What's YOUR Name Again?

This morning, battling insomnia, I decided to check out some of the over 100 fan pages I "like" on Facebook. And once again, I was dumbstruck by how many shops and fan pages give you ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE of who the artist is!!! I find this appalling.

I recently read an article about things a waiter can do to get a larger tip. What was the singular most important thing??? WEAR A NAME TAG! (Or if you work in one of the those fancy establishments, introduce yourself.) DUH!

Isn't it the same with jewelry??? I mean, if I wanted something generic, I'd buy it at Nordies or Macys. But if I'm taking the time to search out something unique, something handmade.... dammit! I want to know a little bit about the person who makes it!

I'm shocked that so many women - let's face it, the majority of us are women - think they can sell online in a handmade market and remain "invisible." It's marketing 101... get your NAME out there. And I'm sure many of you are saying, "my studio name is out there." And in this age of facenotes and mypages... NO, it's simply not enough! Your name doesn't have to be the most prominent thing but, it shouldn't be hard to find.


So just in case - My name is Holly Dare and my studio name is Holly's Folly. I make beads. I also make jewelry but I hate making it. I do it to sell beads. I have a wicked sense of humor and I love playing with size and scale. I love the way glass plays with light and the way silver plays with glass.

Sunrise

Sunrise
Originally uploaded by HollysFollyGlass

This piece was inspired by the painting Sunrise by Jack Savitsky and is my submission to the Art Bead Scene's August Challenge.

About the Art Beads: I used five bellflowers wired to a sterling chain for the focal of the piece.

About the Necklace: Chain loops were created from e beads. The necklace connects from one loop behind the neck where the handmade sterling and e bead clasp loops though the chains. Swarovski crystals add sparkle. The focal piece is created by wiring glass bellflowers to a cable chain.

Renewal

There comes a time in everyone's life when you feel you need to start again...renew your faith in yourself, your art, your direction in life...your friends.

I hate starting over. Whether making a bead or a career choice...I just hate it. I fight. I struggle with the inevitable. Maybe I just hate to admit defeat.

So I guess it feels rather strange to admit, I need to start over at a time in my life when, creatively, things are on such a high note. But, in reality, as much as I love being an artist, I NEED to find a job that values (i.e. pays for) my time and expertise.

And while I know in my heart that this is true, I still fight it. I've worked from home for 10 years. It's been exhilarating knowing my days are my own. That whatever new career I land in will probably demand far more structure than I would like.

There are days when I'm dumbfounded by the possibilities.

I've finally trained myself on the torch to know what to do when this happens artistically. 

I return to the familiar. I make the thing I could make in my sleep. There are times I've done this for days on end...hoping for something, anything new and exciting to slap my muse upside the head. And eventually, something does. The act of doing is powerful. New things are born of the old.

And so it will be with this next big step in my life. I will concentrate on what I'm good at... on what I love. I will do and do and do and do until my path emerges.

Wordless Wednesday - Fresh Glass

Still Too Hot

I really don't get me... Princess Redlocks who likes everything just right. Not too hot, not too cold. But why is it I'm filled with inspiration when the temperatures soar in one direction or the other???

I've been out in the shop for two days now...dripping puddles of sweat. And the pupster, a/k/a my supervisor, refuses to stay home where the temps are a good 20 degrees cooler! It's so hot, she never goes to sleep. She just rests in front of the fan I run for her, breathing like it's her last breath!

And I'm just happy as a lamb watching little (and not so little) lampwork glass beads being born!  Ideas and glass flowing with the sweat! But I finally had to give in and come in for a summertime heat remedy:

Orangesicle Ice Cream Glass Bead

Hope you are finding a way to stay cool!

It's Too Hot - Put the Hair Up!

Well, honestly, I have more hair than two or three women. My hair is a force of nature, a weather condition of it's own... maybe even an eco-system. I find all kinds of plants in there after a hike!

And both of my jobs involve heat. So my hair is always up.

But I have a new favorite accoutrement for my always crazy hair do: my glass bellflowers!
Here are the Halloween ones listed on Artfire now. First, a long shot of my crazy nest of hair:

 Other colors and combos:

I just love the metallic leaves... wouldn't these colors be great in a wedding???

Fire Divas Holidays Jewelry Challenge

It's that time again! The Fire Divas are hosting another Jewelry Challenge! For this challenge, the theme is "The Holiday Season." There are several holidays coming up, and we want to celebrate them! You can see holiday-inspired Fire Diva creations in  the Fire Divas Jewelry Challenge Flickr. By entering this challenge, you have the chance to win some fabulous beads and gift certificates!

http://www.twoglassyladies.ca

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JanelDudleyBeads

http://www.arensea.etsy.com

http://www.teasebeads.artfire.com

http://www.artfire.com/users/BabsBeadsandDesign

http://www.lajewelrydesigns.etsy.com
or http://www.lajewelrydesigns.artfire.com

http://www.hollysfolly.com

http://www.lutrick.artfire.com

Owl bead from http://www.maybeads.etsy.com

http://www.emakaye.etsy.com

http://www.beadygirlbeads.etsy.com

Now for the details:

All submissions must feature Fire Divas' lampwork. We require the name of the Fire Diva who made the beads used in the submitted piece, so if you submit something, please be ready to provide that information.

