Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Seidhom.
Hi Lauren, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started working with polymer clay in November 2021 after I bought my first clay earrings and fell in love with them. The fact that they were so lightweight meant I could wear them all day long without my ears hurting or getting a headache. I needed every color and style available, so “Why not just make them myself?” I was in for a huge surprise when I realized it’s more challenging than it looks! Regardless, I was determined to make something I would be proud of, and in that process, I fell in love with the art of working with clay. This came at an important time in my life because I was a new stay-at-home mom, and it was the first time in 15+ years that I wasn’t working or going to school full-time. Although being a mom is, without a doubt, a full-time job on its own, I needed something to call my own and also give me a creative outlet when I needed to decompress. Thus, Lauren Ashlee Creations was born. Now, I love making jewelry others can wear to feel like their best self without compromising comfort.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
With just about any small business venture, there will occasionally be bumps along the road. When I lost my sister unexpectedly last year, I couldn’t even enter my studio for about two weeks. It took a heavy toll on my mind, and I couldn’t focus. I had just launched my website a few weeks prior and had to put everything on hold while I worked through it. In the end, it was my sister who brought me back to clay. I wanted to honor her and realized the best way to do that would be to create something beautiful for the women in our family to wear to celebrate her life.
Thanks – What else should our readers know about your work and your current focus?
I create unique, handcrafted polymer clay jewelry and accessories. My products include earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, hair barrettes, and other small accessories. Clay jewelry differs from many other jewelry types because it is surprisingly lightweight, making it a comfortable, all-day wear. For individuals who want to wear big and bold earrings but hate the feeling of drooping earlobes, clay earrings are the perfect solution (although I have many customers who prefer smaller jewelry, so I make a variety of sizes for different preferences). Polymer clay is versatile enough to create various looks and styles, including anything from wood grain to a faux stone aesthetic. The possibilities are endless! I strive to create high-quality, long-lasting pieces, so I assemble all of my jewelry with stainless steel hardware, which is tarnish-resistant and an excellent option for sensitive skin.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I always wanted to be out of the house, doing things with my friends and exploring. I lived in a neighborhood with a lot of kids my age, so if it was light out, we were running through the woods or riding our bikes or playing some kind of sport in someone’s yard. I’ve always loved animals and had a wide variety of pets as a kid. I began volunteering at a pet shop when I was 13 years old, and I had a blast caring for and socializing the animals every weekend. Funnily enough, I never considered myself to be particularly crafty or creative as a kid. In fact, I didn’t really discover that about myself until I began working with clay. I did, however, have an entrepreneurial spirit as a child. When I was maybe 10 or 11 years old, I convinced my parents to let me buy a few jumbo packages of snacks and candy from Sam’s Club so that a friend and I could “start our own business” by selling the snacks to other kids and their parents around the neighborhood. I am so grateful that my parents supported my ideas and wanted to foster that entrepreneurial urge within me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.laurenashleecreations.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurenashleecreations
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/laurenashleecreations
