Her business; Designworks, which began operating in Cork just over four years ago, is a small workshop based operation specialising in the design and manufacture of jewellery for individual and retail sale.

At her workshop in the Winthrop Arcade, Tuula designs, composes and sells her own jewellery which ranges from one-off exclusive pieces in 18ct gold and platinum, to contemporary modern ranges in silver and stainless steel.

As a youngster, she never imagined that opening her own business was the way her career path would run but instead envisioned that she would work in an artistic capacity.

At the tender age of 16, Tuula was afforded the opportunity to visit Italy on a trip that would shape her career path. Staying in the home of German Master Goldsmith, Gabrielle Muller Hefter, she became very interested in the traditional craft of  making jewellery and in 1993 took an apprenticeship under her host. She studied under Gabrielle’s tuition for three years, learning the intricacies of her craft and of the business.

After her apprenticeship, Tuula travelled to Finland, the homeland of her mother, where she gained insight  into the minimalist and functional features for which Finnish Design is famous, a factor which continues to influence her work today.

In 1997, she returned to Ireland where she worked as a goldsmith both in Waterford and in Cork before  she decided to undertake a BA (hons.) in Metalwork and Jewellery, at Sheffield Hallam University from 1998 to 2000. Tuula explained that this helped to broaden the skills she  had already gained and develop the ones she had less experience in.

It was during this time at Sheffield Hallam University that Tuula was commissioned by the DFBA Enterprise Group, to make a piece which was presented to the President of Ireland Mary McAleese on the opening of the Enterprise Centre in Dunhill, Co Waterford, an opportunity which helped to strengthen her strong reputation in Ireland.

After her studies Tuula returned to Ireland and four years ago she set up Designworks in Cork.