Where are you located:
Lafayette, LA
What do you make:
Modern handmade ceramic jewelry.
Clay & Brass is a ceramic jewelry brand utilizing traditional materials with a modern twist. The company was founded by me, artist and ceramicist Jaime Normand. The jewelry of Clay & Brass developed from the space limitations of living in New York City. After working my day job as an assistant and glaze specialist at a ceramic tableware company, I would come home and make small beads in my small Brooklyn apartment. There I sculpted, fired, and assembled jewelry pieces in my small Brooklyn bedroom. After a recent relocation to my home state of Louisiana, I continued to expand my ceramic jewelry line surrounded by nature, family, and Cajun culture. All pieces are original handmade designs made mostly from earthenware, brass, gold, and leather. I’m passionate about creating pieces of jewelry that are stylish, unique, and versatile. I hope to create pieces that enhance the natural beauty and confidence of women from all ages and walks of life.
Part time or full:
Part-time! I have too many irons in the fire!
6 words to describe your work:
fun, hard work, evolving, unique, side-gig, slowmade
A typical day in your life:
Do people have those? On a busy day I work my day job then go home and “Netflix and Glaze”!
Your favorite color:
Bright gallery white
The best advice you ever received:
Always be willing to mop the floors.
What makes you feel inspired or produces the best work in you:
silence, nature, beauty
Dream gig:
To have a storefront that offers art therapy gatherings and sells things I make.
How does living in Louisiana affect your work:
I moved back to Louisiana about 2 years ago after living in NYC. My work has changed in many ways. The most obvious change is that most of my pieces have become more casual and light-hearted. I find myself using brighter colors, bolder patterns, and making more “everyday” pieces. Some of my minimalistic pieces I made in NYC still sell well here but I’ve had to change my style to widen my audience. Different pieces also sell better in person versus online.
The best part of what you do:
Seeing people get excited when they unwrap their pieces or walk up to the booth.
The most challenging part of what you do:
The slowwwww process. Each piece goes through at least two kiln firings; a bisque and a glaze firing. Many things can happen during a firing- things can overcook, undercook, explode, crack, pinhole, bubble, etc. If the piece has the 14K gold luster, it has to go through a third low temperature firing. Also, keeping up with the marketing side: it is not my forte.
Where can we buy from you?
My etsy shop or DM me to see what one of a kind pieces I have in stock. If you are in Lafayette, come by and dig through my stock! Also contact me for art therapy inquiries at jaimeangelle@gmail.com
