Written by:
Charlotte Rice
Photographer:
Judy Wong
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this Issue of Curve:
Vol. 15#6
Holly Riddel is going places. Riddel, who holds a degree in marketing, was a personal assistant to Sting, toured with Lilith Fair selling a trendy line of nail polish, worked in the music industry and is currently handcrafting extraordinary rings that lesbians are clamoring to get their hands on.
1. She is pure energy. The level of energy flowing through Riddel makes Thomas Edison look like a wet firecracker. She employs aspects of Reiki with other types of harnessed energy. “When I went to my first jewelry show,” she recalls, “one of the designers said that they could turn out the lights and just plug me in.”
2. She makes cuff links for Sting. “It was Grammy night, and we were at Bruce Springsteen’s, and Sting realized he didn’t have any cuff links. The entire house was buzzing trying to find something. I scanned the room and spotted a paper shopping bag with twill handles. Before I knew it, I had grabbed scissors, cut them off, grabbed Sting’s arm and had begun weaving the rough twill through his shirt. I knotted them and looked up to see him staring at me. He said in that accent, ‘What do you do?’ My brain just froze — all I could think was, damn, Sting just spoke to me.”
3. She does it all.“I started my first business when I was 27. It was a direct mail piece featuring the top jewelry designers in the nation. I took it to the largest jewelry show and pitched it to the designers for a small fee. They bought into it, and I was off! Since then, I have explored many avenues: I’ve been a carpenter, a horse trainer, a door-to-door salesman, FedEx truck driver, I’ve tried my hand at film production, modeling, acting … I once traveled the country with a South African diamond dealer.”
4. She hung with the girls at Lilith Fair. “I’ll never forget the first date in Portland. What an incredible high … when they opened the doors … this rush of people were heading right for us. But this moment is second to when I met Sarah [McLachlan] and stood arm in arm with her.”
5. She can work a room. She’ll spin like a top through a room, shaking hands. She is quick to laugh, and the sound is like falling coins. Her smile is a bit lopsided and roguish, with a dash of dimple.
6. She makes jewelry for us. Each ring has a story: Her Web site, www.hollyriddel.com, includes anecdotes from each showcased piece of jewelry. It is her keen eye that first allows her to hone in on someone’s personality and create something original.
7. She likes secrets. Her catchphrase is “It’s what’s on the inside that counts.” Each ring has a stone on the inside that is unique to the customer. The stone lies directly against the person’s skin, but is unseen from the outside. “It reflects our inner selves. Energy is not tangible or tactile. It’s something hidden that we can feel, but not see.”
8. She’s positive. Ever the optimist, Riddel believes that “we change the world when we change ourselves. What we believe, we live.”
9. She’s a bit obsessive. “My clients aren’t nameless, faceless people wanting to order jewelry,” says Riddel. I talk to them … get to know them so I can craft something singular with that particular person’s energy in mind. Sometimes I’ll tape-record their voices and listen to their words as I carve.” Riddel laughs, “I go there … completely.”
10. She shares her knowledge. “I am working on creating a workshop where people can come and learn how to make jewelry or their own dedication ring,” Riddel says. “I should have the location and the classes ready by the end of the year.”
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