Things you didn't know about UCU employees...

Spot light on:

Olya Melnyk

Olya wearing one of her
favourite gerdany

Did you know that Olya Melnyk is a gerdany-making artist? This began as a hobby for Olya about ten years ago during a visit to the Caravan Pavilion (remember those?) at St. Vladimir Insitute on Spadina in Toronto. As she was touring the pavilion, a deep desire to learn this art form grasped at her very soul. Olya took a class with the renowned bead master Maria Rypan and she was hooked. She learned the basic technique and made it her own, taking inspiration for her designs from nature and fashion.

With a needle and thread she weaves Czech glass beads into jewelry pieces that accessorize any wardrobe. She displays and sells her beadwork at various bazaars and hopes to one day attend the One Of A Kind Show (let's hope she does, that show is awesome!).

A small selection of Olya's beautiful work.

Olya can be found at her day job at the UCU call center as a Telephone Service Officer helping members out with transactions and answering questions about UCU services

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