I found Black Heart Creatives after reading a post on Arched Eyebrow about a "Fat Bitch" necklace and I was like, "Fuck yes, I have to have that." So, I ventured to Etsy, where most awesome things reside, and found Charlotte's shop.
If it's not obvious from my blog name, I swear a lot, and generally don't give a fuck, so Charlotte's jewelry is right up my alley.
Charlotte agreed to let me interview her, so keep on reading to learn about her shop, her inspiration and her body-acceptance journey! And make sure you stay 'till the end for an awesome giveaway!
SJ&SF: How long have you been making jewelry and what prompted you to start your own shop?
CHARLOTTE: Actually very recently! The end of 2012 I gave up my job of nearly ten years and moved away from London to the countryside with my new Husband. He is joining the navy so we are trying to save up some money and you can't do that in London. When I got married last October I really got into crafts and jewellery making, and made all my wedding invites and tables decorations myself. One of my main ideas was made possible by my Father in Law. He has a laser cutter, and was able to make my old school tattoo scroll hearts out of pieces of acrylic. It was then I started thinking about all the necklaces I could make. When we moved down to the countryside where my mother and father in law live, I was able to put my designs that had been in my head into practice on his machine, and it just went from there really! I love having a creative job now, but I am actually working harder than I ever did before.
 |
Laser Cut Acrylic Tattoo Scroll Heart Name Necklace |
SJ&SF: How do you come up with your ideas?
CHARLOTTE: I have always liked, and worn 'club kid' plastic jewellery left over from when I was a teenager, and I was always a huge fan of the UK based Tatty Devine and Heidi Seeker who make some amazing acrylic jewellery. But none of them were doing things that I wanted. I even blogged about my search for the elusive 'cunt necklace' but in fact nowhere makes jewellery that I want to wear, or at least nowhere affordable. So I make things that I would wear. Turns out a lot of people want to wear these things. Also I swear a lot, I think this reflects in my jewellery!
 |
C*nt Acrylic Laser Cut Necklace |
SJ&SF: Speaking of ideas, what was your inspiration for your 'Fat Bitch' necklace?
CHARLOTTE: I have some very close online friends, we used to talk on other social media platforms, but now it is really just twitter. Everyone is very body positive and are a part of what is (in my opinion) a huge fat acceptance movement. We were talking about designs, and wanted to incorporate the word fat into it, and really fat bitch just came from there. It was so perfect, it is so blunt and to the point. How can you call someone out on being fat, or make a comment in the street or all the other terrible things that happen to fats out in the public, if you are wearing FAT BITCH proudly. They have been so popular, and really well received so I know I am doing this right, and it makes me happy that so many fat bitches are showing everyone how fierce they are with those necklaces. I would like to add that when I was knocking around ideas, I asked my Mum what she thought of 'fat bitch' and she text me saying 'I think it is great, but I am worried because not all fat people are bitches.' I think she missed the point a bit, but it had me in absolute stitches.
SJ&SF: I don't want you to write a novel, but I'd like to hear about your
journey to body acceptance. Give me the cliff-notes version?
CHARLOTTE: It has been really hard and I don't think that I am personally quite there yet. I am one of those people who cares greatly about my appearance, I won't go out the house without makeup or wearing an outfit that makes me feel good. Doesn't matter if it is scruffy, as long as I achieve the look I am going for. I am 6"1 so I have always struggled with how tall I was, and was teased about it at school. I was never really super thin either, but I guess I 'carried' my weight well due to being tall? I really put on a lot of weight at the end of my teens and was unhappy. I find it really hard to find clothes that fit me because I am so tall, and going into plus sizes made it even harder. My Mum used to make me feel really bad about it, and point it out to me (as I supposed most Mums do out of caring and worry) and I tried losing weight, and when I lost a bit everyone was so positive about it and told me how much better I looked. I used to judge myself against every single female I ever saw in the street or came into contact with, and used to wish so hard that I could just be thin, or thin enough to wear non plus sized clothes. I dieted, but I use food as a reward, I just love food so much more and round and round it went. The unhappier I was, the more I ate. This went on from when I was 17 to 24.Then with talking on twitter with people and reading plus sized blog about acceptance of being fat, I was AWARE that I could accept being fat. But honestly, I never bought it. I never bought that these women were actually really happy with being fat. I was dreadfully unhappy, I wished and wished every day that I would just wake up thin, so I assumed that they must be too.But I do remember what turned it around for me though, the exact moment. I wanted to lose a bit of weight for my wedding, and one of my bridesmaids (who had only ever known me as a fat person) said at work 'I am really surprised that you are losing weight Charlotte, I just thought you didn't give a fuck about your weight because you wear what you want and do what you want and you look great doing it.' I was so taken aback that I actually stopped losing weight for my wedding in the last month.
I wouldn't say that I am 100% happy, I hate my stomach, it sticks out and makes me look pregnant. I sometimes think I get away with less abuse than other people I know because people just assume I am preggers. I would consider getting a tummy tuck for that. But I am in a happy place with my looks and clothes and image now. I would be happy being a size (UK) 18-20 forever as long as my stomach was flat! Also I would like a bit thinner arms.
Anatomical Rib Acrylic Laser Cut Necklace
SJ&SF: What advice would you give to women struggling with loving their bodies?
CHARLOTTE: This is such a cliche, but you really do have to be happy with yourself before you can reach this. The MAJOR thing that made me unhappy for so long, was plus size shops were not representing me with the clothes that they had in the fatty section (hidden at the back of the shop) so outwardly I was wearing clothes that didn't reflect ME and this made me fucking miserable. I felt like a floral sack of spuds all the time. But things have changed now and there is so much more choice! Wear things that make you happy, fuck flattering. There is nothing better than going out wearing something that you think you look AMAZING in.Surround yourself with like minded people, if you can't do this IRL, then tumblr and twitter are amazing sources of inspiration. I honestly do not think I would be anywhere in my life right now without the support of my Twitter friends. Read some plus size blogs, make yourself aware that you are not alone and that other rad babes are working their fat bodies not giving one single fuck.Stop reading shit magazines, they are so negative anyway, and why should you subscribe to Cosmos beauty standards anyway? They certainly do not represent me or my friends, so why get hung up on not looking like the people in that magazine.If you hate dieting, and are miserable and hungry and thinking 'is this really worth it?' then it probably isn't.
W@nker Leather Sliding Knot Bead Bracelet
Right on, Charlotte. Right the fuck on.
In addition to Charlotte's profane items, she also does custom name pieces, for all you 'normal' folk. ;)
 |
| Personalized Necklace |
And now, I'm super excited to announce that you have a chance to win a Black Heart Creatives necklace of your choice!
This giveaway is open to US Residents only and you have 6 ways to enter this giveaway, what will you choose?
PLEASE NOTE: Leaving a blog comment is the only MANDATORY option for entry.
PLEASE NOTE: Leaving a blog comment is the only MANDATORY option for entry.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
