Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Neill.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started working with polymer clay as a hobby in 2011 right before I graduated high school. I remember seeing miniature foods that people were making online and immediately going to a craft store to buy my first packs of clay and some basic sculpting tools. After about a year of making very rudimentary donuts, cupcakes and tiny fruits, I started getting custom requests from family, friends and coworkers. Because every request was so different, I started to really develop my skills and learn things I probably wouldn’t have explored otherwise. That’s when my passion for sculpting really started to grow and I decided to create Lolo’s Mojo.
In 2016 I took a job traveling around the country selling hand-blown glass art to smoke shops at wholesale. My boss knew I was a sculptor and asked me to decorate some of the glass pieces that weren’t selling, so I started creating little clay characters that I called “Creeps.” They were eye-catching, goblin-like creatures with horns, glow-in-the-dark eyes and sharp teeth. Each one had its own personality and color scheme.
The pieces with my Creeps on them sold incredibly well, and that’s when I realized there was a real market for my work. My boss continued sending me glass to sculpt on and my Creeps started selling to stores all over the country. I also started selling some of the clay and crystal pendants I was making, which motivated me to take Lolo’s Mojo more seriously.
After about a year I left the glass distribution job and continued selling my work wholesale while working part-time. Things really took off in 2022 when several Instagram reels showing my process went viral. I gained a following, created my own website and was able to sell my glass and clay pipes full-time for about a year.
Eventually the online market became harder to navigate as the algorithms and economy changed, so I started looking for a different way to connect with customers. That’s when I started doing craft markets. I applied for my first market in December 2023 and quickly decided to start sculpting more family-friendly creations. Selling the Creeps was a very fun and special part of my journey, and I knew I wanted to continue making fun characters that people could connect with and take home with them.
About a year into doing markets, I created my original characters called “Gem-lins” which are mischievous little creatures that each hold a unique crystal that compliments their color scheme. In a lot of ways, the Gem-lins are a continuation of the Creeps. They have the same funny little goblin-like faces and exaggerated features, but I wanted them to have a much more whimsical and silly feel. I’ve only been doing craft markets seriously for about 2 years, but the response to these funny little guys and my other clay creations has been incredible. It’s been very gratifying to take something I started creating so many years ago and see it evolve into what has become the heart of Lolo’s Mojo.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s definitely been a rollercoaster. At the peak of my online virality, I felt excited and proud of my art, but I was also struggling with the loneliness that came with trying to keep up with the overwhelming demand. I was getting dozens of messages every day for weeks from people praising my work and asking for custom creations. At first it felt like a dream, but eventually I felt like all I had time for was my art. I would sit at my desk for hours and hours just listening to music or a podcast while I sculpted. The burnout was real, and my social life suffered a lot. Despite all of the love I was receiving online, I felt disconnected and discontent.
There was that initial high that comes from making a post and seeing tons of strangers like and comment, but that feeling would disappear almost as soon as I closed the app. Then the algorithms and the economy changed and my posts started getting less and less attention which was painful in its own way. That period was also scary as a small business owner because I had become so dependent on social media for sales.
Eventually I realized I needed to change the way I marketed myself and find a way to connect with customers face-to-face. That led me to craft markets, which ended up being a huge turning point for me. The personal connection and community I found at markets helped me fall in love with sharing my art again.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in creating handmade polymer clay figurines, jewelry and trinkets that incorporate crystals and elements that are inspired by nature. I’m best known for my Gem-lins and my ornate pendants, which often remind people of magical talismans and amulets from their favorite fantasy movies.
I think my attention to detail and focus on precision are two things that set my work apart. I’m very particular about the placement, scale and consistency of every little detail. I get asked pretty often if my work is 3D printed because of how uniform some of my pieces look. My pendants have even been mistaken for leather, wood and wire-wrapped jewelry because of how carefully I build up and place each element. I pride myself on being able to create pieces that are highly detailed and intricate while still having a handmade feel.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that I don’t have to be afraid of change. My business looks completely different from when I first started it, and for a long time I thought I needed to figure out one thing that worked and stick with it. But every time I’ve allowed myself to try something new, it’s led me somewhere I never expected.
I went from making miniature food to custom sculptures, to Creeps, to selling wholesale, to building an online following, and eventually to creating Gem-lins and doing craft markets. Some of those changes happened because I had no other choice, but they ended up opening doors I wouldn’t have found otherwise. I’ve learned that it’s okay for my business to evolve as I do, and that sometimes the thing that feels like a setback is actually pushing you toward something better.
Pricing:
- Gem-lins : $35
- Ornate Pendants : $35 to $100
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lolosmojo.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lolos_mojo
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/Lolosmojo
