Mariya Starow, a Peninsula native, has been in love with Big Sur since childhood and Esalen since her first formal visit in 1993. A jewelry designer by trade, her creations have been sold in Macy's and Dilllard's nationwide and more recently at Post Ranch Inn Mercantile and Ventana Inn Gallery.

 

She has always focused on allowing the beauty of the gem itself to create the focal point of the piece and is known for her use of color. While scouting for gem jewelry vendors she fell in love with the raw stones themselves and started importing geode formations and home accessories from Brazil and China.