Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Gillam
Jennifer, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hi. My name is Jennifer Gillam. I’m the creator of love always, Mommy. We are a family run small business. I make one of a kind polymer clay earrings that are durable, lightweight and hypoallergenic. I started this business five years ago with one six foot table at a local holiday pop up market and now do multiple markets a month while also running an online shop with my fiance Thomas. I have always had an artistic background from drawing, painting and most recently metalsmithing. My business is named after my children Luka, Audrey and Melanie. Although they have been my biggest inspiration, my love for the great outdoors has been a profound influence as well. I am continuously creating unique pieces which are often one of a kind. My hope is that the passion I devote to creating these jewelry is felt by the people who wear them. I still can’t believe I get to call this my job and make people happy though my wearable art pieces.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I learned so much along the way and am still learning and discovering new ways to do things. Some challenges I ran into was learning which types of polymer clays work with my specific techniques. I’ve spent a lot of time and money researching which metals are best and hypoallergenic for my customers. Sometimes it can be hard to be the creator, social media manager and content creator all at once but it can be extremely rewarding. I also wanted to make sure I found the most sustainable way to ship using biodegradable/ renewable materials. I have also spent a lot of time finding an appealing unique esthetic for my booth to make for an enjoyable shopping experience.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Hi my name is Jennifer Gillam. I am the creator of Love Always Mommy. I handmake polymer clay jewelry. Polymer clay is an extremely versatile and durable sculpting clay. The nature of polymer clay jewelry crafting requires the artist to craft each piece individually. The wide array of shades and colors along with the flexibility of the clay, gives the artist seemingly unlimited expressive control. This means that unlike manufactured jewelry that is mass produced, you will own a ONE OF A KIND personal piece of wearable art. We are a small family run business that started 5 years ago with one 6 foot table at a small local pop up and now do several shows a year as well as ship multiple orders every month. I am a mom to 3 children whom the business is name after. And although I would say they are my biggest inspiration, I find a great deal of influence traveling to countless locations in the outdoors.
Working with a medium like polymer clay has brought about many different challenges. I’ve learned a myriad of techniques and through trial and error discovered which clay types work for certain styles. Creating shape cutters that no one else has was also something I wanted to incorporate, so I learned to 3d print my own. Additionally, because of my aversion to poorly produced metals, I’ve spent considerable time testing which ones are hypoallergenic and safe to use in my jewelry. I also had challenges finding displays to fulfill the aesthetic I wanted, as to create an original and unique shopping experience for my customers.
I’ve always had an urge to be creative whether it be drawing, painting, writing, or most recently metalsmithing but to actually be able to make a living from it has been a dream come true. It came about by chance one day. I originally planned to use some clay for a work project but everything changed when my fiance Thomas made a pair of earrings for fun and challenged me to make a better pair than him. I started wearing the earrings and my co-workers and family soon wanted buy them. My hope is that the jewelry I make brings a little bit of happiness to your day. You can find my one of kind designs on my website www.lovealwaysmommy.com, Instagram/love_always_mommy and my Etsy page @ lovealwaysmommyshop
How do you think about luck?
I never had dreams of starting a business it kind of just happened. I had plans to use the sculping clay to make trinket dishes for a work activity. My fiance Thomas made a pair of earrings for me and he challenged me to make a better pair. I started wearing my designs to work and my co workers and family were asking where they could get a pair. This gave me the confidence to start selling them and the business Love Always, Mommy was created.
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Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lovealwaysmommy.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/love_always_mommy
- Other: https://lovealwaysmommyshop.etsy.com
