JET Artisan Profile: Norah of YourDailyJewels

Norah in her Studio!

As a child I loved jewelry and was transfixed by drawers of sparkling jewel tones and rhinestones in my grandmother's costume jewelry boxes.

Luckily my parents indulged my "individuality" and did not blink when their eight year old piled on layers of granny jewelry, literally from head to toe, and marched off to school, drama class, dance class, piano lessons, painting and drawing, etc. That was a long time ago and I am still piling on layers of jewelry and have worn it through many years of school!

Amethyst Purple Quartz Gemstone Necklace

 I was inspired to become a jewelry maker when dating a man who perfected the art of the utilitarian gift: an “upstairs” dustbuster, new running shoes, a “surprise” oil change for my car, “happy birthday!”

I knew nothing shiny was headed my way. But when you get down to it, I love the way jewelry feels and makes me feel. Expensive or not, old or new, it never fails to make me feel special. I wanted to give that feeling to women. And finally, I have had a lifelong love/obsession with metal and stone and anything sparkling.

Spessartite Garnet and Carnelian Gemstone Pendant

I first made jewelry as a little girl. I started disassembling and reassembling things to my liking and size at about the age of six.

I learned how to make jewelry in a combination of self taught / school experiences. I started with the “willy-nilly” method years ago.

Then I attended You-tube University, and finally I took some actual classes - which I should have done in the first place! When I think that some people are wearing pieces from the ‘willy nilly” collection, I cringe.

Earrings with Lavender Swarovski Crystal and Purple Flowers

 My jewelry sales began online. I had fabulous beginner's luck, and it inspired me to keep things going! The first day I listed on Etsy I sold something.

I thought, “this is going to be a breeze!” Of course, it wasn't that easy. It was six months before my next sale. Then I joined the Jets and things started looking up and up and up.

I am so thankful I found the Etsy community three years ago, where I have met generous friends with amazing minds, hands, hearts, and humor. It is a true community, without which I would not be the jewelry designer and maker I am today. My team, the JETs, (Jewelry on Etsy Team) is like a family to me.

White Crystal Agate Druzy and Sterling Silver Ring

Ideas come to me in the middle of the night, all the time, almost every night. I grab my phone and whisper a voice note into it and in the morning it always sounds like the maniac from that scary movie “have you checked the children?”

I love tools. And I especially love sharpies. I know they may not seem like a tool but they are so handy for everything.

I love hammering. I get so excited when I know I am going hammer. It is therapeutic.

I went through a furniture-building phase a while back and Frank (my patient man) took all of my tools away from me. My hammers, nails and drill were just gone!

Apparently I made quite a few drill holes and hammer dents in our brand new wood floors and he suggested I stick with jewelry. Smaller tools, smaller mistakes. Furniture still calls me. I hope he doesn't read this because have a borderline hoarder-collection of antique casters hidden from Frank!

Rustic Pyrite Druzy Cocktail Ring in Sterling Silver

 I also have a shop on Etsy named RusticRockJewelry, featuring handmade rustic jewelry with druzy, geodes, and rough cut, hammered gemstones in their natural form.

In RusticRockJewelry, you'll find fantastic necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings made with brass, copper, oxidized (antiqued) metals, as well as reclaimed or recycled metals; vintage and re-purposed jewelry.

I love to deconstruct vintage or broken jewelry and reconstruct it into unique modern pieces using the older metals, findings, and stones.

Personalized Wax Seal Initial Necklace

 You'll find a great variety of personalized jewelry in YourDailyJewels - gifts for women and men featuring my handcrafted  Wax Seal Initials. Necklaces and keychains can be personalized with any initial in several different styles!

Visit my shop to see a LOT more!








 You can follow me on these social sites: Tumblr (lookbook): YourDailyJewels.Tumblr.com

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Coming Soon: Watch for my new website, www.TheModernHeirloom.com!

Yes ... I work here! This is my happy place ...