CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — Yamala Baccam-Lee of Marshalltown, who started Three Jays Clays back in March, makes one-of-a-kind earrings using polymer clay.

Creativity requires a fair amount of patience, problem-solving skills and a little luck thrown in. Unexpected results can be even better than the initial concept, notes local polymer clay artist Yamala Baccam-Lee of Marshalltown, who started Three Jays Clays back in March.

She began by crafting earrings — an accessory she never leaves home without. The idea to get into jewelry making was on pause until a coworker selling handmade earrings inspired her to take a leap of faith.

“I spent many nights and weekends watching YouTube tutorials and learning everything I could. Then one night, I hopped on Amazon and purchased all the supplies I could possibly need, spending hundreds of dollars on tools, materials and clay in every color. Once everything arrived, I remember thinking, ‘Well, there’s no turning back now. I spent all this money, so I better put it to good use,'” she recalled of getting started.

Baccam-Lee works exclusively with polymer clay due to its versatility and endless possibilities. Different from natural earth clay, polymer clay is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics and does not require a kiln, instead baking at lower temperatures.

“You can mix colors, mold it to any shape or object, create marbled designs, add textures and experiment with different techniques,” she noted. “The best thing about working with polymer clay is how the designs create themselves. With the marbling technique, you never know exactly what the final pattern will look like until the slab is finished and ready to be cut. Polymer clay is very firm. It requires a lot of kneading and conditioning before it becomes soft and workable. Once the clay is properly cured and baked, it becomes sturdy, flexible and durable. The entire process from beginning to end is very therapeutic and rewarding.”

She posts videos on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok of the work that goes into rolling and shaping clay into designs that can be accessorized with any outfit.

Baccam-Lee was born and raised in Marshalltown and has a career background in teaching and social work.

“I was born the year my parents arrived in the United States from Laos in 1980,” she said. “I currently work full-time as a special education teacher with students in grades third through fifth. I have been in education for a total of 11 years, with a seven-year hiatus in between. I taught preschool for five years and kindergarten for two years. After my seventh year of teaching, I resigned because I felt at the time that teaching was not the right fit for me.”

After exiting teaching, she worked for Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS), now called Child, Adolescent, and Parent Support, in its Building Healthy Families program, doing home visits.

“I then worked as a technician in the media services department at Central Rivers AEA. Before returning to education, I also worked in the supply chain at UnityPoint Health,” she added. “Five years ago, I received a phone call asking if I would consider returning as a special education teacher. At first, I was hesitant because I never planned on going back into teaching. However, I am so glad I returned, and now I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

The name for her business, Three Jays Clays, comes from her family. Her three sons all have first names that begin with the letter J.

“Years ago, we owned a few rental properties under the name Three Jays LLC. More recently, we took over a vending machine business as a part-time gig and decided to keep the name,” she explained. “When I created my social media pages for my earrings, I wanted a name that connected everything together, so I came up with Three Jays Clays.”

YouTube videos have not only taught her how to use polymer clay, they’ve also provided her with design ideas. Yet, she points out, letting ideas flow is a component of the creative process.

“Even when I plan to recreate exactly what I see, the final result never turns out the way I expected. A lot of that depends on the texture and softness of the clay,” Baccam-Lee said.

The end result is always a surprise, or as she puts it “each piece perfectly imperfect.”

Looking to the future, she plans to expand her offerings to include magnets and keychains.

The public can purchase her creations by contacting her via social media and emailing at: threejays641@gmail.com. Items are available via porch pickup, local delivery or shipping via USPS.