Our story
Meet Rachel Knotts, the artist behind Tidewater Trove
Tidewater Trove began in March 2024 as a hobby: searching the shores of the Potomac River for worn glass and pottery. Today Rachel handcrafts every piece herself, from the moment a fragment is found to the moment it becomes a finished treasure.
Meet Rachel
From a riverbank hobby to wearable heirlooms
I’m Rachel Knotts, the founder and artist behind Tidewater Trove. What began with the simple joy of searching the shores of the Potomac River soon became something much more meaningful.
Tidewater Trove's name connects Virginia's Tidewater heritage with the tidal shores of the Potomac River near Dumfries and Occoquan, where I gather the historic glass and pottery that inspire each creation.
I fell in love with the history held within every worn piece of glass and pottery: the patterns, colors and tiny details that offered clues to another time. I began transforming my finds into both home goods and jewelry as a way to preserve their stories and allow them to be appreciated again.
Today, every Tidewater Trove piece is thoughtfully handcrafted, from the moment a fragment is discovered along the river to the moment it becomes a finished treasure.
I especially love that each piece is completely unique. It may have spent generations beneath the water, but its story is not over.
My greatest joy is giving these forgotten fragments new life and watching them become meaningful heirlooms for the people who wear them.
Treasures from the Potomac
Why the Potomac?
The Potomac River has carried centuries of American history along its shores. Among its stones and sand are fragments of pottery and glass from generations past: pieces once belonging to plates, vessels, bottles and other everyday objects.
Time and water soften their edges while preserving glimpses of their original colors, patterns and markings.
Each fragment is carefully selected and prepared by hand, but never reshaped, so its history and natural character stay at the heart of the finished design. Because the river has shaped every piece differently, each Tidewater Trove creation is truly one of a kind.
Read the history behind the finds
On Good Morning Washington
In June 2026 Rachel joined ABC7’s Good Morning Washington to share how she turns treasures found along the Potomac River into handcrafted jewelry and keepsakes. The segment is titled “Tidewater Trove Crafts Coastal-Inspired Jewelry & Keepsakes from Potomac River.”
Watch the feature on WJLA.com (opens in a new tab)Milestones
The Tidewater Trove story so far
: the first finds
Rachel starts searching the Potomac shoreline and turning her favorite fragments into jewelry and home goods, just for the joy of it.
: the first vendor fairs
Tidewater Trove pieces head to their first vendor fairs, where shoppers can try them on and hear the stories behind the finds.
: Tidewater Trove LLC
The hobby becomes a business: Tidewater Trove LLC, based in Dumfries, Virginia.
: on the shelves in Occoquan
Tidewater Trove jewelry starts selling at Urban Posh Boutique, 203 Washington St in Historic Occoquan.
: on Good Morning Washington
Rachel shares her work on ABC7’s Good Morning Washington.
Today: the charm bar
Rachel brings a make-your-own charm bar to markets and private parties, alongside custom orders and new one-of-a-kind pieces. About the charm bar.
Handcrafted with history
Made with intention, never repeated
Each Tidewater Trove design begins with an authentic piece of river-found pottery or glass. Every fragment keeps the shape it washed up in. Rachel cleans it, carefully drills it, sometimes adds hand-applied metallic gold leafing accents, and builds a design that honors its natural beauty and history.
Pieces are finished by hand using carefully chosen chains, stones, beads, clasps and other details. From subtle everyday necklaces to statement pieces and meaningful custom creations, every design is made with intention, and no two will ever be exactly the same.
Own a piece of the river’s story
Browse one-of-a-kind pieces, or ask Rachel to design something around a person, memory or milestone.