Blogs

The Most Creative Time in my Life!

by on ‎09-01-2015 04:45 PM

I am a creature of habit.  I wouldn’t exactly say that I don’t like change because I’ve always welcomed it.  Change, I feel, is an invitation to us all.  It brings with it an opportunity for something even greater to cross our paths in life. 

 

It certainly brought just that to mine, a little more than two years ago when I made the decision to leave Smashbox after 17 years with the brand.  I took a few months off and then dove into what has now become the most creative time in my life, the creation of STROKE OF BEAUTY.

 

In the way I paint on canvas, I also paint faces.  I don’t focus on just one feature at a time before moving on.  Just as I move around the canvas, my eye also moves around the face, painting some shadow on the lids then maybe moving to bring the lips into focus, followed by sculpting the cheek before returning to add more definition at the lash line, completing the eyes.  It all comes together in a very painterly kind of way. 

 

This is also representational of how the brand has been developing over the past couple of years.  First, a name!  Then, amazing products!  Branding!  Marketing!  Packaging Design!  Graphics!  A Website!  Social Media!  All of these elements coming together to shape the look, feel and voice of the brand.  I’ve also been very fortunate to have reconnected with many of the super skilled people I worked with in the past.  Dean Factor, co-founder and former CEO of Smashbox whom I reported to during my years there, is now my business partner.  We’ve been busy reuniting tremendously talented industry experts for what we like to call - the STROKE OF BEAUTY Dream Team.  Yes, the last couple of years have been full of excitement and discovery. 

 

Personally, there’s also been a lot of fun since my last QVC appearance.  My Husband, Bruce, and I traveled with our kids to Maui, our favorite place to vacation, where Bruce proposed and where we honeymooned.

 

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We welcomed our first dog, Bodemeister, a standard black Australian Labradoodle who we can’t get enough of, and we made several trips to Iowa to see my family there. 

 

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My kids, Brooke (10) and Grant (8), started playing baseball and so many Friday nights were spent on the field.  I was also able to volunteer more at my children’s school, which I love doing when I can. 

 

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Brooke loves creating art and had a Pop Art painting displayed at her first gallery showing while Grant continued to bring homerun baseballs home with him after every game.  I reconnected with several friends as well as cultivated new friendships too.  Therefore, having extra time to make all those important personal things happen in my brief “vacation”, felt really good.

 

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The brand has evolved a lot in this two year process.  It’s really been an amazing experience to create something with hopes it will speak to women in a very authentic way.  It’s been the ultimate creative expression and I couldn’t be happier to share STROKE OF BEAUTY with you. 

 

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Thank you to everyone who continued to connect with me during my time away from QVC.  Your encouragement and support kept me constantly inspired!  I’m thrilled to be connecting with everyone in the QVC community again, I’ve missed you all so much!   Thank you for embracing change and for the big welcome back!     

 

Love,

Holly