My International Sales for 2013 - Thank You Etsy and The JETS

Your Daily Jewels is Worn Around the World!

http://mapfling.com/qex999k

Each day or two I make my way to the post office to ship my handmade jewelry and one or two days a week I have the dreaded International package to ship. It comes with so many worries: how should I ship it, is it packed well enough, will it get there in time, will it even make it there?  With each successful transaction (99.5% of the time!) I am surprised and relieved, but, I don't think I will ever get used to it and not be nervous.

When I first opened my jewelry shop on Etsy,  I did not ship internationally! I was so certain no one would even bother ordering from overseas and I had a lot of anxiety about losing packages. 

I recently took a look back over my orders and I can't believe I have shipped all over the world in less than two years.  I am honestly astonished that women (and some men) world-wide, are wearing small pieces that came from MY hands and heart. I am so thankful for Etsy, and especially for my JET teammates who told me I was crazy not to ship internationally a few years ago.

Thanks for visiting and reading.
Norah

One World, Cai Yuan, www.tagfinearts.com

Holiday Features

The sale is over but more sales are coming! Meanwhile, I have been featured in several blogs lately and I want to share them with you. In the next few weeks I will also be sharing some of my favorite finds for the holidays here on my blog.

Take a peak at the feature  on Your Daily Jewels in this fantastic Indie-finds blog (and click on the link for more info to read an in depth article the author did with me last summer)

Be back later!
Thanks for reading,
Norah

Coming soon!

My new line of 99% pure silver jewelry made from precious metal clay is in the works.

I cannot say enough great things about my three day PMC Connection course taught by artist, Vera Lightstone in her NYC loft. Every minute of the days was filled with learning, doing, and laughing!  And you get to go home with 8 - 10 finished pieces! If three days is too much, she offers a two day course as well. I guarantee you will be hooked, like me. It is good to know she offers lots of advanced courses, as well.

W.39th Street

Carla, Vera's Assistant and a Student's Best Friend

Blob of Clay - Not Very Exciting

Here is a piece I made on the first day! Very exciting!

 

There are many more pieces to come! I have been busy playing with clay, now I have to get new pieces photographed to show you

About PMC, from http://www.pmcguild.com/

• PMC is an amazingly plastic and versatile material. It can be shaped by hand, folded, molded, extruded and painted on another surface.
• PMC can be endlessly textured and takes on microscopically fine definition.
• PMC can be mixed with ceramic powders and oxides to assume new shades of color and a rougher texture.
• PMC can be fired with stones and ceramics. It can be glazed and enameled.
• PMC fits a wide range of artistic visions but not all. It compliments but does not displace traditional jewelry methods.

Basically, you have this little lump of clay that you can shape and mold in a million ways.  The clay is fine particles of recycled silver mixed with a binder that turns it into clay. The binder burns off and you are left with shining, strong, almost pure silver. The final result is 99.9% pure, recycled silver, as compared to sterling which is 92.5% pure. So far, I have only used Silver, but the clay comes in brass, copper, and gold formations too.

You can play with your hands; you can use all of your clay-making tools on it, and then finish it with all of your silversmithing tools.  You can combine it with your beading and wireworking projects.

It can be fired in a kiln, but before making that investment, you can torch it with a simple kitchen torch. You know, the kind you use for Creme Brulee. You will not believe your beginner results!

Feel free to ask me any questions you have and check back here and at my Etsy Shops, Rustic Rock Jewelry and Your Daily Jewels,  for more creations.

(Did I mention that PJClarke retired and  is now Rustic Rock Jewelry)

Thanks for reading,

Norah