Hidden Gems: Meet Mae Velasco of Fresh Wind Clay

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mae Velasco.

Hi Mae, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, happy to meet you! It’s pretty funny for me to see where I am now. I never wanted to be an entrepreneur. While I’m a joy-chasing, faith-driven person who seeks risky adventures by nature (my personal Instagram has enough photos of me hanging off cliffs and jumping out of planes to prove it), somehow, the risk of starting a business has always seemed too intimidating.

I’ve worked my way up the corporate ladder, working full-time in digital marketing and audience analytics, and found comfort in stability. But if we’re not careful, I’ve come to realize that stability can become an excuse for complacency. The idea for Fresh Wind Clay came after six months of being in a dry season in my spirit. As someone who enjoys hobbies like dancing, writing, painting, and generally creative things, it’s not often for me to be uninspired. But I hit an absolute, unrelenting wall.

It was so painful and felt so disingenuous to who I was. So, I prayed. I asked God for a new outlet, a new way to talk to Him, a new way to express myself, or just a new way of life — a new level to challenge myself to rise to. One night, at 3 a.m., I woke up and heard Him say, “Earrings.”

That was it. Just “earrings.”

The crazy part? I have NO background in earrings or clay-making. I didn’t question it — I didn’t question myself. Didn’t question my lack of knowledge, lack of experience, lack of tools, lack of materials. Fresh Wind Clay was a literal leap of faith. It was a leap with a running start, and the steps of the running start were made up of the small steps of “yes”-es. Yes, I can do it. Yes, I can figure it out. Yes, I have the courage to do this. It was a jump into a “yes” and a yes to the unknown, and I’m blessed to say that I’m soaring.

I’m seeing a new side to me and I’m living in a new freedom. I have a new way to share joy with others and I’m so grateful to see that joy shared back!

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
What’s that quote…”a smooth sea has never made a skilled sailor”? (Fun fact: My dad was a sailor!) I believe in this wholeheartedly, so I am incredibly grateful that it hasn’t been smooth because of everything I have learned. The challenges of life aside, the timing of starting Fresh Wind Clay seemed so “inopportune.”

Even with starting my small business, I still work full-time in digital marketing and paid media for a popular subsidiary of Sony. (What is sleep?) I’m trying to plan my wedding with just my partner. He and I also lead discipleship at our church. We’re also trying to buy a house in this crazy market. I’m trying how to figure out how to pay off the student loan debt I accrued from my master’s. There is “so much going on,” but if we wait for the “perfect opportunity” to start…sometimes we never will!

I’m living proof that you never have to know everything when you start and you don’t need everything to start. (Literally, I knew nothing about clay-making, remember?) You just need the acceptance of knowing that the road won’t be smooth, the commitment to begin walking, and the consistency to keep going. It helps that I have the support of my loved ones who push me along the way.

As you know, we’re big fans of Fresh Wind Clay. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I like to say Fresh Wind Clay is all about “little pieces for the little moments.” Through Fresh Wind Clay, I handcraft and slow-make clay earrings and trinkets that are unique in character, just from the nature of handmaking…the same way we’ve all been created uniquely!

These accessories are lightweight, graceful, whimsical, charming, and a mix of colors, charms, colors and textures to cater to each person’s authentic personality. My goal is to capture life’s simple joys and turn them into tangible pieces you can hold. In this way, I get to share joy and faith with others — and for everyone to do the same, whether they gift earrings to themselves or to others. Fresh Wind Clay is for anyone who wants to add more light and love into the world…and who wants a “fresh” zeal for each morning.

What does success mean to you?
Success is simply beginning. That’s usually the hardest part.

Some seasons of life can be tougher than others, so simply beginning each day is success. The only time we fail is when we choose not to get up again.

And when we learn to stop fearing failure — because as long as you’re learning, trying new things, and growing, failure is inevitable — and start seeing failures as learning opportunities, you open your mindset to more doors of success.

Image Credits
Personal Photo: Karla Moreno Photography, @its_karlawithak_ Additional Photos: Mae Velasco, @freshwindclay