Since before recorded history began, human beings have celebrated their relationships with beautiful adornments. From wedding rings to friendship bracelets, gifts of customized jewelry can add an additional layer of meaning.
Megan Nuqul knows this well. Tired of paying for low-quality merchandise that didn’t last, Nuqul undertook the challenge of creating high-quality, simply beautiful jewelry—including permanent jewelry.
Photograph by Hannah Wong
Permanent jewelry is made with a custom-fit chain that is welded shut using a tool called a micro-welder, resulting in a clasp-free bracelet, necklace, anklet, or ring. Nuqul has delicate chains available in many styles and materials, and she perfectly matches them to the client’s taste and sizing preferences. Like a modern friendship bracelet, they stay on for as long as you want, but can be easily removed using nail clippers.
Photograph by Hannah Wong
The products you’ll find at The Little Refinery are always made from waterproof and nickel-free sterling silver, 14k gold fill, or 14k solid gold. Each piece is fashioned to complement your lifestyle and last for years to come.
Nuqul herself is lovely and dark-haired, warm and enthusiastic. A former special education teacher and mother of two young children, her genuine fondness for her fellow human beings is evident in how she speaks of both her former students and the clients whom she now serves.
Photograph by Hannah Wong
“My favorite part about maker’s markets is always building relationships with customers, fellow creatives, and small business owners,” she tells me. “It’s so much more meaningful than just selling a piece online. In-person experiences are just irreplaceable. And making jewelry is a good fit for this season of my life. It’s a business that allows me to be the kind of mom I want to be while still getting to create and have some adult time.”
Apart from appearances at makers markets, and pop-ups, The Little Refinery is also available for private events. She recently helped a bride commemorate the moment with her bridesmaids with a round of friendship bracelets, as well as assisting a group of clients who wanted to remember a departed loved one in a special way.
Photograph by Hannah Wong
Nuqul understands that there are relationships, events, and even passages of life that can be given deeper resonance with a small, ceremonial gesture. Whether celebrating life or offering touching solidarity in memorial, Nuqul’s twin talents of empathy and style shine through.
But it isn’t all serious.
Nuqul recently added a charm bar to the list of activities and services available from The Little Refinery. There, clients can design their own charm necklaces and bracelets. You can find this at her event table or, for a minimum of six participating members, she’ll bring the whole thing to you, so you and your friends can enjoy the fun of creating jewelry that tells your story in your own home.
Photograph by Hannah Wong
Whether you come to a pop-up or book a private event, Nuqul will assemble each piece then and there so that each person goes away with a souvenir of a memorable time spent together.
Bellingham thelittlerefinery.shop
