A blog dedicated to the creativity and the challenges of making and designing with handmade art glass (lampwork) beads.
About Me
CreekHiker
Musings on life, lampwork glass beads, rubber stamps, and all sorts of crafty things.
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Old fashioned Southern Belle (yeah, we still exist) whose greatest joy is the daily hikes with my dog.
I make food safe rubber stamps (combining the love of baking and stamping) and also make lampwork beads and sell jewelry.
In my spare time, I write for tv and other clients and dabble in web development.
Email Creekhiker
Running really behind today... sometimes work gets in the way of beading fun!
The Artisan and Glassworkers Legal Fund (AGLF) is having a fundraiser. This fund has been created as an unincorporated association to assist in the legal fees associated with stopping Ullja Kuntze from continuing to harass, defame and libel her competition.
I will be working with the AGLF on the layout of the calendar which will have 108 images from artisans who have been libeled by Kuntze.
I'm not sure why but when I think of chocolate beads, I think of bracelets or earrings. Never do I think of a necklace. But when an Etsy customer wanted a matching pendant set for the earrings she bought, I was game to take it on.
The focal is maybe 1/3 larger than the earrings because the customer wanted to keep it smaller. And...it sort of killed me to make the leaves this way. I've grown as an artist and now would rather die than use plain old pea green for a leaf. An artist always uses middle tones, highlights and lowlights. But that's what growth is all about, eh???
Anyway, I do like the way the pendant turned out.
I do have one more chocolate that is even larger so if anyone wants it, email me or in a few days, I'll get it up on HollysFolly.com
I've neglected to mention a lovely honor I've received. I've been named to the California Flame Surfers Hall of Flame!
The Flame Surfers are my 'real life' bead group. We meet quarterly at various glass venues here in So. Cal. and the Surfers are an official chapter of the ISGB. We have some really talented members. Take a look around the Hall of Flame and you'll see some of Southern California's best!
And if you are in Southern California, stop by our next meeting at Pacific Artglass on December 5th.
Hi there. I made a new focal that I think is my brand new all time favorite...funny how the last thing you make always gets that place of honor! But seriously, this is sitting on my desk. You can't believe how she sparkles!
Her name is Rachael. She's for sale Here. She is made from light ivory and two rich, high silver content glasses. I just love when the two colors cross over one another AND the little black rings created when the silvered glass hits the ivory.
See you tomorrow on http://hollysfollybeads.blogspot.com
Since I too have come under the U-boat attack of outright slander, I'm trying to help raise legal funds for the cause.
I have listed a heart in my Etsy and all proceeds from this sale with go to AGLF. And I will keep a heart in my Etsy for the benefit of AGLF until all this mess is settled.
To find other artists who are doing the same, search AGLF on Etsy.
This weekend only, you can access all the projects and fun stuff on BeadStyle.com for Free! From 8 am CST Friday until November 16, you get an all access pass to the parts of the site reserved for registered users and magazine subscribers.
I just love the articles and how-tos over there and thought you might to!
I'm a bit under the weather with a stomach bug and doing well to sit at the 'puter. I was very surprised to received an email from another artist telling me that I have been featured in Ugly's Fraud Blog.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Me??? I'm finally big enough, known enough, am somebody enough to get on her radar??? Really? Wow!
Well, I guess I DID sort of ask for it... I've done my damnedest to feature those same artists right here and send them a little love and positive reinforcement. Life is hard enough without being a target of a psycho!
I don't know where Ugly gets her info and her post about me has NO information in it! (Couldn't she have at least linked to one of my stores like she did the others????)
So here are the facts for anyone interested:
1) Holly Dare is my "pen name" and what I sell my art under. It is not my legal name but PART of my legal name.
2) I do have a business license with my county / state under my business name, Sweet Stampen AND added my pen name to my license this year. I've had the Sweet Stampen license since October 2004, when I bought the company I was working for. Prior to that I was employed as an independent contractor by Sweet Stampen and several other out of state companies.
3) I have never accepted a payment under Holly Dare until this year. I always requested payment to my business name of Sweet Stampen.
4) I have also worked as an independent contractor- mostly in film production or as a writer - since 1986. I have filed my taxes as an independent contractor and reported all income earned. I keep tax files for 13 years as proof. (Why 13 years? I have several acquiantances who work for the IRS. They told me that yes, you can be audited for 1o years prior, BUT, IF they find something wrong, they can audit within three years of the problem year in either direction. So, if a problem is found ten years ago, they can request three additional years.
As I haven't cleaned out my attic since 2000, I have tax files there from 1987 on.
5) In 2002, when the state "cracked down" on independent contractors, deciding we were "running a business" when in reality, I worked for a lot of out of town companies. They made us start reporting all income January 30 of every year....No biggie, I report everything anyway but usually don't deal with bookkeeping for months after January!
Despite the fact that I think this is extremely unfair - what kind of government taxes without consideration of expenses a business incurs? Before a business takes into account its losses for the year? In my book, this is just one more reason California is the most unfriendly state to do business in.
This is really a formality that makes no real impact on my life. As I work in an "artistic profession," I don't owe business taxes in the years I make less than $300,000. So I've NEVER had to pay one red cent! But I do file my paperwork every January 30.
6) I did purchase on ebay prior to 2004. I rarely sold on ebay and then it was usually household goods I had tired of. I never sold my jewelry online until after acquiring a buisness license.
7) When I have traveled out of state, I've always gotten a temporary license to sell in that state and written a check to the tax authority before leaving town.
So, there you have it. As you can see, I've done my very best to be up and up with my government. But I guess that makes a fraud in somebody's universe
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