Today we’d like to introduce you to Nora Roberts.
Hi Nora, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi, my name is Nora and I make jewelry. I started making jewelry about a year ago. I was working in a call center doing very repetitive work, and I found myself wanting a new hobby. I felt super out of control in my personal life and work life like I’m sure a lot of us have felt since the pandemic started. Looking back, I was just wanting something to keep myself busy, to help with my anxiety, and I never imagined selling or being able to pay bills off my art. I didn’t even consider myself an artist until a few months ago! I took $50 out of one of my checks and told myself I was going to find a new hobby and that was going to be something for my brain to focus on when life felt unsteady. I ended up, after scrolling art stores for hours, finding myself looking at hundreds of colors and types of polymer clay. I started out making tiny sculptures, but it didn’t take long for me to make my first set of earrings. When I was young, I stretched my earlobes fairly large, and as an adult, I let them shrink back as much as possible. I can’t wear post-back earrings because they fall through my ear and I can’t wear anything too heavy because it stretches the ear pretty bad. Polymer clay is light. Even my biggest designs are surprisingly lightweight.
After my first pair, I was hooked. I set out to make myself all the cool jewelry that I’d never been able to wear previously. I was fairly open and excited about my journey with clay. I posted a lot of Instagram stories about new techniques and designs. A long-time friend messaged me about a particular design, asking if I’d ever think about replicating it and selling it. I was honestly shocked. I made her the earrings which alone was a learning experience. I’d never tried to make the same thing twice before. A few months after this, I took the plunge to open my Etsy shop. My first big break was my Halloween collection last year. I did about six designs, and to my surprise, they almost all sold out within the first three days. Since then, my shop has done really well, and I’ve even done a couple of in-person markets this year. My first market was in May of this year, and I about cried when I walked in and saw so many people already wearing pieces from me. It’s been a whirlwind, and I didn’t expect to be where I am today. I’ve expanded to other mediums as well, such as working with resin, crystals, and beading. I’ve found a new sense of confidence in myself and confidence in my work that I never imagined. It’s been an exciting year, and I can’t wait to see where I’ll be next year.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My main struggle has been my inner self. Having the confidence to do something completely new was hard enough and became a whole other level of hard when it came to marketing myself. I think a lot of people struggle with that little voice in their head telling them that something is too crazy to do or they’re not very good at it, etc. I’ve had lots of moments of self-doubt. I’ve also tried to stay as affordable as possible, which is difficult. In the beginning, I was basically doing things for free because I wanted to be an affordable place for jewelry for everyone. I had to struggle and come to terms with valuing and pricing my own time and not feeling shame or guilt about it.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I make jewelry. The name OklayNoralee is a play on my main Instagram account, but it basically means, Okay Clay by Noralee. I started out only making earrings with clay. This is still my favorite specialty. I now work with a lot of different mediums and make a variety of things, from jewelry to home decor. I got my start from my earrings though, so those will always be the main focus for me. I think something that sets me apart is my designs. When I was still working at the call center, all we could have on our desks was a notebook, and I would doodle designs all day, from lava lamps to sunflower hearts to gravestones. I try to think outside the box when it comes to my earrings. In terms of proud moments, every time I see someone wearing my jewelry out in the real world is a huge moment of success and pride for me. Nothing beats that feeling.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I am an avid podcast listener, especially when I’m working on my jewelry. My favorite podcast to work to is Sinisterhood, which is a true-crime podcast by two women from Dallas, Texas.
Pricing:
- Average Earring Price: $8 – $15
- Necklace & Earring Sets: $25 – $40
Contact Info:
- Email: oklaynoralee@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/OklayNoralee
- Instagram: oklaynoralee
