WILLISTON, Vt. (WCAX) – With just a week until the solar eclipse, the Bailey girls are hard at work.
“We are a girl collective that creates polymer clay earrings,” said mom, Luann Bailey.
The girl collective in question includes Luann and her daughters, 6-year-old Zia and 12-year-old Aniyah. Together, they run a little business called Grace and Liliko’i. This week, the trio is mostly focused on making their eclipse earrings.
“I wanted to make something less gimmicky that was less ‘2024 eclipse’ and something that you would wear year-round despite the eclipse, but also honor the eclipse,” explained Luann. “So, I tried to make some earrings that would be great for every day.”
Even when there’s not a solar spectacle, making earrings is everything. It started back in 2019 when they started playing with clay to pass the time and get creative.
“It was just a way to like, not be on screens all the time but still have something chill to do,” shared Aniyah.
“Then the pandemic hit and so we took it more seriously. We had a lot of time on our hands,” added Luann. “Then the kids just got really good at it.”
Each artist makes their own earrings with complete creative freedom. For Zia, that means creating in pink.
“It’s pretty cool. When I was younger I started just stacking clay up,” she said. “We can also use like, dye or something to make it look cool and crackly. Kind of like a crystal.”
Older sister Aniyah is an avid soccer player. She prefers making studs over dangles so she can wear them while playing sports.
“I like putting two colors together and just seeing what swirls and stuff I can make,” she said.
While all three ladies agree it’s a great creative outlet, there are some other perks, too. For Zia, that means making some money that she can spend on sweet treats at farmers markets. Aniyah prefers to save her earnings but likes it for other reasons.
“If I ever feel too stressed or feel like I have too much going on, I’ll come down here and work on some clay,” she said.
Grace and Liliko’i earrings are available at stores around Chittenden County, including Misery and Co., Golden Hour and Vivid Coffee. But their earrings are always a hit at markets, as are the young ladies who make them.
“Zia is our talker. She loves to draw people in and tell them the whole process,” laughed Luann. “And Aniyah loves to run the POS system.”
Lightweight and loaded with character, Grace and Liliko’i has a pair to suit just about anyone. As the brand grows, Luann has taken over the bulk orders to accommodate more wholesale ventures. That way, the kids can focus on being kids and create on their own time.
“They are also kids and I want them to enjoy childhood,” she explained. “But also develop these skill sets.”
As Zia and Aniyah build social skills and business skills, they’re also making friends and earrings along the way.