She Sells Jewelry Down By The Seashore!

By Tara Martin

Sondra Osuchowski has turned her love of art, jewelry and beads into a dream career. her business venture, Funky and Fabulous, features hand-made, custom jewelry for women of all ages. Having worked for the past nine years at the most innovative bead boutique in southern new jersey, Just Bead It!, Sondra's skills and reputation for beading reinforced her desire to venture out on her own. She tailors her jewelry designs to a company style as well as to her customer's needs and wants. A resident of Sea Isle City, Sondra has just completed a new and interactive website, a collection fashion show and showcase of her work.

She says, "This website is a showcase of my best work. It's an accumulation of my favorite designs from over the years, as well as new and exciting pieces."

Each piece in the Funky and Fabulous collection contains beads, pendants and clasps made from materials found from all over the world. Sondra hand-picks each semi-precious stone, sterling silver from Bali and Thailand, genuine cultured pearls, wood and shell, sea glass, and other exotic materials. Sondra travels to shows throughout the tri-state area in search of treasures that inspire her designs. The artist describes her collection's name.

"Funky and Fabulous is what I am. Funky, to me, means unique, exciting, and energetic. Funky gets you noticed. Fabulous is the grace, elegance and glamour that every woman desires and strives for." Her jewelry designs follow current fashion, yet maintain a timeless element of class. This is the style Sondra strives for.

Her goal is having her original designs featured in major fashion magazines and worn by celebrities. This past winter, she got closer to her objective. When Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie visited Atlantic City to tape "The Simple Life," they visited Heritage Surf Shop in Margate. Hilton took a pair of earrings off the Funky and Fabulous display, put them in her ears, and bought them on the spot.

"I was so excited!" exclaims Sondra so excited that one might think this happened just the day before. And this is the beauty of having an objective and going for it! Loving what she does makes Sondra want to tell everyone about her work. She also likes to have parties and shop and thinks most females feel the same! So she's devised Funky and Fabulous parties for women to host in their homes! Offering discounts and gifts to party-throwers, Sondra says "Supply the party and I'll supply the jewels... its a party for the girls and a jewelry show too!" Parties are limited to NJ, DE, PA, and MD.

Sondra found support from both family and friends when she decided to strike out on her own. She says her role model is former employer Stacey Fuessinger, who owns Just Bead It! Sondra had the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of the industry while managing there. She aspires to be as successful and independent as Stacey!

Funky and Fabulous collections can be found at Sounds Gallery, Sea Isle City; Tesi Bridal Boutique, Vetnor; Heritage Surf & Sport, SIC, Margate, OC; Surfer's Supplies, OC; William Ris Gallery, Stone harbor. Sondra exhibits for the first time at Stone Harbor's Arts & Craft Show, August 6 and 7, and Brendan Borek's "Friends Art Show" at Avalon Yacht Club on August 16. You can reach her at 609-408-1206 www.funkyandfabulous.com .