Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Declet.
Angela, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Angela Declet, hence “Declay” Earrings. I work full time as ESE Paraprofessional and I love my job and what I do!
Back in August of 2020, when new hobbies were on the rise due to Covid-19, I was called back to work as Florida’s public schools were back open!
It was then when I had found a new interest in handmade earrings. A friend of mine’s had shared on her social media a new pair of handmade resin earrings that she’d purchased and they instantly grabbed my attention. I proceeded to the earrings account page and purchased a new pair of earrings for myself! Back then, it had never crossed my mind to make resin earrings as for me, resin was something new and unfamiliar.
After following a few hand-crafted earrings accounts, polymer clay earrings began to pop up on my searches!! That’s when it hit me! Polymer Clay was something I could experiment with as I began a fascination with regular clay while working a few years in a Pre-K classroom!!
Unlike Play Doo, Polymer Clay at first was a little hard to manage. This would explain why my first attempts on making earrings were a bit frustrating and not so much successful! I actually had given up on making earrings for a while, plus I didn’t have quite as much time to experiment as I had before due to being back at work.
It wasn’t until November when unfortunately, I had lost a beloved family member that I slowly realized I needed something to keep my mind busy.
On the month of December is when I had decided to pick up where I left off and try to give it a second shot! I had more free time as the holidays were here. Thankfully I kept practicing until this day, even when at times I felt like giving up, I kept telling myself to do this for myself as it was something I enjoyed and to not focus on sales. Thankfully I persisted as practice makes perfect and it has been truly helpful during my grieving process. I am also blessed to have such amazing friends and family who have supported me and made this journey much more pleasant. It brings me so much joy to see people proudly my earrings! It truly has changed my life for the better, as now I get to meet new people, and I get to keep my mind busy with something that I’m passionate about!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. As any new task, job or hobby, it takes time, persistence and patience before you can feel confident in any new chapter. It certainly was challenging for me knowing little to nothing about managing a small business, and it still is… but I think my biggest challenge of all has been to prove to myself that although my obstacles, I would not give up! Starting a small business takes time to gather inventory, establish new clients and reach consistent sales. I am still working on all these things, but I remind myself of my passion for what I’m doing and my reason why!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In 2011, I graduated from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and received my BA in Social Work. When moving to Florida, I realized that I needed a Master’s degree to become licensed.
I wasn’t in my plans to return to school right away. I had just moved a thousand miles away from my hometown, and I had become a mother.
My first job here was in a Living Assisted Facility. It was then when I began working with people with disabilities. Two years later, I was employed in Osceola School District, and I’ve been a proud ESE paraprofessional ever since!
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Yes, Declay Earrings is known for participating in St. Cloud’s Monthly Market!
The Monthly Market usually takes place on the last Wednesday of the month, but for the Holidays, it will be held on the following dates:
Contact Info:
- Email: declayearrings@gmail.com
- Website: www.linktr.ee/declet
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/declayearrings
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/declayearrings
