Jeanette Meyer in her New Orleans Studio holding a bakers pan spread with polymer clay figurines ready to be baked.

Jeanette Meyer

Who Else?

Jeanette Meyer is a renowned polymer clay artist and hat maker based in New Orleans, known for her intricate and vibrant creations that capture the essence of the city’s rich cultural tapestry. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for color, Jeanette transforms humble blocks of polymer clay into breathtaking works of art, ranging from delicate jewelry pieces to elaborate sculptures. Her work is deeply influenced by the lively spirit of New Orleans, reflecting the city’s unique blend of history, music, and artistry.

Jeanette’s creativity doesn’t stop with polymer clay; she also crafts custom hats and fascinators, adding a touch of whimsy and elegance to her repertoire. Each hat and fascinator is designed with the same meticulous attention to detail and vibrant color palette that characterizes her jewelry and sculptures. Through her innovative techniques and distinctive style, Jeanette has earned a dedicated following. Some of Jeanette’s notable clients include MOMS, the Pussyfooters, the Krewe of Muses, WWOZ, among many others.

Why Polymer Clay?

Destiny in disguise

After Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, Jeanette lost her house, car, job, and almost everything she owned. She evacuated to New Jersey, hoping to return home, but over a year later, her beloved city still resembled a third-world country, making it impossible for her to live there. In the aftermath, a friend gave her a box of unused polymer clay.

When Jeanette was handed the clay, she thought, “Polymer clay? Really? I could use gas money, new jeans, or even a Walmart gift card! What am I supposed to do with this?!”

During the winter, with nothing better to do, Jeanette started playing around with the clay. To her surprise, she found she could make some pretty cool stuff and probably even convince people to buy it! Knowing she would be returning to New Orleans, Jeanette began creating New Orleans-themed items like fleur-de-lis and anything “new-orleans-ey” because everything and everybody in the city was about fleur-de-lis and New Orleans right after Katrina. Then, when the Saints went to the Super Bowl, the city went crazy for everything and anything black and gold, especially if it had a fleur-de-lis on it.

A box of Clay

The greatest gift of all!

And so, that box of polymer clay turned out to be destiny in disguise. It opened up new opportunities and a booming business for Jeanette. Why polymer clay? Because sometimes, what seems like the least practical gift can actually be the greatest gift of all!

Jeanette continues to live in the city she loves and is involved with many of the city’s unique cultural activities. She even marches with a jazz band playing the glockenspiel. Jeanette’s signature color is pink and she loves a band called “The Radiators.”

If you want to learn more about Jeanette, stick around or visit her on Facebook or YouTube. Jeanette welcomes you to her website and wants to remind everyone to “just be happy.”