Rising Stars: Meet Nicole Washington

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Washington.

Hi Nicole, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started Clay & Clover as a way to keep myself entertained and express my creativity during the late 2020 pandemic. I immediately fell in love with creating with clay and I stuck to it and learned new techniques before creating an Etsy.

I started selling at farmers’ markets in Austin and once I moved to Nashville, the business really took off and I sell all over the Nashville area at in-person markets. The business is my creative outlet and I love learning new techniques all the time to better my craft.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I don’t think any business is all smooth sailing, there’s definitely a learning curve- both on the business side and the creating side. When I first started out I was using the wrong kind of clay and it would break, no matter how I baked it. Turns out it’s just the kind of clay but I had to learn that along the way.

Sourcing the correct materials is still a struggle to this day, making sure that the materials used are actually hypoallergenic and won’t break or tarnish. As far as the business side of things, I had to learn how to run my business and make sure it was profitable. Sales will go up and down during the seasons, so I had to make sure I wasn’t spending money that I wasn’t making.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create earrings and accessories out of polymer clay and use resin for shine. I specialize in earrings and love making earrings that look like faux stone or crystals. I create a lot of seasonal earrings during holidays like Halloween and Christmas but I’m most proud of my creations that are not seasonal. I find a lot of inspiration in the world around me, from nature to my favorite book series. I create a lot of my collections based on my personal experiences. I have a collection based on the Harry Potter series, a collection to represent my favorite Disney movies, and a collection based on the colors of Yellowstone Hot Springs near where I grew up.

My best-selling earrings are any that I create to look like faux crystals, gemstones, or agate- those are also my favorite to make and try new techniques on.

Another thing I love to do is create my own colors, I love mixing scrap clay together to create something new and beautiful- that also reduces waste since clay is plastic, and I don’t throw anything out.

One of my favorite parts of this business that I find the most rewarding is creating custom earrings. I’ve made bridal and bridesmaid earrings for people and it’s so amazing knowing I get to be part of someone’s special day and create something for them to have as a lasting memory.

Who else deserves credit for your story?
I learned a lot about the creative side on my own but I do have a great group of girls that also make polymer clay earrings and we support each other, share ideas and ask questions.

My mom has been a big help on the business side since she has successfully run her own business for 25 years. She helps with all my tax questions and makes sure I stay on top of tracking my expenses each month.

Pricing:

• Earrings range from $10-$30 depending on detail and size.
• I’m always open to customs! Just send me a message or an email.

Contact Info:

• Website: etsy.com/shop/claycloverearrings
• Instagram: @clay_clover