As a wife, mother, business owner, entrepreneur, content creator, and former Mizzou Tiger, Emily Laurie wears many hats. Or should I say bracelets?
Laurie, 35, is the owner and creator of Onie + Sky, a custom jewelry company based in Springfield, Mo. She took a leap of faith and quit her corporate job in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic to build her jewelry-making business. Since the company was created, Onie + Sky has hit the floors and websites of over 30 retailers in the nation, and her team has made thousands of custom bracelets.
This all came to fruition after Laurie was diagnosed with malignant melanoma.
“I got the phone call and it just literally put life on pause,” said Laurie. “I loved my job, but I just had this calling to do something different.”
Creative by nature, Laurie found an overpriced bracelet on Instagram and decided to make it herself for less than half the price. Three days later, she got a call from her future sister-in-law, Slone, revealing that her cancer had returned in her spine. As a gift of encouragement, Laurie made her a bracelet that read “Slone Strength,” and mailed it to her. Slone posted the bracelet on Instagram and the next day Laurie had 100 orders.
With her marketing background, Laurie created an Instagram handle, got a domain name and went to the bank to set up an account. “Every week I started posting a little bit more and a little bit more, and you know how social media is, it just started growing really fast,” she said.
Soon after officiating her business, Laurie received an order from a local church for 900 bracelets for their women’s conference with a two month turnaround. “That’s when I kind of knew this was something,” she said.
A few months later Laurie made the decision to leave the corporate world. “My dream wasn’t ever to be a bracelet maker, but it was to be a business owner,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business, I just didn’t know what it was.”
The name Onie + Sky comes from Laurie’s two daughters: Sloane, who they call “Onie” and Skylar, who they call “Sky.” Uniquely, the company was officially launched on June 20, the birthday of Laurie’s son, Jackson. The business itself is a sweet homage to her three children.
While trusting her skills, being venturous, and starting her small business, Laurie’s maxim was, “Big risk, big reward,” though the reward she is referring to isn’t fiscal. “The reward has been seeing stories… it’s been being able to maintain a family and a business, but also give back to the community.”
Onie + Sky has made jewelery for those battling cystic fibrosis, cancer research, suicide awareness, and more. Laurie says her passion and heart has always been giving back, which is why she donates to melanoma research with every purchase.
Laurie says she is most grateful for her family, community, and health. Most of her family lives in the Springfield area, but even extended family has supported her from the beginning and helped in building her business from the ground-up.
In September, Onie + Sky will be partnering with 417 Charcuterie and 417 Cocktails to host a design and dine class where participants will make their own charcuterie board, cocktail flight, and signature bracelet. In the past, they have hosted bracelet making events at college sororities, elementary schools, and more.
Laurie graduated from the University of Missouri (MIZ!) in 2008 with a major in communication and minor in political science, and she said it herself, “Once a tiger, always a tiger.”
Stay up-to-date on everything happening with Onie + Sky on their Instagram, @onieandsky. Shoppers can find Onie + Sky’s jewelry at dozens of retailers, but the best way to buy is from onieandsky.com, where customers can shop jewelry products or design their own.