Meet Adeline Nichols | Ceramic Jewelry Designer

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

Hi Adeline, how do you think about risk?
Risk taking has never been a second thought to me; It was always just a part of my life. Growing up, I was a high level gymnast where risk taking was necessary to improve, learn, & become a better gymnast. Without risk, there wouldn’t have been success in my sport. Taking risks taught me how to overcome fears while being persistent if something doesn’t go the way I think it will the first time. My family also lived a life of risk taking by starting up their own business 20 years ago. Unaware of what that was going to look, they took a jump of faith & their business is now thriving like never imagined. I see risk as an essential component in making something of an opportunity. To me, deciding not to take a bold step into a risky situation can eliminate incredible opportunities that can’t be otherwise reached. Starting up AdieKaye Designs was a risk in having to make sacrifices to get the business going while also being unaware of how people would respond to my products. However, it was a risk worth taking. I don’t like living a life of fear so when I see a valid opportunity that involves risk, I dive right in. Taking the risk with AdieKaye Designs has continued to teach me adaptability, to not become discouraged easily, & to celebrate the little moments like a new glaze combo on freshly kiln-fired earrings. I love risk within the right parameters & the excitement it brings to living life!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is unique because I produce wearable pieces of ceramic jewelry where each piece is a one of a kind. Most clay jewelry is made from polymer clay, however, I use stoneware clay which is the same type of clay used in making ceramic dish-ware. Using this kind of clay makes for a more extensive process but is worth the extra steps in the outcome of unique pieces. My biggest inspiration comes from the natural world around me as my husband & I love outdoor recreation & greatly value the outdoors. Because of this, my color palette in glazing the jewelry is usually influenced from colors in the outdoors like a vibrant green moss, fuchsia colored hibiscus flowers, or gradient blues & whites in a crashing waterfall. Shapes & designs will also mimic natural elements while others are simple, modern shapes.

I love working with my hands & letting the creative juices flow which is where the beginnings of AdieKaye Designs developed. I was away at school in Virginia & decided I wanted to try my hand at pottery one summer when I came back home to Texas for the summer. My mom took the class with me & found a knack for it while I decided throwing pottery was not my forte. I liked using the medium of stoneware clay & seeing the outcomes of how different glaze combinations react with one another so I played around a bit which led me to jewelry-making. I like tedious, detailed work with my hands so jewelry was fitting for me to fall into. I always had an interest in design & fashion so being able to combine ceramics with fashion & design meshed two of my passions together that I would’ve never expected. I had decided to pay more attention to my passions which created opportunity for business while also being able to connect more with the community around me.

As I saw my passions start to bloom into something greater, there were some obstacles to work around in making my ideas come to life. Some of the biggest challenges were the processes of trial & error. Problem solving was a major factor from figuring out which metals I wanted to use in making my jewelry to setting up markets. There were many lumpy, broken earrings that went through the kiln in the early makings but I learned with every round & figured out a method to produce consistent, well executed jewelry. Through these processes, the biggest thing I have learned is patience. Being patient through the process is not always easy in wanting to see results right away.

My jewelry is more than a piece of fashion, but it is a corner of my personal life that I hope can make people feel loved, stir them to see beauty in the world, & to feel confident themselves.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Whenever friends come to Texas to visit me, I always start by giving them the tour of Denton, TX which is where I currently live. Ravelin Bakery is first on the list being my family’s business producing outstanding European style breads, pastries, & desserts. Your missing out if you don’t try this hotspot. Living downtown, its easy to walk up to the downtown square where you can enjoy jazz nights throughout the summer evenings which is so fun to pack a picnic, a bottle of wine, & a lawn chair. You’ll also want to check out Recycled books on the square located in the old, purple Opera House filled with endless used books & records. For morning coffee, one of my favorite shops is Jupiter House while West Oak is also quite popular. One evening, watch a performance at the campus theatre followed by cocktails & hors doeuveres at 940s. For another evening, sit back & wind down to live jazz music at Pascal’s bar or Wine Squared. Saturday morning, pick-up some fresh eggs & produce from local farmers at the Denton Community Market & shop other goods like jewelry, pottery, woodworking, etc. My favorite eats in Denton: Ravelin Bakery, Thai Ocha, I Love Sushi, Houlihan’s, Gyro 360, & 407 Barbecue (in Argyle).

Branching outside of Denton, I always love taking people in the downtown areas of Fort Worth & Dallas. The DMA is a must while grabbing lunch & shopping around the Bishop Arts area. Check the Magnolia theatre in the evening to see what independent films are showing. Walk around some of the beautiful parks of Dallas like the downtown Klyde Warren Park or the Fountain Garden in Fort Worth. Get a bit of Texas history through the stockyards of Fort Worth followed by dinner at the Reata & a stroll around Sundance Square.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I wouldn’t be where I was today without having the love, support, & inspiration from my mom & husband. My mom is an artist so she taught me the value of creativity which not only influences my artistry, but also taught me how to see life through a different lens. She showed me how mistakes can be turned into beauty, how life can be expressed through art, & how life itself is the greatest masterpiece of all. The skills she has taught me along with my husband’s encouragement has sustained my motivation during discouraging times. My husband, Preston, is a constant encouragement to me in my business. His excitement, positivity, & willingness to also take risks inspires me. He challenges me to look at things from a different point of view which brings further depth into my artwork & life in general.

Website: Etsy.com/shop/adiekayedesigns/

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