Hi everyone! I know its been a super long time since I posted a write-up about one of my favorite businesses in the Celebrating Small Businesses series. Well, life happens, isn’t it? But here I am, back with another new business. And this time around, it’s again about jewelry. We’re going to learn more about the creative Goyna Studio. A small business run by the lovely Rituparna Ghosh.
So what is Goyna all about and what does Ritu do? Something that first started as a hobby, Ritu started making earrings using polymer clay. She loved it so much that the initial hobby grew into making them for friends, selling in craft fairs, and then took the shape of a full-fledged business on Etsy. Isn’t that wonderful?
In her words, “When I started working with polymer clay, it was because I could create just about anything I wanted to, with this medium. It’s a forgiving product. Until baking it can be cut, mixed, painted, drawn. Basically, absolutely anything can be done. And the best part is that all of this can be done at home without any sophisticated machine.”
I guess that is a big advantage of polymer clay and what kept Ritu going. Everything about clay excites Ritu to the hilt. The idea, the implementation, the mistakes! And then, seeing the finished product is not only exciting and fulfilling but also very motivating for her.
It’s now her full-time job.
Rituparna used to be an Interior decorator for 5 years, until her youngest came along. Post that, a full time business, running outside with unpredictable hours became impossible. She would feel guilty about leaving her young kids at home or at the daycare for long hours. So she finally decided to take the plunge and stay home until her children became independent. Her plan was to get back to a job later. But then she discovered polymer clay and was so hooked that she didn’t look back and headed straight into the polymer clay world with all her creative juices flowing into it. I was very keen to know where Ritu looked for inspiration. Her designs are so artistic and beautiful. She mentioned that most of her inspiration came from art, architecture and of course furniture designs – now that was an obvious one given her Interior Designing background, right?
Her future plans are to grow her business into a full-scale polymer clay shop, not only selling jewelry but other relevant items related to it as well. She and her husband also just launched a line of 3D printed polymer clay cutters and stamps soon, and it has been a huge success. In this process, Ritu does the designing and her husband takes care of the printing. It’s a completely different part of the creative process that they both enoy. The most exciting part for her is seeing her drawings come to life in 3D print.
Ritu has been working with clay for a long time, despite the fact that her Goyna Studio shop is new. As she grows and becomes more experienced with polymer clay, she intends to pass on her art to others as well, especially to those who are just starting out. She truly has a heart of gold. A lot of people helped her and mentored her and how she wants to do the same for the newbies in the polymer clay world. That is truly the mark of a great artisan.
A bit about Ritu. She is originally from India, and then moved to Canada post marriage, where she currently lives with her husband and two daughters aged 16 and 10. Her parents and younger sister live in West Bengal in India. For her, Goyna is not just a shop and a business, but it’s also her dream. It’s something she didn’t know she wanted. And the best part is that now that she has started the business, she sees endless possibilities. Her advice to the readers is: “You can start anytime. It’s never too late to begin something new, especially if you are passionate about it.”
We hear you Ritu. More power to you and may the Goyna Studio climb heights you have never imagined, Good luck!
Here’s the link to Ritu’s Etsy shop – Goyna Studio. Please have a look at her stunning pieces. They look great and could be a wonderful gift for someone you love as well.
Love and Light
Archana Kapoor
