I’ve been fascinated with jewelry ever since I was a little girl. My exceptionally stylish and colorful grandmother had an entire closet devoted solely to her amazing jewelry collection. To a three-year-old it was a treasure chest of precious jewels and I thought it was the most magical place in the world!  Every time I visited my grandmother I got to play dress up in all of the baubles and she always let me take a favorite piece home. 

My love of jewelry translated into jewelry making when I was in elementary school.  My earliest pieces used odds and ends left over from school art projects, my mom’s junk box or local garage sale finds.  The warm beaches of southern California were also a great source of materials for my designs.  Growing up a stone’s throw from the Pacific Ocean, I spent many days collecting treasures from the shore, using sea glass and shells to make necklaces.   I spent most of my summers living in Mexico so I would bring my jewelry down there and sell it to my friends.  I had a mini exporting business started by age 10, selling each piece for a whole $1.00! 

Over the years jewelry designing remained a hobby until I was a graduate student and started selling my jewelry again to help pay for tuition.  By the time I completed graduate school my jewelry was in three stores locally and that’s when I decided to turn my hobby into a business. 

Natalie Mingura Jewelry officially began in my apartment in 2001.  Since then I have devoted myself to making jewelry as a full time passion and business. I currently sell my jewelry to boutiques across the country.  Once a year I travel back to my roots in Mexico, working with silversmiths in the hillside town of Taxco to create new designs.

My collections are not just jewelry but stories. I see a little of myself in each collection whether it’s the wandering bohemian or island girl walking along the beach.  Each piece is a little glimpse into my life; the places I’ve traveled and lived and the people and things I’ve relished along the way. My hunt for treasures has led me to a passion for exploring new places. I gather bits and pieces that peak my inteest and create jewelry that reminds me of the beauty around me and in the world.