About Us

Can I share a secret? For years, I never felt like I was "enough" of a military spouse.

We didn’t live on base, PCS every two years, or face frequent deployments. My idea of a “typical” military spouse lifestyle certainly didn’t match our family’s experience. It wasn't until after my husband retired from the Navy and I took a chance on entrepreneurship that I found my military spouse sisterhood.

After hearing diverse stories from military spouses of all ages, I finally understood that there isn’t a set of rules that makes any of us more qualified to be military families than others. We all share a common bond and that's our pride for and devotion to our military heroes.

Flash back to 1993 as the ink dried on my college diploma and I set off into the world with a degree in biology and a civilian job with the Department of Defense. Little did I know that a very cute U.S. Navy Corpsman had a last-minute change of duty station and was assigned to the same research lab I was working in.

After an introduction by mutual friends, Brian and I were inseparable, and he asked me to marry him three months after we met – a story that we have in common with lots of fellow military families.

I was fortunate to continue working as a scientist throughout Brian’s active-duty service, but like so many military spouses, two PCSs forced me to give up jobs I loved and finding employment in the career field I had trained for felt next to impossible.

My career took a backseat to military life, and I struggled with my identity as a military spouse, mother, and scientist. Juggling all the responsibilities left me constantly overwhelmed, anxious, and living on autopilot.

For years, I was focused on the next big milestone, hardly ever stopping to enjoy the small wins and everyday moments.

It wasn’t until after my husband retired from the Navy in 2007 that the puzzle pieces of my life started fitting together.

As a lifelong creative, my hobbies have always been my passion – from photography to scrapbooking, art journaling, and eventually jewelry making, which sparked an idea for a business that honored our family’s deep military roots and the community that had given so much to us over the years – it was time to give back. 

Charliemadison Originals was born out of a desire to connect and inspire fellow military families around the world, to uplift the military spouse community that often feels like they’re standing in the shadows, and to give back to those who serve.

While science pays the bills, entrepreneurship has given me purpose and connected me to a network of military spouses who are passionate, determined, and committed to supporting one another.

What do you get when you combine Charlotte and Madison?

Charliemadison – it’s a combination of my daughters' names and a nod to family ties. Naming the business after my daughters honors our belief that life is lived in the everyday moments with those you call family - whether it’s the family you were born into or the ones you choose along the way.

Military families, especially, understand how essential this is, as we weave together a new “family” with every move from one duty station to the next.

The unique bond we share with our chosen families, forged through service and a common purpose, creates a community we can lean on during the crazy ups and downs of active-duty service and throughout life after retirement.

It’s that community bond that sparked the idea for jewelry that keeps us connected to our loved ones and military heroes through every season and transition of military life.

Our meaningful jewelry unites you with family and friends near and far, reassures you that you’re not alone during the uncertainties of military life, and helps you share sentimental gifts with the “family” who have encouraged you throughout your journey.

Our team is small but mighty!

After graduating with a degree in business and marketing, Madison has become my partner in crime. While it’s just the two of us running the day-to-day operations, our family is always there to support us in a pinch. Most importantly, whenever we need a little professional help – from accounting to copywriting, graphics, or photography – we are proud to support fellow military spouse-owned businesses.

As I look back on my life, I see that the seeds of community connection and service to others were planted very early on.

My father served in the U.S. Navy and continued as a public servant until his retirement. As a child, I lived the first eight years of my life in foreign countries - Haiti, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and China. Later in life, while my husband served in the U.S. Navy, we lived in Okinawa, Japan from 2000-2003.

Long before cell phones and the internet kept us connected to our loved ones, we built our close-knit communities from those we were stationed with, many whom have become lifelong friends.

After graduating from college in 1993, I began my science career as a public servant and have continued to dedicate my life to public service with four different government agencies. Discovering entrepreneurship allowed me to continue serving a community that has been such a big part of our lives over the years.

Our family is filled with military heroes, spanning three generations and four branches of service. To honor not only our family, but also the military community we’ve been so proud to be a part of, we donate 5% of all sales from our shop to non-profit organizations that support service members and their families.

When you purchase from our small business, it’s not just us doing a happy dance. It’s also the many others you’re helping us serve!