Today we’d like to introduce you to Elyse Tolles.
Elyse, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m a classical flutist by trade, with two and 3/4 degrees in music performance- Tidy Clutterings simply began as a hobby and a second creative outlet. During Thanksgiving break in 2015, while I was doing my master’s degree, I had some free time and stumbled across a tutorial for a marbled polymer clay dish. I played around with polymer clay as a child, like many of us did, but I had never before thought of it as a material that could be used to create such cool, classy looking functional objects! I had a vision of marbled dishes that looked high end and polished, and I couldn’t find anything out there at the time resembling what I had in mind. When I first started, polymer clay wasn’t trendy or popular like it is now, and there was nothing out there that matched my own personal style. Once I started playing with the clay, I was completely hooked! I had always wanted to open my own Etsy shop, so I did, and made my first sale to a total stranger that day, to my amazement. About a year after that I really fell in love with making jewelry, statement earrings in particular. I decided to put my doctorate in music on hold to pursue my career as a maker full time.
Now, my work can be found in many boutiques across the country and I’ve been featured in publications such as HGTV Magazine, Condé Nast Traveller, Bust Magazine, and Destination I Do, as well as being one of Etsy’s Featured Shops.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It most definitely has not been a smooth road! I think any small business owner would agree- it’s both a blessing and a curse to be your own boss, and when your work is so deeply personal it can be hard to keep things in perspective and to find a good work/life balance. When I transitioned from being a full-time grad student to doing Tidy Clutterings full time, I had to make many real-life adjustments as well as mental shifts- thinking about my work like actual work instead of just a side hobby, for example. Of course, it’s still very fulfilling and fun to be able to create beautiful things with my own hands for a living, but when you are doing something to pay your bills instead of just to make some extra money, the work needs to be more structured and organized. Organization has never been my strong suit, so that’s something I’m constantly working on!
There are a few favorite tidbits of advice I’d give anyone who is starting down a similar path to mine:
1. Stay in your lane, keep your head down and your thoughts focused internally instead of looking around at what everyone else is doing, and never stop trying to cultivate a true, authentic sense of self that can come through your work and be communicated to others. I definitely subscribe to the “field of dreams” approach- that is, if you build it, they will come. I think that for artistic endeavors, when you spend energy creating the things you love rather than trying to play the guessing game with what other people want, the more cohesive and authentic your brand will be, and the people out there who love the things you’re doing will be able to find you. I’ve always operated on a basic rule of thumb that I don’t make anything I wouldn’t want to use or wear myself, and that has kept my work cohesive.
2. In a field where there are lots of other people doing the same thing as you, quality and authenticity will set you apart. Be the expert at what you do, don’t look to other people in your same niche for inspiration (for instance I try to follow only a few other jewelry designers and instead look towards architecture, fine art, other craft mediums, nature, etc. for inspiration), and even though it’s cliche advice, comparison only leads to discontentment!
What should we know about Tidy Clutterings? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Tidy Clutterings jewelry is known for its unique and distinctive style- the juxtaposition of soft femininity and sophisticated, contemporary minimalism, with a bit of an ethereal, dreamy twist. I specialize in sophisticated, feather-light polymer clay statement earrings. Polymer clay is an amazingly versatile material- it’s a type of moldable polymer that is cured and hardened in the oven, and once it’s properly cured, it is durable, flexible, waterproof, and incredibly lightweight. It has the ability to look like a wide range of other materials, which is one of the coolest things about it. I get asked all the time what my earrings are made out of, because they often look like ceramic, porcelain, or even glass, but without the weight of those materials.
One of my proudest moments as a small business owner was to be chosen as one of Etsy’s Featured Shops this past spring. I was interviewed by Etsy for an article about my shop, and I even did a takeover of the Etsy Instagram account, which was such an honor and a lot of fun.
I’m also proud to be a leader in the burgeoning polymer clay community- I am a co-founder of The Clayhive, a new online collective to support, uplift, and educate contemporary polymer clay artists in the United States. The other co-founders are my good friends Emily Jeffords from 31 Suns, and Lauren Valenzuela from Sigfus Designs- both ladies with extremely successful businesses of their own. Within the last year or two, contemporary polymer clay jewelry has risen in popularity and become extremely trendy, and we felt that it would benefit all of us to bring the community together! Starting in the fall, the three of us will begin teaching workshops throughout the states, and are really looking forward to giving some guidance to new polymer clayers!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources that help you do your best in life (at work or otherwise)?
My favorite and most recommended book for makers and artists is always Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon! I also highly recommend Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.tidyclutterings.com
- Email: tidyclutterings@gmail.com
- Instagram: @tidyclutterings
Image Credit:
Studio photos taken by Juliana Aragon
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
