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When it comes to making jewelry, various mediums can be used, but at aclay, the unique form is right in the name.
From holiday to seasonal inspired earrings, aclay creates an assortment of handmade jewelry for all.
“I started in 2020 when COVID first hit,” explained Annika Anderson, founder of aclay. At the time, she was starting grad school and was looking for something to fill her free time. With experience in taking photography classes and ceramics, Anderson has always been interested in art. However, after stumbling across a video on Pinterest of someone making their own clay jewelry, the medium itself — polymer clay — was something entirely new, but intriguing to her.
Through watching YouTube videos and conducting extensive online research, Anderson taught herself how to make clay jewelry.
At first, Anderson was simply posting some of her creations on her personal social media page, before deciding to start a small business that has grown since.
Polymer clay — which is actually a kid modeling clay — is an oven baked, light weight clay. Although it has a “chunky look” it is typically lighter than a quarter or a nickel, she explained.
“When I buy a block of it, what I do is I use a pasta machine — a professional clay one — but it’s essentially a pasta machine, and that makes sure the clay becomes one thickness and that there’s no air bubbles, so that when it goes into the oven, it bakes perfectly smooth,” Anderson said.
To create the shapes, Anderson buys 3D printed cutters.
“Once it comes out of the oven, what I do is I drill and sand them and then depending on the type of embellishments that I add, whether it’s hand painted design or using a resin epoxy, that can sometimes differentiate the styles,” she explained. “One of my favorite parts of the process is selecting the different charms or ear connectors that really kind of complement and wrap up the style.”
Anderson said she was attracted to using clay as it is a different medium. “I think people are really familiar with metals and I think that polymer clay is just really differentiated… it almost has to be intentionally manmade,” she said.
She noted that she doesn’t see clay-made jewelry in any mainstream stores, which gives artists — like herself — a chance to add a unique layer to their work.
When it comes down to what Anderson designs, she does accept custom orders but is also heavily inspired by seasons and holidays.
“Every holiday or every season I try to make a launch or a line based on some of those styles that are inspired by leaves, or all of those types of different motifs,” she said.
Anderson also has what she refers to as her “classic line” which includes styles that are more casual wear.
“When I select styles or when I go to make styles, I’m usually inspired by the different 3D printed cutters that I see,” she said.
For instance, if she sees a cutter, sometimes she’ll say, “That kind of resonates with my brand or that kind of resonates with something I would wear,” and goes from there.
She also tries to differentiate her styles based on color palettes. For example, in the spring, she’ll choose more “sagey” and pastel colors, as she becomes “largely inspired” by the different color palettes associated with each season.
While 95% of what Anderson makes is earrings, she does also make necklaces every now and then.
The earring prices typically range by size because the more clay that is used, the more the materials cost.
Anderson explained that one of the biggest differentiators are the charms and how expensive those are. “Whenever I buy freshwater pearls, that will always add a little bit more than a typical style,” she said.
She went on to say, “I do try to keep them around $20… I have found that to be my sweet spot.”
As aclay is Anderson’s second job, she said she also prioritizes keeping her small business sustained and making it accessible for people.
Anderson often attends markets, pop ups and craft fairs in Connecticut. She also visits wineries, coffee shops and breweries, which she said she finds to be “more relaxed” as she can have more conversations with people.
When sharing a few of her favorite parts about the process of her work, Anderson said, “I find with this kind of art, there’s no limit. There’s no rationale, there’s no judgment, it’s just simply the creation itself.”
She continued, “When I use things like real flowers to emboss in the clay, I just feel like it’s the fullest expression of myself and I think to share that with people, for people to trust me with their joy, was just the most unexpected piece of even starting this in the first place.”
Anderson shared that some of her customers have purchased her earrings as gifts to give to their bridesmaids, and even for someone battling cancer, in hopes of bringing some peace and joy to them during difficult times.
“I think just that human piece of it — just people supporting my art but also integrating it into their lives for joy has been something that has been the most rewarding and really keeps me motivated to keep creating,” she said. “I try to make a little bit of everything for everyone. I like making craft styles, I like making fun and goofy styles. I hope everyone can see themselves in my brand.”
ANDERSON HAS A WEBSITE, ACLAYJEWELRY.COM, WHICH SHE SAID IS HELPFUL TO REACH PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT STATES AND SPREAD VISIBILITY, AS SHE DOES NOT HAVE A STOREFRONT.
CUSTOMERS CAN MAKE PURCHASES ONLINE THROUGH HER WEBSITE, OR BY VISITING ACLAY ON INSTAGRAM.