Hello,
My name is Mimi Motsay
I started making jewelry in 2022 while traveling through Costa Rica at 18. I originally went for a study abroad program, but after being locked in my house for two years, school was honestly the last thing on my mind. One night, I packed a bag and left in the middle of the night, catching the first bus I saw to a tiny Jamaican town on the southeast coast of Costa Rica called Puerto veija.
Life there was simple — and beautifully chaotic. I would make jewelry on the beach and, once I had enough money for some fruit and bread, I’d spend the rest of the day swimming, exploring the rainforest, or lounging in the sun. It was a time of total freedom and discovery. After leaving Costa Rica I went on to spend the next two years traveling in the Caribbean, gathering inspiration (and beads) everywhere I went.
That’s where the foundations of By Mimi was born. My pieces began as small reflections of that life — colorful, spontaneous, and full of movement.
I make everything by hand and design intuitively, letting inspiration come as it pleases. I always keep a little pouch of beads, wire, and pliers with me because you never know when the urge to create will strike (and, honestly, it’s usually more fun than whatever else is happening).
I work with gold, sterling silver, shells, crystals, gemstones, and beads. Many of the materials used come from the places I travel. Every piece I make carries a little bit of story with it: the sound of waves, the color of the sky, or the feeling of being free somewhere new.