This week, in honor of Mother’s Day, we’d like to introduce you to a mama who’s turned a mother-and-son hobby into something truly unique and beautiful…

Who would have imagined such beautiful treasures washing up on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay? What began as a treasure-hunting adventure for a mother and son has since become a fulfilling and creative outlet for Teri, the artist behind Tide Together. When her son was almost two, the pair would beachcomb along the shore in search of sparkly sea glass, shells and shards of broken pottery. As Teri’s collection quickly grew, she decided to take her boyfriend’s encouragement and start making something of all her loot.

After researching several jewelry making techniques, Teri began crafting pieces for her friends and family. Then in August 2010, her boyfriend’s father suffered a stroke. In hopes of helping to cover his medical costs, Teri and Ryan, her boyfriend, created a fundraiser where several of her pieces were put up for auction. She was quite surprised when a local business approached her later that night and asked if they could carry her line of accessories in their store.

In keeping with the spirit of her first fundraiser, Teri has also helped to launch Creating With Compassion, a group of local artists who work together to raise money and awareness for charitable causes. Check out more of Teri’s collection on Etsy and if you’re in the Maryland area, make sure to check out the Creating With Compassion Facebook page by clicking on the links above.