Diane Garofalo Enchants Etsians!

I wanted to feature someone really spectacular for my Limelight debut and I think I found exactly what I was looking for. There are thousands of creative, amazing Etsians to choose from, but I have to say the creations of Diane Garofalo and her shop, Glassdiane, really stood out.

My passion for dragonflies is what led me to her shop. One look at her pieces and I was hooked, so, of course I had to contact her. When I asked her about the dragonfly pieces, in particular, she let me in on a treasured memory.

“The dragonflies are one of my favorite things to make,” she said. “You can use amazing colors and still ‘be right’. The farm where I spent time growing up was on Lake Leelanau and when I was little, I would just sit on the driftwood breakwaters and watch the dragonflies on the lily pads. Their wings would sparkle over the water. “

Amazingly, she manages to capture that sparkle in the wings of her own dragonflies. It wasn’t just those magical insects that caught my eye, though. Diane’s Etsy shop was full of enchanting, mythical creatures in a brilliant array of colors and textures. It was enough to make a fantasy-lover like myself drool!

“The boxes made of crystals and stones, as well as my fairies, are some of my favorite things to create. Each is unique. “ How right she is! Her shop teems with mermaids and butterflies and dragons and fairies…and…my lord…there’s even a flying pig!

I assumed that it took a particular kind of person to create such exquisite pieces, and after speaking to Diane, I realized I was right.

“I was born in Chicago a long, long time ago,” she told me. “I split my time growing up between Chicago and a farm just north of Traverse City, Michigan. In Chicago, we lived in an apartment with my aunts who all had ’golden hands’ when it came to needlework. They taught me to crochet when I was 5, which is where I discovered my love for making tiny doll dresses. Hence, my second Etsy store, blythesocdcloset.

I married a great guy and had one wonderful, talented daughter that has three of her own shops here on Etsy. Shanasays, Cookoorikoo, and Pixie Rolls. I am blown away by her talent. This from a kid that hated art!” she said. Well, they say the apple don’t fall far from the tree!

When asked how she got started in this crazy business, she replied, “I really didn’t have any interest in glass work, but my uncle was retiring and wanted to learn. He didn’t want to go alone, so I signed up to go with him. He enjoyed the craft aspect of it, but you also need an artist’s eye. He barely finished his one project, but I had 3 finished by the end of the class!

I learned glass work ‘old school’, thankfully. No band saws, no grinders…make your own glass cement. I’m so grateful to have learned the basic, technical skills that way. Everything else is just icing on the cake.”

Diane’s pieces are proof that she did her homework well. The delicate details she adds to each piece are what makes them stand out from the crowd.

“The decorative soldering I perfected about 15 years ago. I used to do copper enameling, silver work and sculpture. I like to make functional art. I love the cutting of the glass and the soldering of the piece. I have my own technique for soldering. Anyone that has done stained glass will tell you that, when you finish soldering a flat piece and are finally able to lift it off your board and hold it up to the light, it’s magic!”

And, it’s obvious that she loves her work. I wondered if this was a full time venture for Diane, or merely a hobby.

“I was working full time and doing glass part time, but about thirteen years ago I decided to do glass work full time. I landed a large wholesale order and thought, ‘if I don’t do it now, I never will.’ I used to do 20 -30 shows a year, and that’s a grind. In the past 6 years, though, my life has changed. I’ve helped care for my elderly parents and developed some of my own health issues, so I’ve had to cut way back on the shows. I won’t die a rich woman, but I won’t have any regrets, either.”

Can any of us hope for anything more than that? Still, no matter how much you love what you are doing, balancing the creative need with everyday life can be difficult.

“I feel that I was right where I needed to be at each stage of my life. My life has great balance,” she declared.

Because each of her pieces is so unique I imagined it must be difficult to find inspiration for new ones, at times. Diane takes it all in stride.

“I get inspired by what I have on hand. I have been working with glass for over 27 years and there is always something new to try or do. So many ideas, so little time. I may come home from a rock and gem show with some great crystals or gems and HAVE to do something with them right away. Sometimes I buy them with no clear plan in mind, but later, as I look at it, the glass will make it’s own suggestions; ‘see the flower in me’, ‘see the water in me’, ’see the feathers in me’, they’ll say.

I had to know how she ended up on Etsy, of course!

“in January of 2007, my daughter insisted I try Etsy and I fell in love! I am awed by the talent of my fellow artist. For someone like me who, a year ago was using the computer for nothing more than a game of scrabble, it was amazing to see what I could do. Etsy is so user friendly and I have met so many talented, supportive people. I have lots of favorites, but there are a few who really stand out. Kjbead has the most amazing jewelry and Tilesmile, where I can always find that perfect ‘little something’. Red crow arts is one of my favorites, too!?

On Etsy, it’s easy to find a million favorites (we call them hearts)!

In finishing up our interview, I thought it would sound so much more…news like…if I asked a few questions that really have little to do with Etsy, but everything to do with Diane Garofalo. The first question was, “If you could make one change in the world, what would it be?”

“After dealing with my parent’s health care issues, I feel we have to demand reform of the system. We shouldn’t have to choose between a prescription or food. We need to think globally about health care,” she replied emphatically.”

And, the fun question:

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 5 things would you want to have with you?

“Deserted island? I wouldn’t last 5 minutes!” she replied

In closing, there was only one question left to ask. “How do you want to be remembered when you are gone?”

Diane’s answer seems to sum up how she’s lived her life thus far…

“I would like to be remembered as a good person, kind to others, who lived her life with passion. I like to think that years after I’m gone someone’s grandkids might be fighting over a stained glass window that I made many years before!”

It seems you just might get your wish. Happy crafting, Diane!