Julie Mullins, owner and artist of Anam Cara Clay Goods, has been exploring the art of jewelry making since childhood. From pony bead necklaces during recess to friendship bracelets at summer camp (and the hemp/macrame comeback craze of the early 2000s), this creative outlet has been a journey of exploration and discovery of personal expression in authentic ways. As a child, Julie’s father worked as a full time portrait artist and her mother a very talented seamstress, so the pursuit of creativity was always encouraged. With former careers as a professional chef, dance instructor, and camp counselor, the common thread tying her 22 year career together has been her enduring love of non-profit work. After moving from the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with her hubby and their two “fur babies” in 2018, she began serving at Innisfree Village, a residential community for adults with intellectual disabilities in Crozet, VA. This life change was the catalyst for finally pursuing her dream of owning a small creative business. After envisioning dozens and dozens of business ideas, she discovered polymer clay in 2020 and that is when future plans started taking root. Learning this art medium kept her sane during the pandemic, and brought her to a renewed place of peace and purpose in forging a path as an artist and entrepreneur. Julie simply fell in love with this curious and expressive process, where each piece of jewelry is distinctly unique, surprising lightweight and durable, as well as functional and fashionable. While bold statement dangles, studs and drops, necklaces, bracelets, and other fun accessories are the stars of the show, Anam Cara Clay Goods strives to empower others to explore their own creativity, to feel positively beautiful inside and out, and to remember that just like a pair of earrings, we are all better together!
