We had the good fortune of connecting with Jhaya Warmington and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jhaya, what makes you happy? Why?
My sweet family, lovely community of friends, and this beautiful part of Northern California are my biggest sources of happiness! I live with my family on a micro farm, where we grow flowers, keep chickens, (and honeybees soon), not far from the beach. I draw all of my creative inspiration from the natural world. Wildflowers, the ocean, the colors of the sky at sunrise and sunset all form the palette and aesthetic of Salt + Clay. My family and I are outside just about every day, some days surfing, other days playing in the garden. Being able to channel my lifelong love of fine art and a deeper understanding of plants through herbalism and permaculture into natural soaps, candles and botanical skincare for my family and community brings me so much joy 🙂

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It’s interesting because many threads of my life have been drawn together to create Salt + Clay. I was trained in fine art and spent years making fine art sculptures and drawings which I would sell at galleries and art fairs. I loved making fine art, but kept wondering if there was a way to reach more customers who couldn’t afford, or simply didn’t have space for it. My love of gardening and the outdoors then led me to work for a farm, pursue a Permaculture Certification and study Herbalism. This gave me a deeper understanding of specific plant properties as well as the whole ecological cycle. When I realized that I could combine my love of art, sculpture, herbalism and permaculture into making natural soaps, candles, and skincare I was floored! My goal then became to create beautiful and honest products, handcrafted with the highest quality ingredients from sustainable sources. The result is all-natural, beautiful, useful products scented with pure essential oils that people feel happy to have in their homes 🙂

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love taking visitors both on fun day trips to the city, (San Francisco), and to beautiful beaches and open space in Marin County which is the northern part of the Bay Area where I live. It’s this juxtaposition of urban density and so much varied natural beauty that makes the Bay Area so special 🙂 My favorite, family friendly day trips are;

Day 1 – A hometown hang out day in Fairfax, starting with a stop at the iconic natural foods store Good Earth for picnic supplies to take on a hike around Lake Lagunitas, followed by a coffee and wander through the shops in downtown Fairfax. Then delicious Japanese food at the Michelin ranked Village Sake for dinner and after dinner drinks (the herbal non alcoholic kind) at the Wu Wei tea temple and listening to some live music at one of the many venues in town to wrap up the evening!

Day 2- A visit to Bolinas in West Marin to spend a day at the beautiful beach, explore the tide pools, and of course surf! Lunch would be fresh acai bowls, soup or salad at Bovida, then dinner with live music at either Smileys or the Coast Cafe (joint faves).

Day 3 – Taking a ride across the bay on the Ferry from Larkspur to the SF Ferry Building on a day when the farmers market is going on there. Browsing the freshly grown local produce and flowers, then having lunch at any of the excellent restaurants there is a great way for visitors to instantly get a taste and feel for the Bay Area. I personally love the Slanted Door Restaurant but there are so many good spots here you can’t go wrong. If my visitors have kids, the amazing Exploratorium is a short walk from the Ferry Building.

Day 4 – Golden Gate Park with stops at the SF Botanical Gardens, (and if my visitors have kids, a stop at the Academy of Sciences with a ride on the big ferris wheel so you can see a birds eye view of the city), then to the Outer Sunset to grab a bite at Outerlands and a walk along Ocean Beach followed by a non alcoholic cocktail at Ocean Beach Cafe in the Outer Richmond on the way home…

Day 5 – A trip out to the southern part of West Marin starting with a walk through the towering Redwoods of Muir Woods, then out to Muir Beach for lunch at the Pelican Inn followed by a hike to the beach and into the headlands. Dinner at Hook Fish Co and a little shopping at Proof Lab to end the day.

Day 6 – A relaxing day roadtrip up to the Napa Valley to visit Calistoga and soak in the natural mineral hot springs. My favorite place to do this is at Dr Wilkinsons, (the healing waters of Calistoga makes all the little aches and pains disappear)! Once sufficiently soaked and zen-ed out, a wander through downtown and grabbing a bite to eat at Bricco Osteria before driving back home through the beautiful winding roads of vineyards and farms.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Creating and running a business takes so much work behind the scenes! It would not have been possible for me to start this business without the support of some wonderful friends, family, and customers who form my creative circle. My talented husband Adam Warmington, who is a filmmaker and photographer, is my number one cheerleader behind the scenes (and also takes all of our product photos). Two dear and talented friends also stepped up in a huge way to help me launch Salt + Clay, and continue to lend support, (even if it means getting up early on a weekend to sell our products at markets and events)! These pals are Heather Howard and Amanda Sheeran. Heather is Salt + Clay’s head writer and content manager. Heather enjoys being part of the whole process; from mixing up soap batter to pouring candles, and then writing about them. Amanda is the secret sauce to Salt + Clay’s brand. Amanda makes things beautiful! She created the visual identity of Salt + Clay…for instance – note our dreamy logo 🙂 Each one of us genuinely loves engaging with our fantastic customers in person at markets and events. It’s so fun creating with people I love! Lastly, there have been a few Bay Area retail businesses and markets who have supported me from the start. They have helped elevate my brand and I am eternally grateful. OCN Culture, Werkstatt, Conifer Shop, Solstice Mercantile and the West Coast Craft Fair.

Website: www.shopsaltclay.com

Instagram: @shopsaltclay

Facebook: @shopsaltclay

Other: Opening March 2024: The Warm Gallery 522 San Anselmo Ave San Anselmo, CA 94960 www.warmgallery.com

Image Credits
Adam Warmington

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