Monthly Archives: June 2012

A Case for the Unconventional - Alicia

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Engagement rings and wedding bands have long been a custom in Western culture. They date back to ancient Egypt, when it was believed that a ring’s circular shape was a symbol of endless love, and that the opening was a gateway to the events of a life spent together. The ring would be placed on the fourth finger of the left hand – believed to contain what the Romans eventually named the “vena amoris,” or “vein of love” - connecting straight to the heart.

It sounds romantic and all, but marriage has had a rockier past than this little tidbit of history would lead you to believe. Throughout the better part of the past 2000 years, Western marriage was more of a contract for the ownership and control of women than a celebration of love and partnership. As a woman, and a feminist to boot, it can be difficult to fully appreciate the custom.

Fortunately for me, my fellow lady folk, and really anyone who one day wants to marry, while the symbol of engagement and wedding rings remain, the rules of Western engagements and marriages have changed significantly. Thanks to people who became fed up with the status quo, marriages are now partnerships, and in more progressive states in the US it’s a custom everyone is allowed to take part in and benefit from.

Part of the reason I’m really digging working at Turtle Love Co. is that our philosophy stresses the importance of creating a more open and inclusive engagement and wedding culture – one that supports equality and personal expression.

Some people don’t believe in marriage because of its less than ideal past, but like any custom, there is always the option to make it your own. Preserve the points of tradition that work for you and leave the rest in the history books. Or even better – you can create your own traditions. The more our marriage experiences vary, the more open the cultural landscape of marriage becomes.

Even the ancient custom of presenting your partner with engagement ring is fully customizable. If you are a vintage and thrift-store maven or antiques aficionado, a vintage engagement ring might be the best match for your personality. If you like the outdoors and all things natural, you’d probably like a band with an organic twist or an eco-friendly and conflict-free ring. If you aren’t fond of diamonds and love a flash of color, a gemstone engagement ring is probably more your style. I’m crazy about purple, so the main stone of my engagement ring is a brilliant cut amethyst – it’s not very traditional, but neither am I.

The point is to choose what makes you happy and what feels right - to not be scared of bending traditions and customs in a way that works for you. Diversity within wedding culture is a beautiful thing - it helps create a more accepting climate and happier, healthier couples.

By Way of Introduction- Jenny

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Hi there! I’m Jenny, it’s nice to meet you, if only virtually. I am a brand spanking new employee of Turtle Love Co. and I can already tell what a fabulous company it is to work for!

I happened upon the job opening after finishing up an internship at a non-profit, and the timing could not have been more perfect or the position a better fit. The listing was asking for someone versed in customer service, some experience in photography and a love of social media. Enter me: a part time photographer who pins on a daily basis, is trying to write a novel on Figment, and has been practicing customer service since first entering the workforce at age 16. I was so thrilled to get a second interview, and then even more amazed when I was offered the job! Most recent graduates I know are working part time at multiple jobs so I know I’m lucky to be at a job I actually enjoy.

In my down time I am trying to build my photography business, JennyJeanne Photography, something I have been passionate about since my high school years. I am also a pretty focused activist: the views expressed by Turtle Love Co’s philosophy are in line with my own - equality for all! Let me get more specific: I believe in full marriage equality, and women’s rights. I am a feminist: its connotation as “bra-burner” and “man-hater” is ill-earned, it simply means equality between the sexes, equality for the LGBTQQIA community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, queer, questioning, intersexed, and allies) and the questioning of societal norms and/or barriers. This part of me is not shunned by Turtle Love Co, instead it is reinforced and respected.

Back to my role here at TLC - I will be working on a weekly basis to bring you some eye-candy: dress-up Friday photos, photos of new pieces, and maybe even some just-because photos. Keep an eye out as well for my weekly Friday posts, topics will range from keeping it green to all things sparkly.

Cheers!
Jenny

By way of introduction- Alicia

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Hello, Turtle Love Co. friends! My name is Alicia. Pleased to meet you.

About a month ago I happened upon a job listing that spoke of an opportunity to do customer service, social media marketing, and a touch of design for a socially- and ecologically-conscious online jewelry retailer. As an unemployed graphic designer and front desk coordinator with three tumblr accounts, two twitter accounts, a livejournal, a facebook page and about 12 boards on pinterest, it sounded like a match made in heaven. Did I also mention I’ve been collecting silver and gemstone jewelry since I got my very first paycheck from my very first high school job? Yeah, I knew this was the place I was meant to work.

In addition to an internet and jewelry obsession, I have another passion: feminism. Feminists are very misunderstood creatures, so I’ll be clear: Feminism is about being an active supporter of equality and rights for all people. Civil rights, gender equality and marriage equality mean a great deal to me and are things I think about and am vocal about each and every day. Turtle Love Co. shares those same values, and that’s a major reason I feel so privileged to be a part of this family.

So that’s a little bit about me. From now on I’ll be creating posts on the TLC blog every Wednesday about customer service and engagement/wedding culture with a focus on jewelry. I hope you enjoy reading my posts as much as I enjoy writing them.

Alicia

By way of introduction- Aubin

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Saluton, Guten Morgen, and hello to you all! My name is Aubin and I just joined the team at Turtle Love Co. this past month. By way of introduction, here is a post to tell you a little bit about me.

I come from a background that, on the surface, seems to have little to do with selling jewelry. For the past two years I worked as a tour guide and social media maven for a local historic house museum, a job that has left me with a love of history and of having engaging conversations with people I have just had the pleasure of meeting. To balance out being immersed in the 19th century, I started a blog called In the Usual Way that focuses on allergy-friendly recipes, antiquated etiquette, and style using second hand clothing and accessories. My main goal in living my life is to make sure that I live in such a way as to support local business, be equally nice to everyone, and to keep the past in harmony with the present. These are also the things that drew me to Turtle Love Co.

Turtle Love Co.’s philosophy is seen in the products they sell, which can be divided into three categories:

-Artisan jewelry: TLC does more than order rings from local artists. They know each of the artists and have a relationship with them that goes beyond a company and producer. In other words, they support the artists in every sense of the word.

-Eco friendly jewelry: They are conscious of the impact they make on the environment. You can read more about TLC’s commitment to being green here.

-Vintage jewelry: If I allow myself to have a favorite (and sometimes I do) it would be our vintage jewelry. There’s a delicious mystery to vintage that allows you to create your own story and, best of all, it’s going to be one of a kind, just like the person wearing it.

As the weeks progress, I will be, in addition to updating our Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest accounts, writing posts with a decidedly historical flavor on this blog. If you have a suggestion of something you would like to learn more about that’s related to jewelry and history, just let me know!