One of my first memories is me jumping out of my dad’s truck at San Onofre State beach, chocolate donuts sticky on my hands, running out onto the cold, velvet sand at dawn, and staring at the looming surf in front of me. I grew up surfing, swimming, diving, fishing, sailing, and growing in the ocean. All of my childhood experiences involve nature, but most vividly the ocean. I have surrounded myself with art in nature’s image my entire life, and after an undeniable feeling of needing to create myself, I established MelissaJJewelry.

I create handmade products in nature’s image, based on my life experiences in the ocean and amidst nature. My recent transition to the PNW has led me to further my exploration of Mother Nature’s elements into harder metals and hammered textures. The origin of MelissaJJewelry is my line of classic freshwater pearl earrings, and I strive to forge metal and gemstones in all illustrations of nature amidst my new home in the forest.

You will find that as I grow this business, the saturation of Scandinavian culture will increase as I pay homage to my Norwegian ancestry and Viking heritage.