Life In Clay & Art grew out of my love of earrings and statement jewelry, and the enjoyment they bring.
We create handmade jewelry and art – One-of-a-kind, light-weight clay earrings, pendants, bracelets, hair clips, and other handmade designs, like architectural art – homes, churches, offices, famous buildings.
We hope you enjoy our creations, and feel beautiful while wearing (or displaying) them — because YOU ARE!
Life in Clay creates unique works of art in clay, stones and various wires and metals, inspired by the beauty of our world. There is nothing more creative than nature; painted with millions of colors and hues like a hand-woven tapestry. Our handmade creations — Earrings, bracelets, pendants, architecture, ornaments, sculptures, and a variety of objects — is inspired by life, and nature. You can find rich, natural gemstones, a variety of flora and fauna, the sky and sea, mountains and sunsets, and all beautiful things found in our world.
So, whether we are wearing pale, torn jeans, or a sequined, long ball gown, our choice of earrings and other accessories can make a difference in the finished look of our fashion. Our designs are all handmade, and unique, just like you and me. Some are hand painted, some are created with the Mokume-gane technique, others are sketched and carved into a specific pattern, and some created with a mold, then stamped and painted with Mica materials, alcohol ink, and pastels. Each item is individual in its design, pattern and texture. So you will never attend a social outing and see a friend with the exact design.
Mokume-gane is a polymer clay design technique that involves layering, pressing, and slicing clay to create patterns. The technique is inspired by the Japanese metalworking method of the same name, which is used to decorate swords and create wood grain patterns in metal.
These beautiful Greek-Inspired tile dangles are from our Vagabond Collection.
In my youth, I remembered my mother queried me as I walked out the door, “You are going to leave this house without putting on a little makeup?” And I responded, “Well, I am wearing my funky earrings!” as a slinked out the door.
Nature is an inspiration like nothing else – Beautiful in every way!
I enjoy shopping for earrings that I can’t live without, from small boutiques and salons that highlight local artists, or crafts fairs and antique shops, to online handmade jewelry creators. So, after I saw the beautiful necklaces and earrings that my talented friend Pam created, I started experimenting with fabric and wire jewelry, Then, I started the analytical process – reading, researching, watching hundreds of YouTube videos, looking at a variety of materials with which to create jewelry, and the creations of formal jewelry designers. So, I decided to give it my time, and began creating jewelry to enjoy for myself and share with others who love unique earrings and other fun accessories.
I can definitely say, the learning curve is steep! The process is time-consuming. My next step was to shop for the list of supplies used to create different designs. Then, I tried many of the techniques and processes the pros are using to develop their styles. I made a LOT of mistakes, but understand this is all part of learning. When my time finally resulted in the perfect color and shape I envisioned, it was glorious!
The feel of the clay is amazing! It takes me back to my childhood. I see the possibilities are endless. In fact, it is so enjoyable that I wake up early on the weekends, pull out my supplies, and lose myself in the art, designing, testing and exploring various techniques I learned on YouTube and from design books. The truth:: It is a long learning curve, but the satisfaction of the end result is definitely worth your time.
Pastel Heart Earrings from the Flora & Fauna Collection
So, after creating more than 300 pieces — earrings, pendants, small custom architecture, and unique home decor — I was inspired to start a long-form YouTube channel dedicated to the art of crafting in clay. I admit that I explored the idea, in part, to learn more myself, but mainly let the pros share their stories with those who may be interested in getting started in the craft. In the channel, I plan to invite clay artists and designers to talk about how they got started, to share their unique processes, explain what works best and what doesn’t work at all, huge mistakes to avoid, and the limited costs of required equipment and tools. The main goal of the channel is to share the love of this beautiful craft and maybe help others learn to appreciate and love it as well. COMING SOON!
The technique of building “canes” elevated my interest to the next level. Donna Kato, a talented and experienced polymer clay artist and jewelry maker on YouTube, taught me a how to build balanced “canes”. Her work is amazing! So, I caught the fever. In one video, she created a beautiful Monarch butterfly that appeared to be life-like. That creation actually inspired the name of my company.
Visit our “I am me.” collection of custom, handcrafted jewelry and accessories designed for kids, teens and adults.
All of these handcrafted designs can be purchased directly from our Life in Clay & Art store (COMING SOON!) or if you would like us to custom-design a specific piece of jewelry, we can set up a call or web meeting to discuss your ideas. We want you to have fun wearing the art from our ‘i am me” collection and feel beautiful doing so.
We hope you enjoy our handcrafted creations and feel beautiful while wearing them — because YOU ARE!
