Molly Green from Lumoli Co is a jewelry designer from Madison, WI who designs and handcrafts stunningly bold, yet delicate, earrings out of polymer clay.
I was introduced to her work by a dear mutual friend who happened to be in her cohort at university and I immediately fell in love with her bold use of color and quirky styles… So I of course ordered, like, 3 pairs and it was love at first sight! I’ve since ordered many more for both me and my friends/family. I.just.can’t.stop.
Throughout lockdown, Molly got increasingly creative with her designs and this was reflected across her business in her fun social media feed!
Here’s our full interview!
What do you make?
Lumoli Co is a one-woman jewelry brand creating unique handmade earrings with bold colors and patterns.
How has COVID19 affected your creative process?
This period of time has allowed me to focus so much of my introvert energy on creating, which is cathartic. When everything outside my workspace feels so uncertain, it somehow makes it easier for me to be vulnerable in trying new ideas and sharing my work.
How did you get started?
I have always had an interest in jewelry making, and spent many summers as a child making friendship bracelets and hemp necklaces. I started working with polymer clay initially to create a pair of earrings for myself, but I quickly became hooked on the unique nature and wild possibilities of the medium, and it’s been so fulfilling to really hone in on my craft and improve each step of the process. I’m always learning something new with clay.
Where do you find inspiration?
So much of my inspiration comes from my previous travels. I'm so privileged to have spent a lot of time in places outside my home country, and I feel that the way I take in colors, patterns, and feelings when traveling is similar to how I create with those things. I'm an avid collector of quirky and colorful souvenirs as well, from jewelry to my home decor. I think that the objects we surround ourselves with can really spark joy, especially if they are tied to a strong or happy memory. My hope is that the things I create can be that little spark and act as the warm reminder we need sometimes.
How has creating helped you heal?
This is something I have been thinking a lot about lately. In a way, this strange time of self isolation is my 'round two,' and this time I've felt more equipped to handle it.
I spent the first several months of 2019 extremely isolated after a bike accident in China forced my move back home. It was the middle of winter, I only left the house for doctors appointments, and I couldn't walk for almost four months. I knew no one in the town in which I was staying with my family, and my partner had to remain in China to finish his work contract. I sank into a really dark place that didn't just disappear when I was walking again, when the snow melted, or when my partner came back. The healing process from that chapter in my life, both mental and physical, was long, arduous, and multifaceted. It needed time and still needs time.
One of the hardest things for me was confronting change and finding something to fill the massive hole in my life that my accident caused, which had once been filled with travel plans, career goals, project ideas, and friendships that I had left on the other side of the world. Accepting change and coming to terms with the fact that our planned futures are in no way guaranteed required a major shift in mentality, but as someone who had their life all planned out, I think it was a positive lesson to learn.
Creativity has played an important role in my healing process and has helped me feel like myself again--not only who I was before the accident, but who I was before I lost a lot of the creative spark I had as a child. It's like I'm slowly creating and adding little bricks to a house that was blown down by the big bad wolf (and a bunch of smaller wolves). The foundation is the same--I'm still driven and inspired by the same things, but this time the house will look a little bit different. I've been able to take extra time to care for the house and to allow others into it more often. The house is also built with more flexible material, so that if it gets caught in a gust of wind again, it will be more equipped to adapt. Last year I drowned my thoughts in books and TV shows and pushed away any act that placed myself and my ideas at the center. This time around, I'm fully embracing creativity, vulnerability, and taking things day by day.
Where is the best place to find your work?
I have a website coming soon! In the meantime you can go to www.etsy.com/shop/lumolico.