We will allow one submission per person per contest, and a maximum of two photos per submission. Entries may be submitted here (http://www.flickr.com/groups/firedivachallenge/) for approval, no later than October 15, 2010. No Flickr account? No problem. You can also email your submissions to firedivas @ gmail . com (no spaces). Please include, in the comments section or in your email, the following:
Information about the beads:
Description of the piece:
Inspiration for the piece:
Submissions will not be approved without all of this information.

Fire Divas reserve the right to approve or reject any submissions.

Fire Divas reserve the right to modify or cancel the challenge at any time.

The winners will be determined by an open poll which does not allow multiple votes.

New Halloween Beads!

As usual, I don't get in the mood to make new beads until a season is almost past. and while it's really not to late for Halloween jewelry...especially if you like simple designs like I do... the prime season is past.

But I made them so I get to show them off, right???

This is the first in a new series of large sugar skulls:

He is 41 mm (1.6"!!!) hole to hole! He's ON SALE, cause he's not my favorite. But he's still cutie!

And I hope to get these listed in another day or two. Don't really like the pics (hate indoor pics!) but... I promised you howl-o-weeeeen beads today. Chocolates!

Anyway, there will be a RARE Friday post tomorrow... the Fire Divas have a new jewelry challenge!

But ya'll have a good weekend! I'm going to do something fun with the bestie and hike with the pups. See you Monday on the Bead Blog!

Here's Looking at You

The eyes still have it! The obsession continues....

I've had several requests for eye beads... I'm so grateful people appreciate these.

These two beauties are now listing on the glass bead website...where all my NEW work goes (except for holiday stuffs!). You can find them both HERE.

Eye murrini by the awesomely talented Ms. Janel Dudley. Be sure to check out her cool eyeball earrings if you visit her store!

Hopefully, I'll see you much earlier tomorrow. New Halloween beads for AF!!!!

Color and Reaction

There are just certain color that speak to my soul. Often I don't set out to make such a bead and open the kiln door and my jaw drops. This set did that for me:

Woosh three bead set

The silvery turquoise and the moody earthy browns...oh! I love it so much, I made one for me! I rarely do that!

I've always loved the way silver reacts with certain glasses but really, I love the reaction the glass gets out of ME just as much. It's so awesome to be amazed by something YOU made! 

What colors make your heart sing???

----I'm "hoping" to have some new eye beads to show you tomorrow!----

Bugging Janel - Finding Inspiration

Do you have a friend you are certain you drive them batty??? My glass bud Janel is like that for me... I'm always bugging her about something. She heads up the Fire Divas Marketing committee, is a very active member of that team AND she simply ROCKS the unusual, high-silver glasses that freak me out (cause they are so $pensive!).

Hardly a couple of days goes by before I have something else to ask her!

I recently got some of her AMAZING eye murrini (be sure to check out her FANTASTIC FREE eye tut)  and she sent ME a cute note. Here it is:

I immediately thought BEADS. But this is where this story goes awry...

Here is the set I made:

While it's cute, it's a long way from perfect. But as set are a challenge for me, this was a real learning experience. I finally see the use for a tile mold, because the repetition of size / scale would clearly be important. And the flat sides would make the stringer work neater.

But I learned I can take inspiration from something and actually make a set. And I'm most proud of that little dotted bead... That's been a difficult one for me.

So even though, I don't find this "sellable," I learned a lot... and giggled the whole time making them. And that's always a good thing!

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I finally got a ring kit up on my lampwork glass bead website... go check it out! More to come over the weekend... I swear!!! I will also have another eye bead over the weekend!

Have a wonderful weekend and I will see you Monday on the Bead blog.

Editing Pictures Is a Time Suck!

Did you miss me?? Did you think I forgot??? No... Just had a large stamp order to deal with and I "had" to torch for a custom order. I'm just now getting around to dealing with that bead bowl.

Photographing those rings I promised over the weekend has proved most challenging. I think I finally have those down. But I'm going to be editing for a while.

I can show you the latest version of that boat bead I've been working on:

Hopefully, more goodies to see tomorrow.

Just Waiting on a Photographer

I'm still busy in the shop... I have a few custom orders nearing completion and another to start but I did FINALLY get a bunch of beads ready to photograph. Hopefully, these will be on my glass beads website in a few days...

Beads Beads EVERYWHERE!

OMG! Some days my life just overflows beads. I have them on my desk (waiting to be listing on my glass bead website) . I have them on the left of my sink (newly cleaning and drying). I have them in the sink (soaking). I have them in the bead bowl to the right of my sink (waiting for "someone" to take their picture). They are also sitting on my two picture taking areas. OY... it's just too much some days!

