Bead Chat Magazine and Summer Lampwork

One of my beads has been featured in the July issue of Artisan Whimsy's Bead Chat online magazine by Melinda Orr! Member's of Artisan Whimsey's Glass Geoup were asked to submit beach themed beads... and you know that's one of my favorites!

You can find more of the Bead Chat magazines... they are fabulous and chock FULL of ideas... by using the search feature in the upper right corner of the glossi (where the magazine is hosted) website. Just search for Artisan Whimsy Bead Chat! You'll be glad you did! And be sure to check out the beachy beads on page 55!

Click to view July 2013 BEAD Chat Magazine by Artisan Whimsy on GLOSSI.COM

Published! Finally!

I have always wanted to have a bead published as part of someone's jewelry design and it's finally happened! A necklace designed by Suzann Sladcik Wilson has been published in the May issue of Bead Style Magazine. Here's the cover if you happen to be a in a bead shop or craft store:

 

I also got a nice mention in their newsletter this month! It's about halfway down under "Designs We Love."  Suzann is the owner of Beadphoria and writes and designs and is just amazing!

A Woman's Heart necklace design by Suzann Sladcik Wilson. Focal bead by Holly's Folly. ;-)

Creative Highlights from 2012

I thought it would be fun to review some of my favorite projects from 2012. Looking over my blog posts from the last year, I'm happy to say it was fun and creative!

I was honored again to be selected for the Women In Glass issue of The Flow for one of my eye beads featuring the silvered glass eye murrini of  my friend Janel Dudley

I also won a photo contest sponsored by Archipeligo Botanicals to support breast cancer with this photo of my sister:

The bestie, her sister, a family friend and I planned our niece's wedding. I had a lot of fun making props for the photo booth and pulling off a most elegant wedding! Beading this ballerina (still in progress in this pic) for the candy table was most rewarding:

 

Which leads me to the most sentimental bead of the year:

That heart was made from the champagne bottle used to toast the nuptials. I framed it for the bride and groom with a story for them. The whole post is here.

Speaking of sentiment, I made a record number of Memorial beads... far more than shared here. For some of my customers, the memories are too fresh and painful so I don't even ask if I may share. Others...something magical just happens and I feel so blessed to have been a part of that grief process. (I have one of those to share.... but, you'll have to wait til next year!) While this work takes a lot out of me emotionally.... I'm SUCH a sensitive redhead... it is the MOST rewarding.

I found several color combinations that I simply adore this year. The Rio Party series was just plain fun and I had to make a necklace for myself:

My other favorite is from the Uptown Girl series... I just love the red and black with a little sparkle:

 

But my all time favorite bead of 2012 is this bent bead made in Kim Neely's Ether colors:

It was a challenging and creative year and I'm hoping that 2013 is  even more so and hopefully a little more profitable!

Happy New Year to all of you!

5th Annual Women of Glass

I made a goal a few years back that I wanted to have something in the Women of Glass Issue of The Flow Magazine. I finally got my nerve up and submitted something... three of my best beads and a "oh whatever." They picked the "oh whatever" bead!!!!!!!! Whooo Hoooo! (Is this just one more case in point that I can NOT / should NOT judge my own work????

The Women in Glass Issue is on Sale HERE

Anyway, this was the big beady news I promised! But wait! It gets even bigger. You guys know I'm a co-Admin for the Fire Divas, a bead collective of other artisans who work together to promote one another. I'm thrilled to say that FIVE other Divas are in the issue too! Whoooo Hooo! There's nothing like sharing a little glory with friends! You'll have to check out the magazine to see what was featured... but let's take a little tour through some of these terrifically talented artist shops!

I share the same page with my good friend and fellow Diva Janel Dudley of Janel Dudley Beads. She makes the most amazing eye beads and lovely high silver focals:

Changing Seasons Tree by JanelDudleyBeads

Laurie Ament / Glassbead has a couple of beads featured. I adore Laurie's brilliant and bold color mixes. She's quite talented at sculpture too!

Heart Bead by GlassBead

The always amazing Judith Billig of IcarusBeads is also featured. She's another master of those sparkling high silver glasses that leave me cawing like a crow! Check out these sparkling beauties:

Aztec Gaia by IcarusBeads

In real life, Judith is friends with Lori Bergmann.  Just as I'm excited to share a page with Janel, Judith and Lori are page-mates! Lori's company is AshlynDesign. Lori is one of those "utility beadmakers" She does a little of everything and she does it all well!

Pink Leopard Set by AshlynDesign

And we can't forget one of our newer Divas, Kathleen Young of Ugly Duckling Beads. Nothing ugly here! No, this "ugly duckling" has already morphed into a swan! She makes lovely flowers and fabulous little faces!! 

Southern Comfort Focal by UglyDucklingBeads

Please do check out my fellow Divas shops and if you love to drool over glass, get a copy of that magazine!!

Try Out BeadStyle for Free!

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!

Check it out HERE.

I'm still on the mend...

Expert Findings Finder Needed

Do you sign up for emails from every bead magazine in existence??? I do! It's a great way to keep track of trends and contests and happenings in the bead world.

One of my newsletters from Bead Style Magazine sent up a plea for help this week:




"We have an informal but important challenge for you expert bead shoppers out there. Occasionally we buy something at a bead show that we are told will be available online but then isn't. Other times, items are so prominent at a show (or so irresistible) that we assume they'll be easy to find, but it turns out a lot tougher to track down than we thought. So we are asking for your help. Check out the mug shot above and let us (and your fellow BeadStylers) know where the sea creature chain can be purchased (retail preferred). You will have our undying gratitude and an appropriate token of our affection. Send your chain sightings to editor@beadstylemag.com with the subject line "Bead Bounty Hunter."

That's a pretty spiffy looking chain so if you find it, let me know... There might be a $25 Holly's Folly gift certificate in it for you!

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I've been moving all kinds of Halloween Goodies over to Etsy.... It's such a limited time to make jewelry for, I figure I'm better off getting more exposure over there.

In addition to all kinds of Spooky beads,


You'll find lots of ready made pieces ---
Also known as.... Holly's idea of a Halloween costume! LOL!