Eleanor Jade Handmade | Meet the Makers Inverview

At Eleanor Jade Handmade, every pair of earrings has a story, lovingly crafted by our mother-daughter team, Eleanor Jackson and Jade Greene. As a Black women-owned business, we’re passionate about creating unique, handmade polymer clay jewelry. Today, we’re thrilled to share our story, inspiration, and vision for the brand.

Q: What first inspired you to start creating polymer clay earrings?

Eleanor: I’ve always dreamed of owning my own jewelry business. Creativity has always been part of who I am, and one day, I bought some clay and tools just to experiment. It was a natural extension of my love for making things with my hands, and the joy of creating something beautiful kept me going.

Jade: My journey began during the COVID pandemic when I needed something to keep myself occupied. I saw a YouTube video of someone making polymer clay earrings and thought, “That looks fun—I can do that!” So I bought the supplies, started experimenting, and soon showed my mama what I had made. She joined in, and before we knew it, we were both baking clay earrings and decided to turn our new passion into a business.

 

Q: How did you come up with the name Eleanor Jade Handmade?

Jade: We wanted the name to reflect both of us. “Eleanor” is timeless and elegant, while “Jade” adds a vibrant, modern touch. Our styles are different but complement each other, just like our personalities, and we felt the name captured that perfectly.

Eleanor: Adding “Handmade” was important because we want people to know our jewelry is crafted with care and intention. Each piece carries the story of our creative journey.

 

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as makers and small business owners?

Eleanor: One of the biggest challenges has been balancing our creative work with the demands of running a business. There’s a lot to manage, from social media and marketing to customer service and finances. It’s been a learning curve, but we’ve grown so much from the experience.

Jade: I’d add that being Black women in a creative space that hasn’t always been inclusive has had its own set of challenges. But we’ve also been embraced by a supportive community, and that’s been a source of strength and motivation for us.

Q: Can you walk us through your design process? How do you come up with new collections?

Jade: Our individual styles are a huge influence. I love working with earth tones and neutrals, drawing inspiration from nature, like the colors of a desert landscape or a serene forest. My mom, Eleanor, is drawn to vibrant colors and loves adding energy to our designs. We blend these influences to create unique collections that speak to both our aesthetics.

Eleanor: We usually start by brainstorming together, then experiment with shapes, colors, and textures. It’s a process of refining ideas until everything comes together. Collaborating makes it even more rewarding because we get to blend our different strengths.

Q: What’s the most rewarding part of running Eleanor Jade Handmade?

Eleanor: The best part is hearing from our customers and seeing them wear our pieces. When someone tells us that our earrings make them feel confident or joyful, it’s incredibly fulfilling. We’re grateful for the community we’ve built and the love we receive.

Jade: I love that we’ve created this business together as mother and daughter. It’s been a journey of growth, creativity, and shared accomplishments. Knowing we built something meaningful together is priceless.

Q: What do you envision for the future of Eleanor Jade Handmade?

Jade: We dream of expanding in ways that stay true to our brand. We’ve even toyed with the idea of having a storefront boutique, a space where customers can experience our jewelry in person. We’d love to offer workshops and collaborate with other local artists, too.

Eleanor: We want to keep evolving thoughtfully. Giving back and being a positive force in the community is important to us, and we’re excited to see where the future takes us.

Q: Any advice for aspiring makers or small business owners?

Eleanor: Start small and be patient with yourself. Every challenge is a chance to grow. Surround yourself with people who believe in your vision and always stay true to your passion.

Jade: Celebrate your wins and remember why you started. Running a small business can be tough, but it’s incredibly rewarding. Keep pushing forward, have fun, and love what you do.

 

Thank you for being part of our story and for supporting Eleanor Jade Handmade! We’re excited to share our upcoming collections and dreams with you. Keep an eye out—you never know what we’ll create next.