Dorothy Shaw-Herbert is the creator behind Creative Clays, a polymer clay jewellery business started in December 2022. She mixes colours and patterns to create a range of jewellery and accessories that are both individual and unique.
"My promise to my customers is to not repeat a style, that way each person gets an exclusive piece, which I think they cherish more."
Let's find out a bit more from Dorothy...
How did your journey start?
I worked with raw clay as a young woman and thought I’d get back into clay work with less clay preparation. I did some research and discovered Polymer Clay which was so much easier to work with a wider array of colours.
What was the first project you ever made?
My first project was a pair of Marble effect earrings.
Can you tell us about a piece you’ve created that holds special meaning to you?
I don’t have a special piece that stands out just some pieces take on a whole different outcome and the process of concept to actuality is like a story that the clay tells on its own. And the story continues onward to the person that buys that piece to pair perfectly with some clothing they’ve bought.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I love combining colours that may not be obvious. So a lot of my inspiration comes from bird’s feathers especially Hummingbirds that have a great deal of iridescence to them, I also take inspiration from fabric or paintings as well as any other medium that combines colours. The shape or combination of shapes to make the final product is dependent on what works with the colour.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
I would say don’t be afraid to try things, the opportunities are endless with Polymer Clay and no result is a mistake. Consider the clay the medium and you the Potter to mold it. Any and every piece or process is recoverable.
Thank you Dorothy for sharing your creations with us, they are wonderful. If you'd like to see more of Dorothy's work, you can find her Instagram here - Creative Clays
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