Bringing Home a Piece of the Coast: How My Resin Art Business Began
Souvenir shopping is a must when traveling to new places. You want something to remind you of what you saw, felt, and experienced.
When I moved to Florida in 2020, I’ll never forget the first time I stepped onto the beautiful, sugary white sand of Navarre Beach. As I gazed out at the breathtaking ocean waters, I was in awe! The vibrant blue and green hues were unlike anything I had ever seen. On the shore, I was equally amazed by the abundance of seashells scattered along the beach. I felt like a little kid on an Easter egg hunt—every step I took, I spotted another incredible shell.
“Oh, look at this one! Oh, that one is so pretty!”
I wanted to bottle up everything—the colors, the textures, the feeling of being there—and take it with me. Thankfully, I didn’t have to. I lived here! I felt so lucky to have an endless supply of treasures to remind me of this coastal paradise.
Turning Beach Treasures into Art
Over the next few months, I collected countless shells and displayed them throughout my home. I made a wreath of shells, a nautical star collage, seashell-bordered frames, and other coastal-inspired décor. Crafting has always been a passion of mine, and with each trip to the beach, I came home with new materials and new ideas.
I had always been curious about working with epoxy resin, so I finally bought a starter kit off Amazon and started experimenting. I played around with different molds, pigments, and mix-ins, and before I knew it, I had created my first beach-themed initial keychain. It turned out so cute that I started making them as gifts for family and friends. The more I worked with resin, the more I loved it. It quickly became my favorite hobby.
From Hobby to Business
In late 2021, some of my relatives visited from New Jersey, and like so many others, they fell in love with the gorgeous Gulf Coast. They wanted to take home a souvenir, so we visited several local shops.
“Everything is so expensive!” they kept saying. And they were right. After spending so much on their trip—vacation rentals, food, and other expenses—souvenirs felt like just another high cost. That’s when it hit me: Why are people charging an arm and a leg for this stuff? I could make affordable souvenirs for them!
One of my cousins suggested, “You should sell your resin pieces!” At first, I wasn’t sure, but the idea stuck with me. I decided to list a few of my creations on Facebook Marketplace—and to my surprise, people were interested! Before long, I had a growing customer base, and my hobby turned into something more. Eventually, I took the next step and rented a small space at A Special Place, a local gift shop, where people could find my handmade resin art in person.
Bringing the Beach to You
There’s something special about bringing home a piece of a place you love. It feels good knowing that my creations allow people to take home a meaningful, handmade souvenir—one that’s crafted with care by a local artisan, not mass-produced at a high markup.
If you’re looking for a unique and affordable way to remember your time on the Gulf Coast, stop by A Special Place in Navarre or check out my latest creations online!