This will be in FAQ format.

How do you pronounce the name?
ön-yƏ, or own-yuh, with a long "o"--not like the preposition "on." Imagine it in a New Zealand accent and you'll say it about right. See the next question for why.

What does "önya" mean?
It's an adaptation of a New Zealand slang term. The phrase "That's so onya!" ends up meaning something like "Wow, that really complements your looks!" but in a far less pretentious manner. The umlaut (the two dots above the O) are not in the original term; I placed them there to help the word look more like it sounds and so I don't have to keep correcting people as often.

How did Önya get started?
I've always been an artist, and one day, when I was wandering through a craft store, I came across some Swarovski jewelry findings. I thought they were neat and put together a few bracelets for fun and created my own designs and taught myself how to make aesthetic, durable pieces. Long story short, I soon had more bracelets than I could wear personally, and I began to give them to friends as gifts, then sell them to friends, then to friends' friends and their friends and so on as word spread. Eventually, I dubbed the former hobby a business and named it Önya and began to increase production, expanded my scope to pieces other than bracelets, created a website, and the rest is history.

Was Önya always called Önya?
Nope. At first, I had a Judaic focus since I sold primarily through synagogue contacts and at the Hanukkah Bazaar and the like, so I used a Hebrew name: "Or Yafeh," meaning "beautiful light." So if you knew of Or Yafeh and are confused by this Önya stuff, don't be. Same thing, different name--only with lots more jewelry options. If you're looking for Judaica, the selection posted on the site is fairly small, but I can make almost any other necklace into Judaica, so talk to me.

Who are you?
I am Rachel. I am the entrepreneur who started Önya. I am an artist of undetermined destiny (read: I have no idea what my long-term plans are). I'm currently a full-time student, studying nothing related to my jewelry design, although my studies have provided inspiration for specific pieces. If you want to know anything else, just ask me.

Where is Önya based out of?
Wherever I reside at the moment. I go between College Park, MD (right outside DC) and Marietta, GA (right outside Atlanta) depending on the time of year.

Why don't you have a shopping cart set up so purchases can be made directly from the site?
There are several reasons. Some are practical, such as that I haven't set up an account which allows me to take credit card payments yet. However, the primary reason is that I prefer to work directly with my customers. I like having direct contact with you before I make or send you your jewelry. Whether that is to make sure a slight variation in design is okay by you due to supply availability or due to an aesthetic reason or simply to say hi and double-check on what you wanted, I like talking to you about your order. A shopping cart and full online purchase capability makes the process impersonal, which is exactly what I am trying to avoid. I only placed an order form at all for convenience so you don't have to bother remembering what you wanted to get a few hours later when you get around to emailing me about it. The form merely delineates preferences which are sent to a secure file which I then check on a regular basis, at which point I will contact you and fill your order.

How do you handle custom orders?
Custom orders are my favorite! Nothing is more fun than fitting a piece directly to someone's personality and appearance. If there is a specific article of clothing you want something to spice it up with, I can make something to match it. If you're searching for a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or even a just-because gift for someone else, and you don't know what she would like, I can always make a suggestion and even create a unique design just for her. Please don't be shy about asking me to make something you don't see on the site; I am constantly in the creative process and always enjoy creating a new design or spicing up an old one. Just contact me, send me a picture of that dress you need a necklace to go with or tell me your girlfriend's favorite color and what sort of style she likes, and I'll work with you to create something beautiful and unique.

Are any of your pieces in stores?
I do not have any jewelry placed in retail at the moment. I would love to branch out to retail eventually though; if you know of a shop which would like to carry Önya Jewelry, please feel free to let me know. However, at the moment, I make all sales myself through the website and in person.

Do you make men's jewelry?
Not really. I tend to work with crystals and small-wire and small-chain materials, not the styles than most men would wear. Men's jewelry styles generally involve large chains and wide bands, which is difficult to make by hand, and impossible with the materials I use.

 

The less fun previously-asked questions:

Do you ship internationally?
No. Maybe to Canada, but any farther outside the US I cannot ship.

Do you take credit cards?
Not at the moment. My profit margin is not large enough to afford all the fees that credit cards slap on you once you start taking plastic. Sorry! Checks and cash are a good way to go.

 

If you have any more questions, feel free to contact me!

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