Handmade Turtle Jewelry | MIMOSA Handcrafted

There’s a deep knowing in the slow and steady determination of a turtle bound for its destination. The kind of knowing that represents eons of hard-earned wisdom aimed at survival.

This collection is an homage to some of our favorite Louisiana turtles.

Handmade Louisiana Turtle Jewelry

Of all the critters a kid can carry home in their pockets, a baby red-eared slider comes with some of the most bragging rights.

Around here, all you need is water, and not much of it. A ditch, a bayou, a creek, or a pond with a log is bound to be covered in turtles soaking up the warm sun.

'80s kids will tell you these “heroes in a half-shell” have a special place in their hearts, but that’s true for humans going back to the beginning. The turtle shows up in more than one origin story, carrying the whole of creation on its back. Older than the oldest known dinosaur, the turtle is celebrated across time and cultures as a symbol of perseverance, longevity, patience, and stability.

There’s a deep knowing in the slow and steady determination of a turtle bound for its destination. The kind of knowing that represents eons of hard-earned wisdom aimed at survival.

This collection is an homage to some of our favorite Louisiana turtles:

• The alligator snapping turtle – the one that comes with stories of legend for most of us
• The red-eared slider – the one many of us have carried home in a pocket
• The box turtle – the one most likely to visit you in your backyard
• The softshell turtle – the standout with its smooth, flat shell and long, pointed head
• The mud turtle – a shiny little potato-shaped friend

One Turtle's Modeling Debut

We promise we didn't put out a casting call for this one. But almost as if he knew we'd been searching for the perfect way to launch the Turtle Collection, this little friend wandered into the yard one afternoon, totally camera-ready! Our photos with him are now some of our very favorites.

The other two times he showed up in the yard? The day Madeline started carving the Turtle Collection and the day we launched it.

A Nod to the Red-Eared Slider Turtle

The red-eared slider's shell inspired our design for the Turtle Earrings, Turtle Necklace, and Turtle Ring.

MIMOSA Handcrafted's Turtle Shell Jewelry

Local Sunbathers: Louisiana Turtles on a Log

You'll find a whole line of Louisiana-local turtles soaking up the sun on this little log, including one teeny tiny turtle. This design features the alligator snapping turtle, red-eared slider, box turtle, softshell turtle, and mud turtle.

Lost Wax Cast Jewelry

Our wax department injected a silicone mold of the Turtle Cuff with hot blue wax. As it cooled, the wax took the shape of the cuff, down to every little detail.

Fun Facts about Turtles

1. As cold-blooded animals, turtles sunbathe to help regulate their body temperature.

2. Most turtles are omnivores, consuming both plants and animals.

3. The red-eared slider is one of the more popular turtle species to have as a pet.

Our workshop may be in the middle of a buzzing Baton Rouge, but we couldn't be more grateful to have this pocket of nature teeming with turtles right in our backyard. ...Perhaps waiting to become a MIMOSA design all along. ;)