Collection No. 03- New Beginnings / Fall 2020

The Olive + Arrow Archives / Collection No. 03 / October–November 2020

The Polymer Clay Beginnings.

Two collections. One brand new medium. An absolutely unreasonable amount of confidence.

Fall 2020 marked the very beginning of my polymer clay era- first Falloween in October, then Autumn just one month later. 35 designs that capture the awkward experiments, big ideas, and surprisingly fast learning curve of finding a whole new way to create.

Part I / October 2020 / 16 designs

The First Falloween.

The first polymer clay collection. The beginning of a very clayful journey!

In October 2020, during the midst of a global pandemic, I picked up my 92983377th quarantine project, which just so happened to be polymer clay.. and apparently decided I was ready to become a jewelry designer! The confidence? Unmatched. The experience? Let's not get carried away.

Looking at these early ghosties, bats, moons, and candy corn studs now, I can see all the experiments, the rookie decisions, and the little things I would do completely differently today. Did I have any business being this confident with a brand new medium? Debatable. Am I glad I did it anyway? Absolutely!

Because this is what growth actually looks like- you make things, you learn things, you get better, and eventually you look back at your first creations and think, “Girl… what were we doing?!” These 16 pieces aren't here because they're my most polished work. They're here because they're proof that I started.. and kept going! And I'm incredibly proud of that :)

Falloween 2020 / 16 original designsBaby's First Polymer Clay Era

HOLO MOONS // Holographic Crescent Moon Dangle Clay Earrings — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 001HOLO MOONS // Holographic Crescent Moon Dangle Clay Earrings

PUMPKIN STUDS // Pumpkin Spice Clay Earrings — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 002PUMPKIN STUDS // Pumpkin Spice Clay Earrings

HOLO MOON PHASE HAIR CLIP — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 003HOLO MOON PHASE HAIR CLIP

BATTIE HAIR CLIP — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 004BATTIE HAIR CLIP

GHOSTIE DANGLES // Marbled Glow In The Dark Gold Glittery Ghost Clay Earrings — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 005GHOSTIE DANGLES // Marbled Glow In The Dark Gold Glittery Ghost Clay Earrings

CRESCENT MOON STUDS (gold) // Glittery Crescent Moon Clay Earrings — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 006CRESCENT MOON STUDS (gold) // Glittery Crescent Moon Clay Earrings

GHOSTIE STUDS // Marbled Glow In The Dark Ghost Clay Earrings — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 007GHOSTIE STUDS // Marbled Glow In The Dark Ghost Clay Earrings

BAT STUDS // Glittery Halloween Bat Clay Earrings — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 008BAT STUDS // Glittery Halloween Bat Clay Earrings

GHOSTIE HAIR CLIP — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 009GHOSTIE HAIR CLIP

MICKEY PUMPKIN HEADS // Dangle Clay Earrings — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 010MICKEY PUMPKIN HEADS // Dangle Clay Earrings

THACKERY BINX // Glitter Black Kitty Moon Dangle Clay Earrings — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 011THACKERY BINX // Glitter Black Kitty Moon Dangle Clay Earrings

BAT DANGLES // Black and Gold Glittery Bat Clay Earrings — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 012BAT DANGLES // Black and Gold Glittery Bat Clay Earrings

STARRY NIGHT STUDS (holo) // Holographic Star Clay Earrings — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 013STARRY NIGHT STUDS (holo) // Holographic Star Clay Earrings

STARRY NIGHT STUDS (black) // Glittery Star Clay Earrings — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 014STARRY NIGHT STUDS (black) // Glittery Star Clay Earrings

CRESCENT MOON STUDS (black) // Glittery Crescent Moon Clay Earrings — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 015CRESCENT MOON STUDS (black) // Glittery Crescent Moon Clay Earrings

CANDY CORN STUDS // Candy Corn Striped Clay Earrings — Olive + Arrow first polymer clay Halloween collection, 2020 — 016CANDY CORN STUDS // Candy Corn Striped Clay Earrings

Part II / November 2020 / 19 designs

The Autumn Collection.

And then, approximately one month later, I came back for round two. Because obviously four weeks of working with polymer clay meant I was practically a seasoned professional. 😂

Out came the earthy colors- sage, mulberry, mustard, terracotta.. and an ambitious assortment of braided hoops, textured arches, leopard spots, and rainbows. The shapes were evolving, I was trying new techniques, and the confidence had somehow gotten bigger.

Would I make these the same way today? Not a chance. But comparing this collection to the Halloween designs from just weeks earlier is exactly why I'm keeping them both here. This is the fun part of a creative time capsule.. you can actually see the learning happening, piece by piece!

Autumn 2020 / 19 original designsOne Month Later, One More Big Idea