JoEllen Rivera

Hi! I’m JoEllen. I’m a Jewelry Designer living in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, but I've always been a mermaid at heart. My parents were restaurant entrepreneurs dating back to the '70s, and my sisters and I grew up working in the kitchen and running the register. Masters of achieving the work/life balance, Mom and Pop would scrimp and save and close the business once a year to make sure we had a week away, most often along the coast of the Atlantic.

Mountain life got a bit more exciting when I met and married my very own Pirate of the Caribbean. Rafael was born in Puerto Rico and maintains a close connection to the island. We work hard all year to take our "China Rican" crew to the Isla del Encanto each winter so that Rafa can thaw his frosty NY bones under the warm tropical sun and our three kids can better appreciate their Hispanic roots.

Besides exploring the rich natural beauty of the island and indulging in its tantalizing traditional foods, my favorite activity is combing the beaches for the glittering pieces of silky smooth sea glass presented to us by the tumultuous Caribbean surf.

Sea glass is an enduring symbol of strength, resilience and rebirth. Fragile items are shattered and their pieces are scattered across the landscape. When they make their way to the ocean, the shifting tides and abrasive sand smooth away their jagged edges and leave behind silky frosted gems that are treasured by beach lovers everywhere.

We always pack light when we visit the island so that there's room in our bags to bring back ample supplies of the finest jewelry-grade glass the Caribbean can offer. We're delighted to showcase these gems in our lovingly handcrafted accessories that are as distinctive as the mermaid or sailor who wears them. Our passion is your little piece of paradise!