Hi, I'm Marilou — and together with my ever-supportive gentleman friend, Joe, we create Mermaid Jewelry.

About seven years ago, we started setting up at farmers markets in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula of Virginia. Joe has always stood beside me, helping bring my wild ideas to life. Three years ago, I retired from teaching high school science to pursue jewelry-making full time — and Joe retired too, just to help me chase this dream.

Since then, we've taken a leap of faith, traveling from Delaware to South Carolina, sharing our handcrafted jewelry at festivals and meeting incredible people along the way.

At the heart of Mermaid Jewelry is a deep love for our local waters. Oysters, a keystone species in the Chesapeake Bay, inspire many of my designs. I’m proud to use locally gathered oyster shells — some even from near George Washington’s birthplace — preserving their natural beauty in resin as if they were just pulled from the water. Joe grinds shells into a fine powder and I use it to add texture and sparkle to resin earrings.

When I imagine a mermaid, I think of her walking along the shore, collecting treasures from the bay — oyster shells, tiny crabs, bits of sea glass — and turning them into something beautiful. That’s the spirit behind every piece I make.

Our mermaid tail jewelry celebrates the magical side of mermaids — the side they tuck away when they walk among us.

Every piece of Mermaid Jewelry is handmade, original, and truly one-of-a-kind. I hope you find something that speaks to the mermaid in you. Wear it proudly — and thank you for supporting our journey.