So.. I got a pair of cupcake earrings listed on the old website:

And I've been making Bellflowers for the holidays... Halloween first. These are listed on Etsy and Artfire and may be (cough, cough, hint, hint) a tad cheaper on my website. Aren't they the cutest????

Hope you are having a fabulous Monday! Now, if you'll excuse me, there are some beads that require my attention.

Protecting Your Business from Scams

Good day,

We browsed through your web page and we are interested in ordering some of your products,we are located in Norway,we will like to know if you have the items in stocks,so kindly get back to me with the right contact person email,phone # and confirmation of website so that we can place my order quickly, and i want to know if you have your own personal shipper or can the order be picked up at your store,please advise so that we can proceed by going ahead to place the order.

Regards

Purchasing Manager

James.

I get emails like this ALL the time. So does my bestie who runs an online custom golf club business.  We both laugh at these... and NEVER EVER respond! First of all, they have our emails, which means they have our dot coms. If James were really so interested, why not just type that dot com in and uh... shop a little?  Trust me if you choose a country I won't ship to ( and there are countries I will NOT), you will hear from me...right before I block your email!



Not only that, but the same dot coms have a contact email and phone number. And if James IS in fact in Norway, WHY would he want to know if he can pick up???

Anytime you get an email that defies logic... it's probably a scam.  Save yourself a headache and hit delete!

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I've been working so hard in the shop and I'm taking a few days to stoke my creativity and just catch up on things like tidying up the shop, making some beads that are just visions in my head and ... cleaning all the beads I made LAST time!

These are the ones waiting for the dremel: 

And these are still waiting to come off the mandrels!

If you have some time over the weekend, do check in on my glass beads website. I'm hoping to get some new goodies listed, including ring kits!  And don't forget to vote and get your chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate for FREE BEADS!
Have a wonderful weekend and do come visit me here on the Bead Blog  next week.

The Eyes Have It

A while back I post this photo with little explanation other than a comment about finding my mojo again:

 I wanted to tell the story behind this bead and a few others.

I've never been one to "get" murrini. I've played with a few pieces and go "ick" and usually toss the bead in the water. I've never figured out how to use murrini with what I do. And sometimes, that's so frustrating. My goodness! My friend Lauren is such a murrini lover, she dedicates her Monday blog posts to murrini! And her work is amazing.

And my friend Janel makes the most amazing eye murrini and turns them into the most stunning necklaces:

Then Janel decided to write an Eye Bead Tutorial and asked me to try it out her way. She sent me some of her stunning eye murrini and some glass rods and OH MY! I was in LOVE!

These were my first attempts at Janel style eye beads:

First of all, I learned more about casing and what I was doing wrong from Janel's tut and I learned about coaxing that murrina to do what you want it to do. It's a great tut!!

But I never want to make a bead just like someone else does so I started trying to think of how I could use Janel's techniques. I've always been fascinated with eye beads. If you  don't know the history or meaning behind them, you may find them creepy.

Eye beads are meant to offer protection. Think of the third eye in Indian culture. The eye bead for protection is also really popular in Greece, Armenia and in Egypt. I've always been fascinated with Egyptian eyes and looked at lots of Egyptian artwork to come up with the background colors for that bead above. I also researched Egyptian symbolism to figure out what to put on the back.

I found out that a squared off version of a swirl... an image prevalent in all human art since the caveman era ... stands for home. What a better thing to offer protection over than home!

I loved the bead but got so entranced in the process of making it, I forgot a few steps! I wanted a casing of clear over the eye to magnify Janel's stunning murrina. And... it just seemed to be lacking something!

In the end, I realized that sand was probably a more fitting background as the bright colors of Egyptian art may not appeal to most customers. And I wanted it bigger! I do love those big beads!

Here's the final version:

And the back:

I'm finally excited about murrini thanks to Janel!

P.S. Her tut should be ready really soon!!!!

Got Holiday Beads? Fire Divas Do!

Yes, it IS time to think about holiday beading projects! It's August! Halloween is right around the corner! Scary, huh?


I've got all kinds of Halloween Glass Bead Focals in my Artfire shop and on Etsy:

Tall Skinny Pumpkin

BabsBeads has this great skull on Artfire:

Skull

Giapet's got some little pumpkins: 

Glass Pumpkin Beads

You'll find monsters of all kinds in Anklebiter's shop:

 Odd Eyeballs

  

Can't you just see this little set by Maybeads made into earrings:

 Ghost & Bat glass bead pair

I adore this mask by glassbead:  

 Being Green

Oops, I Did It Again

Yes, I made a bead for the Art Bead Scene's July Challenge. This is it:

And NO, I did not make a piece of jewelry to enter. Sigh. Some month's there just aren't enough hours in the day or giddy up in my giddy up and go!

I will do better this month! Guess I should head over and find out what the inspiration is before I promise that!

This bead will be in the  Glass Bead Shop in a day or two.