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!----