Meet Olga Patlyuk | Beadwork artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Olga Patlyuk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Olga, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Honestly, at first, it was just a hobby. I had just given birth to my son and spent a lot of time with my family, but at the same time, I wanted to do something for myself. That’s how I became interested in beadwork, started researching information, and began creating my first pieces. They were far from perfect—clumsy and made from cheap beads—but that’s how it all began.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Belief in yourself and your strengths will lead you to success. Only persistently, moving forward step by step, you can achieve the desired results. At first, I didn’t know anything, but I had a great desire. I learned from scratch on my own, and my skills grew every day.
When my family is asleep, I sit down to create; often I can’t sleep because I’m creating something new in my mind. The next day I get up and can’t do anything until I implement my new idea.
Jewelry should tell a story, and I try to make my jewelry speak. Maybe that’s my success story.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Sofiyivsky Park in Uman – a fairy tale created by love

In the heart of Ukraine lies one of the grandest parks in Europe – Sofiyivsky Park. It is a place where every alley, every waterfall and every rock is full of stories, romance and breathtaking beauty.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have always been passionate about creativity and, since childhood, dreamed of becoming a designer. I wanted to enroll in university for this specialty, but unfortunately, a tragedy struck my family—my older brother was in an accident and needed long-term treatment. As a result, my dream of studying design remained unfulfilled, and I had to choose a different field—one that my parents could afford financially.

When I gave birth to my son, I started learning how to create beaded jewelry. My greatest support was my family, and my first husband Kostya always inspired me. Every time I created a new piece, he would say, “This is incredibly beautiful, a masterpiece.” Thanks to his encouragement, I found the courage to open my Etsy shop, and step by step, my confidence grew.

In 2017, my heart was shattered—two inhumane people took my husband’s life. I could no longer create. My shop stood still, while inside me, there was a storm of pain and emptiness.

After that, many different events happened in my life. I was raising my son and moving forward. Eventually, I met Artem, and love blossomed between us.

In 2022, Russia launched its full-scale invasion. At that time, we were in Kyiv, and around 5 am in the morning, we grabbed a few essentials and left for my parents’ home, thinking we would return in a week or two. But our lives changed drastically. It was a difficult time—I was left without work.

Anxiety, fear for our lives, and the need for distraction brought me back to creating jewelry. I started working again, making something new—and it helped me stay strong emotionally.

Last year, I gave birth to a baby girl. Now we are a family of four. My family is my greatest inspiration.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyJewelryHelga?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patlyuk/

Twitter: https://x.com/olgapatl?s=21&t=tkzxp7zAk0D9-vqd3JVlvA