Meet Idanelly Gonzalez | Polymer Clay Jewelry Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Idanelly Gonzalez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Idanelly, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I have always wanted to have my own business. I just never really knew what I wanted it to be. A few months ago, I was really sporting some stylish earrings and getting lots of compliments on them and my husband mentioned the idea of making my own earrings. At the time, I had dismissed the idea because the style of earrings I was wearing wasn’t something I knew how to design or craft. Skip a few months ahead sick in bed with COVID, I was scrolling through instagram and came across a maker of polymer clay earrings. I became completely fascinated on how such beautiful earrings could be created with clay. I started to instantly search for tutorials on how to make earrings, what tools I would need, and most importantly what brand of clay I should be using. I had some learning curves at the beginning but after a short period of trial and error, I was convinced that this is what I wanted to do.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I try to stay true to myself. When I am creating earrings, I am first and foremost doing it for myself. It’s hard for me to make a piece of jewelry that I wouldn’t wear myself. My jewelry collection has definitely grown in the past few months. I am very proud of what I have been able to accomplish in such a short period of time. I really just launched my business in March 2022 and have worked hard to get my brand known in the local Miami area. I am excited about working on getting my brand known nationally, but one step at a time. I owe a lot of who I am professionally to my education and work ethic. Professionally speaking, I have always worked in a corporate company that was customer service driven, which helps a lot in my own business. When I interact with customers, I always imagine I am speaking with myself, it helps me stay real. When I started doing pop ups it was hard for me to step into a sellers outlook, that’s not really who I am. I like to display my table with my jewelry and give people something pretty to look at and if they find something they love, then they can take it home with them. I had to really learn how to be able to find the balance between designer and business owner. It’s hard wearing all these hats of marketing person, designer, sales associate, CEO, model, photographer…a lot goes into making my brand what it is. I am also constantly learning how to find the balance between being a business owner and being a mother, wife, student, corporate worker, etc. This business started off as me looking for a hobby because I didn’t have one. Growing up and having all these hats to wear, it got hard to find time to do something for myself and that’s what I was searching for, something that I can do to relax and call my own hobby. I hoped to be here now but never did I really expect it to happen. I’ve learned that we are never too old to start doing something that makes us happy.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, this is dedicated to my grandmother, Nelida Rosa Abraham whom my business is named after. The inspiration of making something for myself and dedicating it to her has always been at the root of my desire to build my own brand. So thank you abuela, I hope that I am making you proud! I also want to recognize my biggest supporters, the loves of my life, my boys. To my husband Ely who is always pushing me to be the best version of myself and my sons Elistolier and Desiderio who are my biggest fans, thank you for all the love you give me and my craft always!

Website: nellyrosejewerly.etsy.com

Instagram: @nellyrosejewelry