Hello and welcome to Emerald & Joy!

I'm Alexis, the founder of Emerald & Joy. We are based in Southern California and each product is made and shipped out from the tiny corner of my bedroom. E&J is truly a small business  as this is a one woman show.

Here's how it all began:

I've been crafting for as long as I can remember. When I was 10-years-old I decided it was the year of crafting. I spent the that year making duct tape wallets and polymer clay charms. I made wallets for my friends and turned the charms into necklaces or earrings. I still have the first set of polymer clay charms I ever made. I wish I never got rid of those duct tape wallets though. 

Over the next few years I dedicated so much time to following crafting tutorials I saw on Youtube. Over time I picked up more crafting hobbies: sketching, watercolor, acrylic paints, oils pastels and sewing coin purses. 

I dabbled in jewelry making with the polymer clay phase I was in in Elementary and Middle School but I started taking it seriously years later. When the pandemic hit I was in my freshman year of college and couldn't continue my on-campus job. I noticed a lot of people starting to create their own businesses now that most people couldn't go back to work. All of the crafting I did as a kid started to come back to me. I went to various craft stores, bought beads and charms, and started making phone charms, necklaces, and earrings. I passively sold on Etsy all throughout college, but eventually stopped dedicating time to it.

That all changed in February 2024. I had underwent a knee injury that left me with a lot of time of my hands as I was recovering. I didn't just want to sit at home and do nothing so I got out all of my beading supplies and began making new products. I did this everyday for long hours. Sometimes until 3am. I was creating pieces were so much fun to make. I decided to stop selling on Etsy, build my own website, and develop a brand that felt like me.

I knew I wanted to create affordable and wearable designs for anyone to enjoy. I've always loved my own birthstone, Emerald, and wanted to build by brand around that. That's when Emerald & Joy was born. A mix between beautiful gemstones (Emerald) and fun designs (Joy; also my middle name).

Thanks for visiting! 

- Alexis 🌺