Today we’d like to introduce you to Norma Rodriguez.
Hi Norma, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always enjoyed crafts and love creating DIY projects. Like many I’ve always had the dream to own my own business one day, but I was never sure what that would look like. I remember having a conversation with one of my sisters about starting a business during COVID. We discussed a few ideas, jewelry being one of them, but never really pursued it. May 2021 came around and I remember my husband coming up to me and telling me he wanted me to pursue that small business I had in mind a few months ago, and to be able to do something I truly felt passionate for. That’s when CATALINA designs vision came to life. A Handmade polymer clay jewelry business based in Dallas Texas. The inspiration behind our name came from my daughter’s middle name Catalina. At first, I saw it as a passing time for me to do something that was out of my normal daily routine, but since then I have truly found joy in creating earrings that women can feel beautiful in. Being a full-time mom with 2 kids in school and 2 more at home, my working hours were pretty much only at night after putting kids to bed. In the Fall of 2023, CATALINA designs rebranded to CATALINA Clay Co. with a new and improved vision. We have since added many other products to our line, such as resin & polymer clay hair clips, gold and silver necklaces, earrings and many more. We were also given the opportunity to become a vendor at our very first market with Mini Moon Market last September, and since then have assisted a variety of other markets with amazing businesses and plan to do many more this year. To this day CATALINA Clay Co has expanded to 20 states & 3 different countries. We are and forever will be grateful for the continuing love and support.
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?
Like most entrepreneurs there’s many obstacles and learning curves one needs to overcome. The stress that social media brings to handmade small businesses is unprecedented. At times one can feel defeated and possibly want to give up, not to mention the competition of many incredible makers out there. I can attest to being someone who has felt defeated at many times throughout our journey, but with the love and support of family and friends along with our followers we have overcome many of those obstacles.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
CATALINA Clay CO. specializes in handmade hypoallergenic polymer clay earrings. We love creating fun but also elegant clay earrings. For example, we design holiday earrings such as Valentine’s Day, 4th of July, Halloween and Christmas earrings along with many more holidays celebrated throughout the year. We also create everyday earrings for women to wear daily. As of last year, we have added other products to our line such as gold and silver earrings and necklaces along with beaded stone bracelets. As a mother of a girl, we also carry a line of resin hair clips designed for girls of any age and even women love wearing them. Having children in school I have always felt the need to give to their teachers anytime there was an opportunity. That’s where our Teacher Appreciation collection comes in place. We have a variety of school themed clay earrings along with hand painted wooden bead lanyards designed specifically to show our gratitude for all their hard work. Being someone who has always been an introvert, one thing I am most proud of is I have learned to overcome that fear of speaking and making conversations with others, specially at markets. You must learn to be able to not only interact with many kinds of people but also make them feel welcomed at your booth. Something that can be intimidating for most. I truly love and feel passion for what I do. I hope our followers can feel that love through our whole process of designing and creating our earrings as well as the time I put in the way we package our orders so once they are received, they are portrayed with love.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
As I think of my childhood, I think of the importance my parents implemented in making sure we spent as much family time together as possible. I’m the youngest of 4 born and raised in Dallas Texas. For us road trips were pretty much spent on going to visit family in Mexico or heading to the beach in Galveston with our closest friends. My dad would crank up the volume and listen to his Spanish music which is my favorite genre to dance to and to listen to while cleaning at home or driving around in the car. To this day I almost always remember those road trip memories when certain songs come up on my pandora stations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://catalina-clay-co.myshopify.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catalina_clayco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatalinaClayco
Image Credits
Jessica Mendoza
