Since 2018, Sabetha resident Carrie Herrmann has owned a small crafting business out of her home called Pony Creek Crafts. This business name is very personal to Carrie.

“My home and business studio is located near the Pony Creek Lake in Sabetha. I wanted a name that would honor my family, home and roots to my community, and I feel Pony Creek Crafts does just that,” Carrie said.

When Pony Creek Crafts (PCC) started out, Carrie mainly worked with vinyl and her Cricut machine. She created many items for personal use and to sell, including custom shirts, mugs, ornaments, home décor signage and various stationary items.

Carrie also has made custom items for several area businesses including The Vintage Butterfly, owned by Holly Wisdom in Sabetha; Juniper and Thyme Farm, owned by Tammy Studer; Rock Creek A-bee-ary Honey, owned by Sheila and Chris Shelly in Sabetha; and Topeka business Kennah’s Treasures, owned by Erika Whightsil.

With her Cricut, Carrie also has been able to dabble into other crafts such as leather earrings, stickers, cupcake picks/cake toppers, earring cards, business cards, etc. Two years after starting her business, Carrie ventured into watercolor painting and began painting floral designs that she would use to make cards, home décor paintings, gift tags, and stickers.

Since starting her business, Carrie has been a jack of all crafty trades. Though, since 2022, Carrie’s focus has been set on handcrafting polymer clay earrings. She became inspired to work with polymer clay and resin after attending the 2022 Pinners Convention.

“I was first introduced to polymer clay jewelry while at a Pinners Convention in Kansas City in 2022. It was love at first sight!” Carrie said. “I have made jewelry with other mediums for over 20 years, however, none had really captured my creativity like polymer clay.”

According to Carrie, polymer clay is an oven-bake modeling material composed of polymers and coloring agents. When baked properly, polymer clay is durable, flexible and lightweight.

All of Carrie’s earrings are original designs and are made with nickel free or hypoallergenic findings/components for sensitive ears.

Carrie immensely enjoys working with polymer clay and seeing the results of her work.

“The designing process, working with clay and seeing my art come to life is pure joy for me,” Carrie said. “I love every aspect from conditioning the clay, color mixing, choosing cutters, baking, sanding and applying resin to picking just the right findings to bring it all together. I love to see customers wearing my art and enjoying my creations.”

In the spring of 2022, Carrie and her daughter/collaborative partner Erin Herrmann ventured out of their small community and became vendors in the Downtown Topeka Farmers Market. Early on Saturday mornings, they would travel to Topeka, set up their canopy tent and sell their polymer clay earrings.

By fall, they also had participated in the 2022 DirtRoad JunkFest in Jefferson County, Kan., Cider Days in Topeka and the Fall Midwest Market in Sabetha, just to name a few.

Carrie will be a vendor in the upcoming Spring Midwest Market on Saturday, March 25, in Sabetha. She also plans to be a vendor again at the farmers market in Topeka when it starts back up in April.

To order from Carrie, you can visit her website at www.ponycreekcrafts.com. According to Carrie, her website is updated regularly to include her latest designs and seasonal collections. She offers free shipping over $35 and free local pick-up. She also posts pictures and videos of her work on Facebook @pony creek crafts and Instagram @pony_creek_crafts.

“Follow me on Instagram or Facebook for videos of my creative process, pictures of new products, and information on sales and giveaways,” Carrie said.

Pony Creek Crafts jewelry also is available to purchase locally at The Vintage Butterfly and at the Downtown Topeka Farmers Market.

Carrie can be messaged through Instagram, Facebook, her website or through email – ponycreekcrafts@gmail.com.