Pleasurable Conversations: Julyssa Rose
Some words from the Chicago-based artist, designer, and metalsmith behind July Rose Jewelry.
I vividly remember the moment I came across Julyssa’s work. Never before had I come across jewelry that gave me such an immediate, strong reaction. Nostalgia, joy, desire, love, warmth, all at once.
It’s what makes Julyssa’s jewelry brand, July Rose, such a special work of art. I admire the dedication and relentless care she pours into her craft. Every piece radiates magic. Every piece is made to be held, worn, gifted, cherished. If you have a July Rose piece in your collection, you know what I mean.
I’m grateful I was able to ask Julyssa a few questions about her work, her poetry, what excites her, what brings her joy, and so much more.
Please enjoy the following with a warm cup of tea.
First off, I’m so happy that our paths crossed. I found you from a TikTok and the first piece I fell in love with was the Finca Ring. It reminded me so much of the stories my parents would tell me of their childhoods. How do you think your childhood and/or memories inspire July Rose?
I love to hear that the Finca Ring was the first piece you enjoyed. That piece was extremely difficult to craft and has so much sentiment to me.
My childhood and my memories are probably the most important facet of July Rose. I like to view it as an opportunity to tie everything I know back together, in that my younger, imaginative self can influence and inspire me in my adulthood, and in return, I can honor and acknowledge her in ways that she did not receive.
It’s been so lovely to see your work over time. I have the Fish Milagro, Horse Milagro, and Heart Milagro in my collection. I’ve been admiring all the new work you’ve been creating, too, like the Swan and Nameplates. What are you currently working on that you’re excited about?
I am really excited about working with these unique and colorful salt and pepper diamonds I have curated. I think their uniqueness and “flaws” are a perfect addition to the July Rose world. I am planning to do a one of one drop of each diamond, and design the ring for each customer—it is going to be really special.
In your October Secret Door Newsletter, you mention the first jewelry you made before the Milagros was flawless, and then you leaned into “the heartfelt nature of [a more] simplistic (in appearance) work.” What do you think made you start leaning more toward that “simpler” direction?
The shift from perfect mirror shiny hoop earrings to worn, antique-inspired pendants was completely due to the mental health crisis I endured in April of 2022. I dealt with it for a few weeks in Chicago and when I was finally ready to release and take a break from responsibility, I stayed with my partner in Arizona for a month. Days still felt really hard for me, and getting out of bed sometimes felt like my feet were made of concrete. My partner was in school at the time so he’d be away all day, and I would be on his balcony drinking coffee, dodging bees, writing, reading, until one day I borrowed his car and drove through dry Arizona roads to find a secluded jewelry shop. Some days when he would come home we would go to the bookstore and buy used books, but almost everyday we went and walked on a road with a whole bunch of ranches, and there were horses everywhere. Sometimes we wouldn’t speak at all, and he would let me just walk and watch them while the sun set and the heat actually felt tolerable.
The horses served as a healing friend in that time, so I was inspired to make a simple horse pendant that was free of perfection and pressure. It really was a piece of my heart, a reflection of a broken self finally mended and toughened and a little worn, just like the Milagros were.
You often refer to your work as poetry. Can you talk more about jewelry as poetry?
Jewelry as poetry is my way of articulating how deeply artistic and personal these works are to me. Unlike many jewelers, I did not start with an initial passion or interest in jewelry itself. I was never one to wear much jewelry, I did not notice it on others. Instead, jewelry felt like the perfect vessel to conjure my inner worlds into something tangible, delicate and valuable, and to something that can subtly transform the wearer as a person.
Many of my works are dynamic and intricate, like the Grand Swan or Starry Lamb. They are an extension of my poetry to be worn and displayed and hopefully talked about and elaborated on. The pieces are to be dreamy so the wearer can create their own storyline to share with people who compliment the pieces. So many July Rose wearers have told me they have named their milagros and have backstories for them. I love this!! It is exactly the world I hoped to create.
The seasons, especially fall, inspire your work. Do you ever struggle with inspiration during other seasons, and if so, how do you stay inspired throughout the year?
