Meet Julie Clark of The Resin Owls Nest

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Clark.  

Hi Julie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Like everyone else during the Pandemic, I was glued to my phone and social media during the lockdown. There I saw videos upon videos of artists “demolding” epoxy resin pieces. Oh, the satisfaction I got watching it, like so many others. I thought to myself, I could do this, but soon after, I became withdrawn. I decided I had to completely disconnect from social media to help save whatever sanity I had left. Not knowing then, what I know now, it was this art that would pull me through the trenches of the Pandemic and make me a stronger and more confident woman. During that time, I decided I would try this art using epoxy resin and create earrings. It was a disaster. Ha! I clearly didn’t know what I was doing, to the point where I pointed fingers at a mold dealer because my piece didn’t come out correctly. After having a real talk with her, I was soon eating humble pie and decided to try it again. Success! 

Slowly, I became better and better at my craft. I knew I wanted to create quality resin jewelry and the more I dabbled the better I’d be. I also wanted to express myself in a way I couldn’t at my full-time job as an educator. Making pieces derived from witchcraft, holiday themes, and the little things that I enjoy such as camping, nature, and Jeeps. 

It wasn’t until 2022 when I started getting heavily involved with the small business community here in Dayton that my business really started taking off. The Dayton community understood me, they got what my art was about. Edgy, witchy, sometimes pissed off, sometimes childish. Regardless, the Gem City community opened its arms and accepted me as its own and I can’t tell you how amazing that feels. 

Every day, I’m receiving stories from my clients, about how they get so many compliments on the jewelry that I made. That’s why I create, to make the world a little more beautiful, with one pair of earrings at a time. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Resin is a completely different animal. It takes nearly 72 hours to complete a pair of earrings. So many things can go wrong during that time. Bubbles are my arch-nemesis. I keep telling myself I’m going to invest in a vacuum chamber but I still have yet to make the purchase. 

Pet hair and little bits that can get stuck in the resin, always make for a fun morning. 

But the biggest challenge has been trying to get exposure for my products. When you are the CEO, creator, marketing, logistics, advertiser, and web designer all in one, the business side of things can get exhausting. 

I started pouring resin because it looked fun and I truly enjoy seeing what I can create. But being a business owner sometimes means you have to be creative in other ways. Like you didn’t realize you signed up for all of that when you decided to embark on that business venture. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I specialize in making jewelry, mainly earrings, using epoxy resin. I think the thing that sets me apart from other resin artists is my attention to detail. I truly put a lot of time and effort into my pieces. I make effort to omit all the bubbles in a piece, but I can’t get them all. I also dome the majority of my pieces. It’s a technique used in resin where you take resin and use it to make a top layer on the piece which makes it look very desirable and finished. I’m finding a lot more resin artists are skipping this step. It just makes the jewelry look so much better in my opinion. 

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Hearing compliments on my earrings. I dedicate a lot of time to my craft and when I hear my clients getting compliments on my pieces, it solidifies what I’m doing here. But if we’re not talking about business, then long drives in my Jeep with the music up and doors off. Yea, that’s what makes me happy. 

Pricing:

• $5-$30 for earrings
• $15-$35 Necklaces
• $25+ for wall art

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shoptheowlsnest.com
• Instagram: @Theresinowlsnest
• Facebook: @Theresinowlsnest

Image Credits Julie Clark