Meet Chelsea from Costa Handmade
Say hello to Chelsea Olson - maker and designer behind Costa Handmade. Every product is made from polymer clay and hand-crafted by her. You can find her work locally in St. Augustine, FL at Feather & Bloom, Declaration Co, and Anchor Boutique. Or, find them on her site!
Tell us about yourself! What made you want to start your business?
I moved to St. Augustine in 2009 to attend Flagler College and immediately knew there was something special about this sweet little city. I’ve made the greatest of friends and that has been a continuous theme even through Costa Handmade.
A few years ago, some of my friends and I thought it would be a great idea to make polymer clay earrings for our friends as Christmas presents. We spent an evening gathered around a table in the kitchen chatting, laughing, and creating our polymer clay pieces. It’s such a special memory for me to think about. I became obsessed with learning about proper clay techniques until it resulted in a product I was really proud of. My friends have always been the ones to cheer me on and encourage me to share what I was working on, which eventually resulted in Costa Handmade. My people matter to me so greatly which is what influenced me to name my earrings after my friends.
Tell us about your space! What’s a typical day at your studio?
For now my “studio space” is the kitchen at my apartment. I've definitely had to get creative with the space that I have, like creating portable storage for my clay so I can easily move it around when I need to work on pieces. My full-time job takes up the majority of my day so coming home, pouring a glass of wine, playing good music, and working on jewelry has become my classic go-to.
For where I am right now in my business endeavors, sometimes a typical day for me looks like staying up well past my bedtime to make sure that orders are fulfilled on time and waking up early the next morning to get to my full-time job in Jacksonville. It gets a little crazy but I am so thankful for the season that I’m in and definitely wouldn’t trade it for anything.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since starting Costa Handmade?
Flexibility and authenticity are key. I really check myself to make sure that everything I do is authentic to the vision I have for Costa Handmade. My goal is to thoughtfully curate jewelry that inspires and empowers women. I’ve learned to make sure that everything I create, design, and post remains authentic to that vision.
What kind of challenges have you had to overcome as a small business owner? How has COVID-19 affected your business?
I definitely have more of a creative brain so making sure that I’m really intentional about the business side of things is something I have to work hard at. Stepping into the title of ‘business owner’ puts me in charge of the success of Costa Handmade so I certainly have to go outside my comfort zone in that regard. COVID-19 has challenged me to create a unique way to maintain sales. Whether that’s new jewelry styles or offering to deliver orders to locals’ doorsteps, it’s certainly been a chance for me to push myself as a business owner.
What are your goals for the new year?
I am simply embracing where I’m at with Costa Handmade. My goal for the new year is to work on my technique. I love learning more about my craft from color theory to learning new clay designs. I’m a bit of a perfectionist so I feel like I always have something new to learn so I can grow from it and make the best product that I can. My newest project will be a holiday line! I created original colors for this line so they’ll be entirely unique to Costa Handmade. There will be an assortment of designs that will include patterns stamped into the clay as well as a gold foil to add a little extra holiday sparkle
What are you inspired by lately?
My biggest inspiration is nature. It’s a way for me to feel refreshed so that I can make space for all the jewelry design ideas. Nature has influenced the color palettes that I choose and how I’ve chosen to take a more simplistic route in my jewelry. There’s something very beautiful to the simple complexity of nature so I try to channel that when creating as well. I’m also influenced by the friends that I get to do life with. Each of them inspires me in their own way which is why I chose to name each of my earring styles after them.
Can you tell us a bit about your holiday collection?
Growing up, my family and I lived in New England for a few years. I still have a lot of family up that way. I remember the rich color palettes of the winter season which influenced my upcoming early line. The color palette for my holiday collection is Cranberry and evergreen, as a nod to my New England roots.
Any advice for people looking to find their own style?
Embrace what you love. My biggest challenge is overthinking things so in the case of clay earrings, I’ve learned to ask the simple question of “would I wear this?” and if the answer is yes, I roll with it. Be willing to be flexible but know that what you have to offer is uniquely desired. You bring something to the table that no one else can, so own that.
What’s your creative process?
Typically, I start with creating a color palette concept and mixing colors to achieve that. Sometimes it doesn’t always go the way I see it in my head so being flexible during that phase is crucial.The more organic creative process happens when I design my earring shapes. It’s a lot of trial and error as well as happy accidents at times. One of the biggest things I’ve learned during my creatives processes is to extend myself grace when things don’t come out the way that I had planned. Most of the time, those moments leads to something entirely unexpected in the best way
You're based in St Augustine. What spots/businesses/makers are your favorite in town?
There are too many to choose! I have so many go-to’s these days. Feather & Bloom is one of my very favorite places to explore. They never fail to have the perfect present for anyone I'm shopping for, especially since they support so many local artists. Plus, they are always so good at putting together the perfect flower arrangement no matter if I’m shopping for a friend or treating myself to some pretty blooms! I also love me some Odd Birds. It’s become a quick favorite for girls’ night with my friends. It’s a great vibe and delicious food so what’s not to love. Pro tip: go for the sweet plantains and goat cheese