I grew up on Anna Maria Island, where the Gulf was never more than a few minutes away. Some of my earliest memories are of salt water and sand between my toes — and somewhere in there, I fell in love with mermaids. I still remember watching Splash and being completely captivated. There was something about a mermaid that just made sense to me.
Why the Mermaid?
Mermaids have shown up in stories across nearly every coastal culture for centuries — sailors' legends, folklore, fairy tales. But what's always drawn me to them isn't just the myth. It's what they represent: a creature completely at home in the water, strong enough to navigate an entire ocean on her own terms.
That's the same spirit I wanted Crabby Mermaid to carry. Independent. Strong. Deeply connected to the sea. A mermaid doesn't need permission to belong in the water — she just does. I think a lot of us feel that way about the ocean, even if we're standing on dry land more often than not.
More Than a Name
When I started this business, "Crabby Mermaid" wasn't just a name that sounded fun (though it does). It was a nod to that independent, salt-in-her-veins spirit — the woman who feels most like herself with sand on her feet and the tide pulling at her ankles.
Every mermaid piece I curate carries a little of that same energy — a reminder that you can be soft and strong at the same time, just like the sea herself.
