This article dives into the creative world of Jersey City artist and designer Molly Craig, the upcycled jewelry visionary behind Anomolly Shop. From bolo ties and vintage rings to beaded mosaics and Western-inspired accessories, Molly turns forgotten objects into wearable stories—right here in our own backyard.
The Road to Anomolly Shop: From Ridgewood to Jersey City
Molly’s journey into handmade jewelry started long before Anomolly Shop became a familiar name at local markets. Growing up in Ridgewood, New Jersey, she watched her mom run a beaded jewelry business and picked up both the craft and the entrepreneurial spark that would shape her future.
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After studying marketing at Hofstra University, Molly honed her visual instincts and technical skills in graphic design. That led her to a role at HOLST + LEE, a Brooklyn-based handmade jewelry company known for bold, statement pieces.
There, she saw jewelry become both fashion and art—a balance that now defines her own brand.
A Pandemic Pivot: The Birth of Anomolly Shop
In 2020, amid all the uncertainty, Molly launched Anomolly Shop to showcase her handmade designs. The timing might’ve been wild, but her vision was clear.
She wanted to build a brand rooted in sustainability, storytelling, and personal expression. Every piece gets infused with character and history.
By 2021, she’d made the move to Jersey City. The vibrant city felt like the right backdrop for a brand that celebrates individuality and reinvention.
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Upcycling as Art: Turning Vintage Finds into Modern Statements
The heart of Anomolly Shop is Molly’s commitment to upcycling—she takes vintage and discarded items and transforms them into something fresh, wearable, and personal. For her, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a creative challenge she’s eager to tackle.
Molly’s signature style centers on bolo ties and Western-inspired motifs. She loves cowboy culture—the sense of freedom, resilience, and living on your own terms—and she brings those themes into her designs with a modern, subtle twist.
A Global Hunt for Materials
Molly hunts for vintage components everywhere: local antique shops, road trips across the American West, even travels abroad. Utah and Arizona have given her desert-hued stones and weathered metals.
Trips to Turkey have brought back intricate elements that add texture and a bit of mystery to her pieces.
Every find becomes raw material for a new story. Maybe it’s a scarf slide that started as part of an old belt buckle, or a bolo tie built around a rescued pendant left in a drawer for decades.
Beyond Jewelry: Beaded Mosaics and Local Exhibits
Jewelry is the core of Anomolly Shop, but Molly’s creativity doesn’t stop there. She also makes intricate beaded mosaics, channeling her love of color, pattern, and texture into framed works that blur the line between fine art and folk tradition.
Some mosaics have appeared in local art spaces, like DS Special Projects in Jersey City. That’s helped cement her role in the city’s growing creative scene.
Where to Find Anomolly Shop
If you’re local or just visiting, you can find Molly’s work in a few different ways. Anomolly Shop pops up at events around the area, and there’s a retail presence inside Cranky Angel, a Jersey City boutique that champions independent makers.
Prefer to browse from home or plan your visit? Molly keeps her website and social media active. Her Instagram, @anomollyshop, gives a real-time peek at in-progress designs, new drops, and upcoming events.
- Handmade bolo ties with Western and vintage flair
- Scarf slides and upcycled accessories
- Vintage rings and reimagined jewelry pieces
- Beaded jewelry and select mosaics
Anomolly Shop and the Creative Fabric of Jersey City
Molly’s story weaves into Jersey City’s evolving identity as a haven for artists, designers, and makers. Her work thrives in a community that values individuality, sustainability, and local entrepreneurship.
If you’re in town, it’s easy to pair a stop at Cranky Angel or a pop-up featuring Anomolly Shop with a day of exploring galleries, cafés, and waterfront views. There are plenty of things to do in Jersey City that blend art, food, and culture—especially if you appreciate one-of-a-kind, handcrafted work.
Planning a Visit Around Local Art and Design
If Molly’s work has you curious about planning an art-focused trip, start by looking into getting to Jersey City via PATH, ferry, or one of the nearby airports. Then, map out neighborhoods with a strong creative footprint.
The local hospitality scene keeps expanding, with a range of Jersey City hotels that put you close to galleries, boutiques, and markets. It’s honestly pretty convenient if you want to wander and stumble onto something unexpected.
When you think about where to browse and buy, your home base matters—so take some time researching where to stay in Jersey City. That way, you can spend more time exploring shops like Anomolly, independent studios, and community markets that spotlight local makers.
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Here is the source article for this story: Meet Molly Craig, the Jersey City Artist Behind ‘Anomolly’
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