Surprisingly, I don’t struggle with finding inspiration throughout the other seasons. As I have evolved, I enjoy spring and summer more than I have in the past, but I still thrive in the fall and winter. I think that using my jewelry as a source of inspiration has helped me during slow periods. I know this sounds contradicting, but one of the most core aspects of my jewelry design process is imagining where I will be and who I can be when wearing my pieces. Living in that imaginative space pulls me through.
Your tea tray videos have been such a delight to watch. I trust your taste in teas, so I need to know: what are some of your favorite teas that we should all be drinking?
I would say that my all around favorite, safe bet black tea is the Wedding Imperial black tea by Mariage Freres. It is so gorgeous, caramel-y and luxe, it is a dream. However, I always recommend to everyone a basic, single-note chamomile tea, which is my cure for everything. It is the simplest key to anxiety relief, tummy aches, trouble sleeping. The list goes on, and you should make it your mission to find your safe chamomile that you always have in your cabinet.
Florence, your dog, is so precious. How has your day-to-day routine changed with her being part of your life now?
Florence has changed every single aspect of my day-to-day routine, wow. I knew that she would, but to the extent that she has, I did not anticipate. As a business owner and young woman living alone, it feels like the responsibility is multiplied by ten. It has been hard! 12 hour days at my studio now look like 4 or 6, and that has been a bit of a strain on me because I love working and getting into the meditative flow of production of my jewelry. I have to take breaks to play with her and take her on walks, but I will say this: her presence in my life has transformed me in a way I didn’t know was possible. Her crazy but deeply loving spirit is so reflective of my own, and her and I just experience the world together; always together. Our daily walks are so cherished. I get to experience my neighborhood in a new way, and watch her explore just a few steps ahead of me, and I admire gently and quietly, so as not to disturb her adventure.
She is my world and my soul. So yes, it is hard to get as much work done as I would like to, but I do not burn out bimonthly anymore. I don’t think that is just a coincidence <3
It seems like you surround yourself and your home with beautiful objects that bring you joy. Are there any specific objects that are extra special to you or you find yourself constantly gravitating toward?
I feel like making my home a personal gallery is one of my driving forces for so many of my goals. There is nothing I love more. I think some of the things I always refer back to are my little animal figurines. I have so many from so many different places that they are all in different corners of my home, and I am consciously seeking them out probably once a day. Right now within arms reach are two of my favorites. One is this muted-colored handmade duck that was made in Mexico and brought to Laredo, Texas, which is my partner’s hometown, and I bought it during my first trip there. The other one is a donkey lying down that I purchased at a religious store in Rome, Italy. It is to be a part of a nativity scene, but I keep it out year round. I try to buy a little animal from everywhere I travel to, and I have been mostly successful.
July Rose is described as “Forever pieces created to be messengers of nostalgia and tokens of moments not yet lived.” Are there any future moments you look forward to experiencing while wearing your pieces?
I have to say one of my most cherished details of my business is this description, because it is exactly how I navigate my inspiration and creation and daily living. Every piece has been made with this in mind to some degree. Right now, I am really looking forward to wearing my rings in the forest when my partner comes to visit for Christmas. I have added some rings to my daily wear, like my 18K Heirloom Pinky Ring and this blue diamond ring I made myself. I just adore and live for wearing my fine jewelry in messy and unexpected places and moments.
Maybe it’s “not that deep,” but I really attribute this detail to not having money growing up, and finally at my age now being able to be so free of scarcity and anxiety in regards to things. Wearing my own jewelry is my way to battle the fear when it ever arises. It’s like, nothing bad is going to happen because I can always make a new one should it get lost or ruined. The precious part of it all is being able to be hiking in a forest in the winter, holding my partners hand in solid gold rings, inviting scratches and the patina that will be added from the trees I touch.
What are some of your small pleasures in life?
Coffee on a cold saturday morning with my parents, there is nothing better. Hiking with my partner in the winter. An uninterrupted multi-hour talk with my little sister. Journaling on a vacation. Having a seamless conversation with a stranger. A good hair day. Having a phone call with my grandma and my Spanish actually makes sense. Getting changed into my pajamas. Getting into bed at the end of the day and feeling the gratitude wash over me as I fall asleep.
Julyssa’s posts are a breath of fresh air. You can keep up with her on Instagram and TikTok. And you can follow July Rose Jewelry on Instagram and their website.
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Loved this conversation!! As a jewelry maker, Julyssa’s approach is so inspiring for my own work ✨