About the Owner

Hello and welcome.
Like many of you reading this, creativity has always been an important part of my life. It all started watching my mother when I was young. She would sew and knit for my sister and I. Then I would take the scraps and make clothes for my dolls.

I studied Illustration and Fashion Design at Sheridan College in Oakville, ON. I fell in love with the town and to this day I still reside in beautiful Oakville, near the shores of Lake Ontario with my family.

It was my love of fabrics that first led me to the world of polymer clay. I started by creating art dolls, which then led me to polymer clay and its endless possibilities. From my first workshop using polymer clay I was addicted.

I have written tutorials for, and been published in various magazines including Art Jewelry Magazine, Polymer CAFE, Just Steam-punk and Canadian Beading Magazine.

I am also the proud creator of the CaBezel Jewelry Molds and a line of textures stamps.

Shades of Clay was my exclusive world-wide distributor so when the previous owner (Margaret Scott) let me know that she was thinking of retiring, I knew immediately that I wanted to step in.
Margaret poured her heart into SOC from 2002-2013.  I never did ask her how she decided on the name of the company……but I do know that she came up with it way before the infamous trilogy of 50 Shades of Gray.

Now I have the privilege to meet many of my customers on-line on a daily basis.

Thank you for letting me into your creative lives and for sharing your enthusiasm with me!

I love what I do!!
Wendy Weaver Orlowski

Art Essentials and unique inspiring craft supplies with the artist in mind.