for 100 destitute African girls to make their own reusable menstrual pads.

– All of my retailers http://bazant.ca/shop.shtml

– My good friend Carolyn Gallagher - who goes on walks with me twice a week. Thank you for listening!

– My parents Sharon and Wayne Bazant. Without their continuous, unconditional love and support I never would have come this far.

The biggest thanks of all goes out to my fiancée Chris Hatzopoulos who despite having a full time job and two businesses (www.oxvylu.com and www.thebearstories.com) – has always put me first and been the biggest supporter and fan of Bazant Unique Adornments every step of the way. In February 2010, Chris and I are getting married

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The Holidays: Hectic and Happy

December is happening! There is snow on the ground, the decorations are up, people are frantically shopping for gifts and Bazant Unique Adornments is busier than ever. A few notable things to share. First, I am happy to have completed another successful Holiday Studio Sale. Thank you so much to everyone who came out despite their busy schedules. Every year I make an effort to make the place look like a gallery, and this year was the best yet.

Second, I must announce my last public show for the season. Karen Franzen's 10th Annual Holiday show is this weekend, and I am excited to be once again collaborating with such fine established artists.

I'll be staying in town this Christmas. A "staycation" if you will. Lots of travelling went on this year - with the trip to Uganda and out west for my brother's wedding. This holiday season will be all about enjoying the local sights of Toronto. That said, I'll be accepting studio appointments all the way up until Christmas - so those of you who are last minute shoppers, feel free to give me a call.

My latest news is the best news. I just received an email from Teacher Emilly of the Almond School in Uganda. Here is what she says:

"Dear Lara: I just want to inform you that the Pads project you initiated for us in Almond here is being implemented with a lot of success. Infact girls have developed much interest in it and 24 new members managed to make at least a pair of pads this term alone in addition to the 15 members of last term and totaling to 39 trained members with the knowledge you imparted. We have also informed the parents about the new development in school and I hope they will appreciate it. Find in the attached, the pictures of teacher Emilly and the girls in their training session. I wish you all the best."

Here are the photos she sent:
Knowing that I have made an impact on the lives of those girls is probably the best gift I will receive this Christmas. I've been taking a course in international project management at the University of Toronto, and with the skills I've learned both in class and in the field I am hoping to get a fair trade project started. I would like to help people by having them create components of my jewellery and packaging - and make a living wage from it.

Shop ethically and affordably

The online store has been updated. Lots of great new items, and a special 20% discount for the holidays. Happy gift shopping at www.bazant.etsy.com!

Before and After

Until now, I've always taken photos of custom work after the piece is finished. It recently dawned on me that I should be taking "before" photos as well! Today I completed a piece for a repeat customer who has lots of old jewelry that she needs revamped into pieces that are fresh and current. I took her simple pyrite necklace and transformed it into a dramatic stunner by adding a focal pendant, Vietnamese ceramics, Indian Glass, and a few semi-precious stones from Thailand. The best part is the versatility of it. The length of the necklace is adjustable, and it can be effortlessly transformed into a bracelet and pendant set with the flick of a few strategically placed clasps. This is my favorite kind of work. I maintain a personalized approach and make sure I am clear on a client's needs, style and personality before embarking on any new project.

Here is the necklace before I took it apart:

And here it is - transformed:


I kept the neutral tones and made sure the wood and Pyrite are still noticeable. I even cut up the brass wire and made it into little "S" hooks which peek out in between the other beads. Bring me your old jewelry. I won't be like the silly commercials where they promise to turn your jewelry into cash. Instead, I will turn it into something you love again.

Latest Press: Green Living Online Fall Fashion Report

Bazant is pleased to be featured as one of Canada's top eco designers for Fall 2009!