The Best Things In Life Are Free – And In This Case, Includes Ornaments
Half Moon Clay center spreads holiday cheer, generates random acts of kindness by gifting ornaments throughout the community
words & photos by Evelyn Nelson
There's something so timeless to bringing out the faded cardboard or plastic bin that keeps our most prized possessions safe — or at least my own: ornaments. This time of year, for those who celebrate, it's all about sharing the stories and nostalgia that come with them.
Star shapes, snowflakes, holiday bulbs and more; Whitney Stuart, the owner of Half Moon Clay in Eau Claire, has brought a heartwarming initiative to her community as she freely distributes hand-crafted ornaments throughout the area.
Tucked within the dozens of art studios in Banbury Place (930 Galloway St., Eau Claire) Whitney is already busy at work crafting her next batch of functional — and entertaining — ceramics ware for this year’s season of holiday markets. Yet, for the past four years, she intentionally sets a few of her one-of-one creations to the side — with the intention of gifting them to area businesses and community members at large.
“Making ornaments is so personal,” Stuart said. “I feel like I can mark the passage of time from when people show me their ornaments. It makes it more fun to give (ornaments) away to people that I know are going to appreciate it.”
Memories of childhood holidays have influenced Whitney's current practice of giving away ornaments, she shared. As a child, she and her siblings each had their own small, themed tree for their bedroom. Over the years her aunts and grandparents would continue to gift ornaments of that same theme, leading to an annual accumulation of new treasures and memories each holiday season.
“What I've been doing for myself to try to live smaller is to make my community smaller, make my world smaller (and) do something that's positive.” —Whitney Stuart, owner of Half Moon Clay center
After moving to Wisconsin from Georgia amidst the isolating times of the COVID-19 pandemic, making ornaments for her own tree became an act of self-love. A “ritual” she continues now through gifting for others — bringing a little joy to the world, as cheesy as it sounds — acts as a nod to “little Whitney,” she said.
“What I've been doing for myself to try to live smaller is to make my community smaller, make my world smaller (and) do something that's positive,” Stuart said. “There is so much going on in the world and if all I can do about it, is give away cute little things to make somebody's day, then I guess I'm going to be making a bunch of cute little things.”
Half Moon Clay doesn’t only share these sentiments during the holiday season; Stuart and other staffers and volunteers of the clay center have made it their mission to sprinkle little gifts around downtown Eau Claire for customers and strangers to find year-round.
“Lucky you! Hoping this random act of pottery brings a sparkle to your day. Love, the Half Moon Clay crew,” reads a small notecard from a mystery pottery scavenger hunt earlier this fall.
Since Whitney's move to the Chippewa Valley, I have been a recipient of and found these little treasures over the years. There is an unexpected joy that comes from a spontaneous act of kindness, and community members can only hope for more examples of generosity and to celebrate the rich talent of artists in our community.
Stuart hopes for more generosity and a greater celebration of our area artists’ rich talent.
Rest assured, there will be plenty of holiday markets — in Banbury Place and beyond — where you can purchase your very own Half Moon Clay holiday ornament for your loved ones. But, if you’re lucky — and with a little holiday magic — you too will experience this spontaneous act of joy.
Keep up with Half Moon Clay on social media (@halfmoonclay) to see new clay creations, holiday market updates and ongoing highlights from this free act of kindness.