Chasing Dreams, Creating Community: The Sol Clay Story

Entrepreneurship is rarely a straight line. It’s filled with risk, reinvention, and a whole lot of faith. For one Belizean creative, that leap of faith became the foundation of a growing community. I recently sat down with Landee Longsworth, the mind and heart behind Sol Handmade Clay Jewelry, to talk about her journey, the challenges, the lessons, and the passion that keeps her going. Today, she shares how her “solshines” are helping turn creativity into purpose, and what she hopes to build next. Here’s her story.

 

Sabreena Daly, Reporting

Meet Landee Longsworth, the creative force behind Sol Handmade Clay Jewelry. “Sol,” Spanish for sun, is inspired by the nickname “Sunshine” her mother lovingly gave her. Today, she’s built more than a business, she’s created a community, and she credits her very own “solshines” for joining her on a journey that has been nothing short of fulfilling.

 

Landee Longsworth, owner, Sol Handmade Clay Jewelry

“I really wanted to give them a name because they’re special to me and I wanted them to feel that they’re a part of this journey. They made this journey possible for me. And so giving them a cute nickname really made it feel more personal and not just customer A.”

 

 

 

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Landee turned quarantine time into opportunity. Exploring ideas on social media, she discovered her craft, and what began as a simple curiosity quickly grew into her entrepreneurial journey with Sol Clay.

 

Landee Longsworth

“I wasn’t familiar with the type of clay. I knew about the red clay that you make pottery with and Play-Doh. Those are the only two types of clay that I knew about. But I’ve come to realize that with this medium, you can bake it right at home in your oven or a toaster oven, and you could have a pretty piece that you create from that.”

 

 

Sol Handmade Clay Jewelry may be a one-woman force, but behind every piece is a bold and dedicated creator. Longsworth credits her family’s backing, particularly her mother’s encouragement, for helping her take that first step toward her dream.

 

Landee Longsworth

“ She has been my backbone throughout this journey. She works a full-time job, but on the weekends she would literally dedicate her time to helping me with popups. It doesn’t matter how late my popups go.”

 

 

 

Denise Longsworth, Mother

“ I’m still the assistant, by the way but I encourage her because I saw the passion in her.”

 

 

 

 

Starting something new takes courage. Like many entrepreneurs, Landee began by juggling a steady job while quietly building her dream. But when it came time to choose between a steady paycheck and trusting her business dreams, she chose the latter. For Longsworth, family encouragement gave her the confidence to take that bold step and go all in on her entrepreneurial goals.

 

Landee Longsworth

“ There was just a feeling of knowing that I really can’t do two of these. They’re two very demanding roles that I’m in as a business owner and as the role that I was playing at the organization that I worked at.”

 

 

 

Denise Longsworth

“My advice to her was think all the avenues out, work it out on paper first and then you’ll have an idea, but you have to take that leap of faith somewhere, somehow, where you start off small, with a full-time job, start off small and see if it catches on, then slowly move into that.”

 

 

 

Landee Longsworth

“ I felt the support of the people who have been buying the products and my family, and I felt like I could do this. I know I can do this. I just really needed to invest the time into making it happen.”

 

Now five years in, women both in Belize and abroad own these unique pieces, featuring intricate designs, some with intentional connections to Belizean identity created by Landee.

 

 

 

Landee Longsworth

“I’ve drawn inspiration from all things Belize. I have the two kinds of hibiscus, the Scarlet Macaw, every variation of the Monstera Leaf, the sea, everything. Everything Belize, I try to make.”

 

Longsworth continues to be inspired. Her latest venture aims to bring creatives and community members together in a shared space, dubbed ‘Clay and Connection’, people can gather, create, and experience the very pieces you see and admire.

 

Landee Longsworth

“ I bring my workshop; I bring everything to you. So, you choose a space that you want to be at. It could be your home, it could be you rented a place, a restaurant, or somewhere, and I take the stuff to you and I walk you through the process of creating a piece. It may not be as intricate or as elaborate as the pieces that I sell, because those take a lot of time and if you want to fit it into your little event or gathering, that wouldn’t work.”

 

 

Entrepreneurship rarely allows time for reflection. It’s a constant cycle of problem-solving, improving, and pushing forward and Longsworth was no exception. So today, we asked her to pause and reflect.

 

Landee Longsworth

“ I would never have imagined that I’d be here today running a business on my own. It’s really been a beautiful journey. It’s not been easy. It’s been hard. It’s been so many bumps along the way, but I’ve really made myself proud. Figuring things out on my own, teaching myself stuff like accounting and doing business tax and all that stuff that I never really had to do before.  It’s just been a journey of learning and gradual growth, and I’m so grateful for this experience. Thinking back, I was like, I wish I started this earlier. I believed that I could do this earlier.”

 

 

Entrepreneurship is full of unknowns, no roadmap, no guarantees. It takes faith in yourself, trust in your ideas, and belief in your dreams to take that first bold step. Even after the hardest days, the courage to keep going is what brings the brightest sunshine. Looking on the Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly.