Today we’d like to introduce you to Darien Elliott.
Hi Darien, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Hi, I’m Darien! Squid Shop Creations originally started as a hobby, when becoming a new stay-at-home mom, and it quickly turned into my passion. A one woman show, born and raised in the Midwest. I specialize in small-batch polymer clay earrings with each pair uniquely made, one of a kind, and a true labor of love. I want my earrings to evoke a sense of playfulness, and to be an added conversation piece to any outfit my customers may pair it with.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I began creating when I was at a low point in my mental health. I became a stay at home mom, and shortly after that the pandemic hit. In the early days of motherhood, I lost a lot of myself to the rinse and repeat. As most new moms do, I put myself and my interests on the back burner. I found myself again through my art. My art now tends to reflect my personal interests; books I’m reading, music I find inspiration in, movies, animals, bugs, pop culture references, everything that makes me feel like myself.
After shopping at a few farmers markets in my area, I realized I wanted to try to sell in person. I went to the hardware store, made a terrible display out of materials I could find, and slowly built my booth throughout the years. This year will be my 5th year selling in-person and I absolutely love it. I love the joy people express when stopping by. Creating art that you are proud of, and having others be just as excited over it, is a true gift.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in small batch polymer clay earrings. I spend a painstaking amount of time on each piece I create. Everything starts out as a simple block of clay, I roll it out with a pasta machine to flatten it, then the clay is cut using 3D printed cutters I have designed and 3D printed myself. After baking, I sand each piece with an X-Acto knife. Finally, I hand-paint on all the details, as well as seal them with a coat of UV resin. Each piece takes many hours to achieve. I always say my pieces are a true labor of love, because that’s exactly what it is.
I am most proud of my growth and continuation of creating. There are a lot of polymer clay artists out there, imposter syndrome can easily sneak in, but I do not let it discourage me because I just absolutely love what I do. I have been denied from markets due to oversaturation, and then turned around and reapplied for the next market, because I want others to see my hard work, so I persist.
While I don’t know if any one particular thing sets me apart from other artists, I do know that I get to wake up everyday proud of the work I am creating, and grateful that I get to do this as a job.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
In the future I would love to introduce whole-sale into my business! I strive to see my creations in stores to reach a broader audience. While I don’t foresee any huge shifts in my work, I am always looking for what to create next, what new thing inspires me, and paying attention to what is inspiring others as well.
Pricing:
- Lowest price point is $14.00
- Highest price point is $32.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SquidShopCreations
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squid.shop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squid.shop.creations
