Karen Lubliner, originally from upstate New York, was a classically-trained chef and restauranteur in San Francisco, Miami and Taos for 32 years. For the last 4 years she has worked in jewelry, most recently for Maria Samora Studio. With an eye for quality and classic, simple design she is there to match the jewelry with the customer. Whether it be diamonds, gold or silver she will, in her unique personable style, work to ensure the connection between the piece and person is affordable and appropriate for a lifetime.

Joshlyn Marino’s passion for beauty and a life full of learning led her down the road to pursue an apprenticeship to become a jeweler. In between her apprenticeship at Samora Studios, working as a legal assistant at a law firm, and being an innkeeper at a quaint and stylish inn, she enjoys many other activities that inspire lifelong pursuit: studying Argentine tango, practices of yoga and Ayurveda, downhill and telemark skiing, mushroom and wild plant foraging, and gardening, to name a few. When not occupied with any of the above, she is found spending time in mountains, near water, or in big cities exploring the world, preferably with friends and dogs.

Native Taoseña, Juniper Cortopassi is a competitive athlete, balloon pilot, beekeeper, outdoor educator and mentor, acequia parciante and most recently, jewelry apprentice… When not out shredding powder at Taos Ski Valley’s West Basin or chasing down Hot Air Balloons across our beautiful Mesa, she can be found assisting in the fabrication of Maria’s clean, modern designs and lending her organizational expertise to our state of the art workshop.