What began as family outings collecting seashells along the shore has blossomed into a jewelry business for Marblehead resident Mikaila Howie, whose handcrafted creations are now sold on Nordstrom’s website.
Howie, 37, has combined her background in fashion with her love of the ocean to launch The Lobster’s Daughter, a jewelry brand inspired by the colors, shapes and treasures of the sea.
“I believe art is everything, and it’s everywhere,” Howie said.
Art has long been a part of Howie’s life. A former ballet dancer who attended performing arts schools, she spent seven years working in the fashion industry. She began as an intern at Vince Camuto in New York City and rose to become head of public relations for the SJP Collection, Sarah Jessica Parker’s namesake footwear brand.
Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Howie lives in Marblehead’s Old and Historic District with her family. They also spend part of the year in Delray Beach, Florida, where her husband runs a boating technology company.
When her two sons, now 4 and 5, were younger, the family frequently collected treasures along the coastlines of Marblehead and South Florida. Their finds included sea glass, sunset-colored scallop shells and “shiny stones,” as her children called them.
“One day, I was staring at our growing collection and thought, I want to make something out of this,” said Howie.
In June 2024, she founded The Lobster’s Daughter, a name inspired by watching Marblehead lobstermen bring in their catches.
“As a mother of two rough-and-tumble boys, I like to think that The Lobster’s Daughter has become my third child — my patient, creative and feminine daughter,” Howie joked.
Her handcrafted jewelry draws inspiration from the ocean’s colors and organic shapes. Rather than striving for uniformity, Howie embraces natural imperfections, asymmetry and unexpected combinations.
“Each piece, or as I call them ‘treasure,’ should evoke the feeling as if it just washed upon the shore,” Howie said.
What started as a creative outlet has grown into a business. Howie sells her jewelry at The Local Noon shop in Marblehead and at seasonal pop-up events during the summer and holidays. All pieces are priced under $250.
She has built a loyal community of customers she affectionately calls her “Lobster Crew.”
But running a small business comes with challenges, particularly when popular designs sell out. Howie said she often returns to making jewelry after her children have gone to bed, working to keep up with demand.
Looking ahead, she hopes to expand The Lobster’s Daughter while staying true to the inspiration behind it: bringing a little piece of the shoreline wherever life takes her.
For aspiring artists and entrepreneurs, Howie encourages persistence and finding personal meaning in their work.
“(Art) doesn’t have to mean the same thing to everyone. It just has to mean something to you,” Howie said.
