Etsy Interview with OnTheBead

Hi! I'm Julie. Our OnTheBead Store on Etsy is a collaborative effort between myself and my creative partner - Charlie. We have known each other since 1976, and have a lot in common. We are located about 15 minutes apart in the United States near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Charlie is a self motivated, introverted, extrovert who has been fortunate enough to have been able to work in a number of creative fields throughout the course of his life. His job on many occasions was to create new products of various different types. He has had many opportunities to learn and use a huge variety of skills! Charlie has done emergency musical equipment repairs for a number of big-name stars passing through on tour. That expanded into the making music of instruments - namely the Theremin - and specialty boutique-style effects pedals - the Harmonic Percolator - and has given him the opportunity to work for himself. He has sold instruments to people from all over the globe - from established bands and stars to people on the opposite side of the spectrum - namely schools for disabled and blind children. More information on Theremins and the Harmonic Percolator can be found at Theremaniacs.com - his home site.

Throughout his life he has often-times returned to one of his first creative loves - the art of jewelry-making.

I am an extremely detail-oriented person that is fairly artistic. I acquired an Art Degree from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, graduating - with honors - in the beginning of the 1980's. Found objects were always treasures to me; it is easy to find extreme beauty - even in a piece of rusty metal! My first Steampunk pieces were made in 1980 when I could not afford gold or Sterling silver to work with in my college metals course. Now - all these years later - I am able to put some of my knowledge to work with the OnTheBead store!

How and when did you start making jewelry and your other items?

Charlie started out making jewelry - at the age of 8 - by carving Tiki necklaces. At sixteen he was making and selling small sculptures - which gradually turned into a business. That lasted until he was in his 20's, and he launched his next business venture - a small jewelry shop in Milwaukee's Third Ward, in the Historic Sydney Hih Building. He made jewelry professionally for over 4 years - visualizing, designing and creating pieces in Sterling silver, copper and gold. There he learned the art of stone cutting, shaping and polishing - utilizing the stones in his jewelry works. He made mostly jewelry for retail - but enjoyed wholesale orders as well. After four years in the jewelry business he decided to take a position at a two store company, repairing musical gear and developing new products - which included utilizing his jewelry making skills. After 13 years with the same company, he went back into self-employment - making musical instruments and jewelry. In addition to the OnTheBead Etsy Store - which showcases his, mine and our collaborative jewelry efforts - he has his own Etsy Store - Theremaniacs - and a website - Theremaniacs.com. As you may have guessed, he is a busy guy!

I was making jewelry as far back as memory serves, starting with Play-doh, which was actually a bit frustrating, as it barely stuck to itself! After a bit, I graduated to making small brooches from soda-bottle caps, using fabric, pipe-cleaners, found objects, safety pins and whatever else was available! Before age seven I was carving Tiki necklaces with my trusty pocket knife, and about the time every other little girl was getting an Easy-Bake Oven for Christmas, I received a really nice copper enameling kiln, lots of copper squares and ovals and a full set of enamels! Before too long, I was making necklaces for gifts and to sell, actually selling quite a few. My detail-oriented side was showing itself even then, as I would create profiles of people in the Pointillist style, using many different colors to achieve the shading and contours of the faces being created. Still use the enameling kiln to this day - Thanks Mom and Dad!

I have added numerous techniques to my arsenal since then, many of which can be seen in the OnTheBead store. My fascination with found objects as art and the recycling and upcycling of items has been consistent over the years, and it is great to be able to put them to use creating timeless, classically inspired, affordable jewelry!

When and how did you originally find Etsy?

Early in the year 2008, Suzanna Anna recommended Etsy as a selling venue when discussing the pros and cons of self-employment with Charlie. Charlie opened Theremaniacs.etsy.com on March 8th of 2008, and later in the year registered OnTheBead as a seller on Etsy, although we did not open OnTheBead for business until April 10th of 2009. It was a great move for us. We sold something on our first day, so have had a good feeling about it (and good response from people) since the start!

What is unique about Etsy and what about the website do you like the most in regards to your shop?

The whole idea that Etsy is a social commerce website - made up of tens of thousands of individuals creating items to sell - attracted us. Between the two of us we have a wide variety of items to sell: ceramic and metal artwork, recycled and upcycled items, vintage collectables, musical gear and classically inspired, timeless affordable jewelry - we can offer it all in our OnTheBead store on Etsy.

The items we have listed right now are just the tip of the iceberg of the things we have to sell!

What inspires you the most in regards to your creations?

Functional weirdness, quirkiness and uniqueness are inspiring, as well as the quiet beauty of a classic piece. Recycling, upcycling and incorporating existing items into a design - making them your own - is inspiring as well!

As OnTheBead we create quite a number of bridal necklaces - customizing many of them from an existing design, or making a one of a kind piece. It is inspiring and humbling to know that someone admires your jewelry so much that they choose to wear it on one of the most important, monumental days of their lives! It is a privilege to be able to make beautiful things that people appreciate.

What is your favorite piece you've created and why?

Charlie's favorite pieces were a pair of applause meters created from upcycled materials for the rock band Garbage. It was a challenge for an extremely important performance: The MTV Music Awards. His next favorite piece would be anything that somebody else likes enough to buy!

My favorite piece is always the one just finished, because I'm really excited to see it completed and can't wait to put it into the OnTheBead store! I tend not to rest on my laurels too much, like to get right on with giving form to the next idea!

What do you want to accomplish with your online shop?

With OnTheBead we want to make people smile! We strive to create and provide classic, affordable, timeless jewelry - something that could have been worn 30 years ago - that is still stylish now - and will still be in style when the customer who purchases it has a teen of their own!

It is nice to touch so many lives and make a few cents along the way!

Do you have any new creations in the works? If so, what can shoppers expect to see from you soon?

We have been especially busy this spring and summer making one custom bridal necklace after another! If a customer would like a custom necklace made just for them, all they need to do is send an Etsy convo or conversation (like an email, but through the Etsy system) to OnTheBead, and ask us for whatever they would like! We do love custom orders - and are always up for a challenge - so we would be honored to make something just for you!

Design ideas come to us constantly - like a river flowing - so we are always working on something new! We have all the items needed to create three new product lines that are in the works for OnTheBead - we just need time to do it! Our customers come first, so new product has to wait until we can devote the proper time and attention to its creation. As far as what we are working on for OnTheBead - please stay tuned - don't want to let the cat out of the bag!

Where can readers find out about more information regarding your jewelry and other creations and possible special offers (including additional websites, blogs, facebook, etc)?

We welcome any and all convos - we encourage people to write us and ask for any information they would like!

OnTheBead does have a Twitter account, but since tweeting and other social networking comes after our customers, store and new product, it's woefully lacking - but on our to-do list!

As far as special offers, our prices are quite low, so we would actually have to raise prices to be able to afford to offer "specials".

More information on Theremins and the Harmonic Percolator can be found at Theremaniacs.com - Charlie's musically-based home site.

Thank You ever so much for your interest - Please stop by OnTheBead and have a look around!