Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Ross.
Hi Erica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a serial crafter and started out in 2012 with cross stitch and sewing sweater mittens and then gradually moved on to mainly embroidery and book arts. After having my son and moving to Rochester in 2018, I decided to pack up my crafts and hang up my glue gun for good.
However, once the pandemic hit in 2020, I plugged in my sewing machine and started making thousands of masks for donation and for sale. Making masks was important but became very monotonous so I started to play and experiment with a new medium entirely, polymer clay. I purchased the basic supplies and through trial and a lot of error I began to figure out what works. It is a hobby that allows a lot of room for experimenting whether it is with color, textures, patterns, shapes, metals, baking, and more. Since the beginning, it has been my entertainment and therapy. My friends and family have been so supportive as I began to pursue yet another hobby and it has steadily grown over the past couple of years. I am also so incredibly thankful for the Rochester community for being so welcoming and encouraging!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Playing with polymer clay was the first craft that I didn’t take too seriously. I wasn’t striving for perfection instead, my goal was to just try it out and see what happened. My goal was to make enough in sales to cover the cost of my supplies so I could keep playing. I have definitely burned the clay, under-baked the clay, contaminated the clay, melted tools, used inferior products, made horrible combinations, created unwanted bubbles, inefficiently attached findings, and more. But I continue to learn something new each and every time I sit down and start working with the medium. In the end, I create what I would wear and go from there. This has been a very enjoyable process that I am still obsessed with 2 years later!
We’ve been impressed with Glamouross Goods, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I recently renamed my business to Glamouross Goods to appropriately allow space as I continue to grow and experiment. (Glamouross is a punny spin-off of my last name Ross). I am primarily focused on slow-made, small-batch, polymer clay jewelry. I want people to be able to show off their personality and style with wearable art that is both lightweight and comfortable. I make sure that all earrings have sterling silver or gold-filled posts so even those with ear sensitivities can wear them!
I am proud of my brand because of the sales of specific products I have been able to donate over $2000 to local organizations like Jeremiah Program and Our Justice to specifically support women with motherhood and reproductive justice. Also, with the rebranding of my business, local artist, Alexandra Yazemski, created inclusive illustrations for my jewelry cards of people of different genders, races, and sizes. I am obsessed with these cards!
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I am an extrovert and the abrupt transition into being a forced homebody was quite shocking to my system. I was filled with constant anxiety and lots of time to dwell on it. Once I gave myself permission to experiment and play with polymer clay, I was able to channel my anxiety into the entire process. There are parts of the process that are repetitive and soothing and other processes that are creative and dreamy. Because of COVID, I was forced to change my pace and pastime and learned how to let go of perfectionism and relearned how to play.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.glamourossgoods.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/glamouross.goods
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/glamourossgoods
Image Credits
Main photo by Justin Ross
Vending table photo by Brooke Burch
