1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
A sample of jewelry pieces inspired by food that I designed, created and sold through "Made by Nicolette" on Etsy.
Materials: Polymer clay, sterling silver, jewelry findings, wood
These pieces were sold online to customers in North America, Europe, and Australia as well as at craft fairs in Chicago. Before crafting each piece, I spent hours analyzing the type of food I was going to replicate in clay and then experimenting with various polymer clay techniques to achieve realistic textures and colors. The online store had a permanent collection of pieces available as pendants, rings, and earrings, as well as an option to work closely with me to create a custom order. I designed, produced, and packaged each piece and managed the website and communications with customers. In a world that is becoming increasingly focused on efficiency and manufacturability, it was an enjoyable sharply contrasted experience to meticulously craft each piece of jewelry by hand. At the same time, I happily accepted the challenge of managing several orders at once and determining where else I could cut time and cost in the manufacturing process.