Artbeads Employee Spotlight – Meet Ryan!

The Artbeads crew is an amazing cast of characters. Each person, from the inventory team to product fillers and customer service members, all contribute to the ultimate goal of providing high-quality pieces to our customers. We want to introduce you to one of our star employees.

Ryan Messinger is one of the outstanding employees at Artbeads who has discovered a passion for jewelry making since being here. Ryan, who has helped in filling orders and in shipping for four years, caught the eye of co-owner Cynthia when she noticed other employees wearing his amazing designs. When she asked them who made their jewelry they told her it was Ryan. His raw talent has blossomed from a chance experience at a beading party into intricate, detailed designs. We recently had the chance to ask Ryan about his jewelry-making journey and what he has planned for the future.

When did you first start beading?
Two years ago I went to my first beading party. Cynthia taught me how to wire wrap earrings and how to make bails. It was nice to have her teach me right away…the right way. I like the wire wrap. On my first day of the beading party I picked all the dichroic out of the boxes and a lot of Swarovski. I made 7 pairs of earrings and saved them until Christmas time, and then gave them to my best girl friends at work. I also made one-strand bracelets with TOHO [seed beads] and gave them as Christmas gifts to the rest of the girls I work with. I never thought that I would enjoy beading as much as I did. And since [the beading party], I look at the beads a lot closer when I’m filling orders.

Where do you go to bead?
At home I have my own beading table, like a dining room table. My roommate Colleen and I have a ton of beads and we just add it together and now after work we sit and bead together. The dining room table is now covered in beads! I use a tray to put my beads in when I sit and watch TV.

Where do you eat?
On our laps!

Do you sell your jewelry anywhere?
I sold some of it to a consignment store in Ocean Shores. But I recently went back and got the rest of my stuff because they have a time limit of [how long you can keep your stuff there.] Whatever of yours they don’t sell they donate it so I got my stuff before they donated it. I’m gearing up to start selling online using ShopHandmade.

So would you and Colleen sell online together?
We make our own things, but if we ever did get a store we’d probably do it together. She makes wind chimes. She takes old driftwood to use for the tops, and puts floating beads on clear fishing line…the Venetian glass beads that look really nice. She also uses old brooches with broken backs in the wind chimes.

What are your favorite beads?
Dichroic beads. NASA invented it for the reflection on their satellites and now they’re beads. Dichroic beads are popular. I love TOHO’s, too. The silver-lined or color-lined especially.

I really like Swarovski—pretty much all Swarovski! I love the sew-on ones. I want to try and make a top with sew-on crystals. I’m actually supposed to make a veil for a friend and I was thinking of using Swarovski flatbacks. I’m also supposed to make a couple of wedding gifts for friends.

I got my ears pierced about 6 months ago, and ever since we got those glue-on earring posts I’ve made earrings [for myself]. I use the Swarovski enhanced flatbacks.

What are your favorite colors of flatbacks?
My favorite color for flatbacks is Bermuda Blue. I like the ones that change colors, like Crystal Volcano and Tabac.

Do you have any summer projects planned?
I want to get some leather and get something that a guy would wear that would go with leather. Eventually I’ll be able to learn make more elaborate stuff and make more guy stuff.

You can see the newest bracelets Ryan made in the image above. These beautiful pieces were made with TOHO seed beads and Swarovski sew-on crystals.

Anything you want to add?
I never thought I’d have so much fun with jewelry and it’s a great hobby; it helps calm me. It helped me bond with everyone I work with, too. I love working at Artbeads.com, my favorite place to shop. Their great selection is helping to feed my hobby!

The next time you open up your Artbeads order, unwrap the purple tissue paper to reveal your delicately wrapped beads, remember that Ryan was there. Each shipper signs the invoice so you know your order was checked. Look to see if Ryan’s signature is on your next order! Remember that he and so many others at Artbeads are always keeping a keen eye what cool new ideas can be created, and dedicate their time to ensuring your products are the best—they know what a designer wants because they’re designers themselves.

-Marissa

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Comments

    • Ragina
    • May 25, 2012
    Reply

    I love seeing your employees, maybe you should feature 1 a month like this.

      • Marissa
      • May 25, 2012
      Reply

      Thanks for the great suggestion, Ragina!

  1. Reply

    Wonderful feature. Now I can put a face to my beautifully packaged orders! Great job Ryan 🙂

    • Kaye Holt
    • May 25, 2012
    Reply

    “Their great selection is helping to feed my hobby! ” Hate to tell you Ryan, it’s not a hobby anymore–it’s a bead ADDICTION! I’m there with ya!

    • czecher
    • May 25, 2012
    Reply

    What a wonderful story. So happy that Ryan has found such a wonderful way to express his creativity.
    G

  2. Reply

    I love your site and have always received quality products. I especially like the purple tissue paper since this is my favorite color. 🙂 I am sad to say I haven’t ordered in a while but hopefully I will soon. It was cool to read this article to see some behind the scenes.

  3. Reply

    Love your job Ryan. What a blessing it is to work and get paid doing and working with things that you love. Your job is my dream Ryan. Good for you!

    • Alicia Macias
    • May 26, 2012
    Reply

    I have several pieces of fabulous jewelry from Ryan & Colleen! I always get compliments on them from other people. They always ask where I bought the jewelry!!! They should open a store online!!!

  4. Reply

    Great article! It’s nice to see the people behind the scenes. I love ordering supplies from your company. Thanks!

    • Skye
    • May 27, 2012
    Reply

    I’m so excited! Ryan is making my wedding jewelery to match my mothers pearl necklace. You talk to him for 2min you’ll see this is a true passion of his =-) Go Ryan! lol

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  6. Reply

    Love your employee spotlight section, specially the Ryan Messinger one. I also have no dinning table anymore, it is my workbench and my studio, lol. Would like to thank Ryan for the shophandmade tip. I think I’ll be joining them. Thanks Ryan.

  7. Reply

    Hmmm…anyone else think Ryan resembles Adam Young (Owl City)?

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  10. What a wonderful story. I shows that creativety and
    hard work are both needed.
    I am far into my 80 and running out of energy but
    can not stop playing with those lovely beads. Hansi.

  11. Reply

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    I’m hoping to see the same high-grade blog posts by you in the future
    as well. In truth, your creative writing abilities has encouraged me to get my very own website now 😉

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