Happy Valentine's Day!

In honor of Valentine's Day, some words from Jeanette Winterson: "This is the day to recognise love in every shape and size and disguise. Known love, new love, love’s ghosts, love’s hopes. Loss is here too, and the spaces in between love. Reclaiming love is the best thing we can do. . . Love your loved ones. Love yourself. Love the stranger." 

Happy Valentine's Day from us! 

xo - Marisa

Why jewelry is the best Valentine's gift to give

Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sidewalk, Diderot, Paris.

So it’s nearly Valentine’s Day and your beloved is, quite possibly and most likely, stressing over your gift. 

Chocolates? Done that. 

Lingerie? Who’s that gift for, really? 

Dinner? Uninspired.

Jewelry? Always and forever a genius idea. Why's that?

When women wear jewelry we adore, especially pieces that have been given to us as gifts, we love when friends notice and ask us about our glittering gold ring or delicate pendant or stunning cuff. We're then given license to subtly boast, “My husband/lover/girlfriend/wife bought this for me.” Our friends thusly and appropriately “Aw” and we’re reminded of how much we’re loved.

Jewelry is for collecting memories, just as much as it’s for adorning. We hold onto these precious things of beauty with the recollection of where they came from, the love that came along with that gift, and the joy we felt upon receiving it. This memory endures along with the piece itself. And when we wear a piece of jewelry, we’re revisiting that moment in time.

Need another reason? If you shop with an independent jewelry designer (such as Tula Design!), you can customize every element of a hand-made ring, necklace, bracelet, or earrings – from the gems to the gold color to the very smallest details. Tula Jewelry, in particular, encourages the use of older pieces in creating new jewelry. By transforming older pieces (heirloom or otherwise) into new creations, Tula Jewelry is championing sustainability and environmental mindfulness. Win/win.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Go get your lady something gorgeous and show your love!

(from guest blogger, Rebecca Cox) 

Kind words and happy clients

I just received this lovely note from one of my clients, along with her gorgeous photos of the custom ring I designed for her. Thank you, Channa!  

She writes: "Thank you. This was my birthday present to myself, and I love all your original designs, as well as this custom job that you did for me. I hope to send many of my brides your way."

Happy clients always make me happy. 

Thank you for keeping me in love with and wholly inspired by what I do!

Custom rings and tiny baby feet

As you know, I specialize in creating custom pieces - from engagement rings and wedding bands to pave diamond earrings, delicate pendants, and one-of-a-kind bracelets, all environmentally-kind in my production and using recycled gold and silver. (All my diamonds are obviously conflict-free.) Working so intimately with clients to create the perfect piece, I often feel a genuine connection with them; they quite often share images of their Tula Design jewelry with me once it's officially become a part of their world. Here's a beauty I'd love to share - a client's engagement and wedding ring, draped on the feet of their newborn babe! Too adorable.

For new and past clients, please feel free to share your photos with me! It's wonderful to know how much these Tula Design pieces are loved by you.

The story of emeralds

I recently made this14K gold bezel set emerald ring, along with its matching 14K gold emerald eternity band.  Absolute beauties together and perfectly symbolic of an enduring love, are they not?

And, in case you didn't know, the Ancient Romans associated emeralds with Venus, the goddess of love, believing the stones embodied fertility and faith while the Ancient Greeks wore emeralds to honor Aphrodite, their own goddess of love, fertility, and beauty. Also said to restore peace, clear the mind, and enhance clairvoyance, emeralds were Cleopatra's favorite gem! Wear this beautiful stone (also the birthstone for May) with the knowledge it is more than simply gorgeous, it carries a great history and restorative, mystical properties.