We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cindy Tolhurst. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cindy below.

Cindy , appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My Parents did the best they could. they were not perfect by any means. The parts they got right, they really nailed! They instilled in me a strong confidence in myself. They always told me I could do, and be anything I set my mind to. That there were no limitations and to hold your head high and go for it! My mother was mainly the example of this as I grew up watching, and helping out in her own business ventures. She started out as a teacher for elementary kids. ( I was in her class as a second grader). After that she was a chef and prepared the meals for another school. She then went on to have a very successful catering company and a hamburger stand after that!! Her family had restaurants in the Philippines so the food industry and love for it was in her blood. I never saw her question herself or her dreams. She delved fearlessly into them with abandon and that is exactly how I am!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I was born in the Philippines to a Filipino mother and an Italian-Polish father, and raised in Los Angeles—a city whose creativity and diversity have deeply shaped who I am. I’ve always been drawn to art in all its forms, and from a young age I knew I wanted to become a hairstylist.
As soon as I could, I pursued that path, and I’ve now been a licensed cosmetologist for over 34 years. I truly love what I do. Making people feel confident, beautiful, and seen is at the heart of my work. I specialize in cutting curly hair, which is both a passion and a personal connection of mine. Curls have their own language and challenges, and I take pride in understanding how to shape and work with them in a way that enhances each individual’s natural beauty.

Over the years, I’ve realized that being a hairstylist is about so much more than hair. There’s a deep level of trust between stylist and client—people open up, share their lives, and allow you into their world. It’s something I never take for granted. In many ways, I often feel like part artist, part therapist, and I’m honored to hold that space for others.

My creative journey naturally expanded into jewelry design. What began as a self-taught exploration of wire wrapping, beading, and working with stones evolved into a deeper passion. About eight years ago, I began studying silversmithing, and completely fell in love with the process. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about taking an idea—from wax carving or a simple sheet of metal—and transforming it into a finished, wearable piece of art. I do every step myself, from casting to stone setting to final polishing, and I especially love the problem-solving aspect of bringing a design to life.

During the pandemic, I discovered spoon ring making through a fellow jeweler, and it instantly resonated with me. I’ve always believed in reuse and sustainability, so transforming vintage flatware into jewelry felt like a natural extension of my values and creativity. From that, my line Purposely Repurposed Jewelry was born.

Looking back, it’s amazing to see how simply following what I love has shaped my life. Whether I’m behind the chair or at my workbench, everything I create comes from a place of passion, connection, and intention. I truly feel grateful to be living a life centered around art, creativity, and making others feel their very best.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

To build my salon clientele I filmed small videos and put them out as infomercials back in the day! They really helped bring in clients as I did a lot of color correction and could address their particular issues. I also would offer coupons for certain services.

As for my jewelry business, I do a lot of outdoor pop ups and art festivals. I love meeting people and explaining the process of my jewelry making in person. There is no better feeling than when someone purchases your art and you see how good it makes them feel!

I use instagram and Facebook to promote my shows and website.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I believe what truly defines my work is the love I put into everything I create. Whether it’s a color, a cut, a style, or a piece of jewelry, I’m deeply committed to detail and craftsmanship—and I think that shows. In a world where the market is saturated, it means so much to me when people connect with my work and tell me how beautiful it is.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cindytjewelry.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purposely.repurposed.jewelry