Last Mother’s Day at an artisan fair in downtown Milford, I purchased an item from my wishlist — a pair of clay earrings. That pair of dangly earrings began an obsession of fun, whimsical and boho earrings, and my collection had grown. All of them were purchased from the brand Just Clay by Christiane.
Just Clay by Christiane started as a way for Christiane Kratzsch, the creative force behind the earrings, to be a creative outlet during the COVID-19 pandemic. She says she started making earrings as a way to support her child and friends during Pride Month. It was then she realized how much she loved the polymer clay material.
“I fell in love with the material instantly,” she says. “What started at our dining room table quickly grew into a studio and became my happy place.”
However, in 2022 is when she took the plunge to sell her pieces at shows — just like the one that I’ve discovered her at. Kratzsch said that at that first show she realized just how much she loved interacting with her customers, and it blossomed from there.
Kratzsch says that she works on her business at night. Her process to make these gorgeous earrings take “multiple steps.”
“It all starts with solid blocks of clay, which I mix by hand to achieve custom colors. Once the color is just right, I condition the clay—running it through a pasta machine until it’s smooth, soft, and ready to work with,” she says. “From there, I roll the clay into flat slabs, much like rolling out cookie dough. Using a variety of cutters, I shape each piece, then add personality through textures, stamps, or transfer sheets that create unique patterns. One of the things I love most is how many different techniques there are—there’s always something new to explore.Once the designs are complete, the pieces are carefully baked in the oven to cure and harden. After cooling, some pieces receive a layer of resin for a glossy, polished finish.Finally, I sand the edges until they’re smooth, drill tiny holes for assembly, and then put each pair together by hand. Every finished set is placed on an earring card, ready to be worn.”
There are multiple things that I love about this brand. The first is how user friendly her earrings are. They are lightweight and comfortable to wear. My sensitive ears are not bothering me by the end of the day, which is something that I struggle with when it comes to earrings. This is due to the materials that Kratzsch uses, which she says are “stainless steel, 18k plated, and gold fill. Kratzsch says she prides herself to make the earrings as comfortable as possible to make sure that is the case.
“I focus on only high quality options,” she says.
For someone who has multiple piercings, these earrings are so easy to wear too. They don’t clash with my other ear holes, and they don’t make such a statement that they overpower my entire ear.
However, the designs of the earrings themselves are so great. There are so many beautiful and cute earrings that truly everyone can get a pair that they love. I have seasonal pairs for Christmas, including the sage Christmas trees, the snowflakes, and the interchangeable hoop earrings. I also have some adorable ones that are boho chic that I wear all year round, such as the arch studs, the arch dangles, and the sunflower earrings — just to name a few. And for homemade earrings, they are priced less than $30, making it the ultimate cost effective gift or way to spark joy.
Those designs are inspired by so many different avenues Kratzsch says.
“I rarely recreate the exact same pair of earrings,” she says.
While it can come from walking in nature, fabrics, and online browsing, many just come to her when working with the clay itself.
“A color combination that comes together, or pieces I’ve cut arrange themselves into a swirl or pattern. Those unexpected moments are some of my favorites,” she says.
And the collections keep on growing. Something that I have my eye on are her special occasion earrings (perfect for wedding season) and her book lovers earrings.
There are many ways to get your hands on some of her earrings. One is the website, which offers a buy one get one 20 percent off. The second is purchasing them through the Bristol Bazaar (until the end of April), Thread by Thread Boutique in Glastonbury, the Wallingford Marketplace, and Polished Beauty and Gift Boutique in Cheshire. However, as the warmer weather comes around once again, you can expect to see her at markets all over the state. Here is her current line up:
4/17,18 and 19 Vintage Market Days of CT in Harwinton, CT
5/08 Mother’s Day Market, Gouveia Vineyards, Wallingford CT
5/09 and 10 New England Spring Craft Festival, Mohegan Sun
5/23 and 24 Virtu Arts Craft Festival, Westerly, RI
6/06 and 7 Celebrate West Hartford, West Hartford CT
6/13 Arts and Crafts on Bedford, Stamford CT
6/14 Market 1115, Manchester CT
6/20 Greenway Artisan Market, Boston MA
7/11 Market 1115, Manchester CT
8/15 Fair on the Half Shell, Milford, CT
8/22 and 23 Hops on the Hudson, Festival of Makers, Cold Spring, NY8/29 Greenway Artisan Market, Boston MA
Being able to finally write a post about Just Clay by Christiane is something that I’m so happy to do for many reasons. Other than the fact that I really love her products, I also really enjoy talking to her. Kratzsch’s story is beyond amazing, and she is really a sweet person to talk to. I love seeing all of the things that she’s created, and I will be definitely working on getting a new purchase to her as soon as my next paycheck hits my bank account. I can also see myself gifting these earrings, because as I was browsing her website, I thought of so many that would make wonderful gifts.
You can find Just Clay by Christiane on Facebook and Instagram.
Note: While many of my pieces from this brand were purchased with my own money, I was gifted a pair of earrings for my honest review.
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