By M. Shaye Smith
Marilu Morgan never planned to launch a Mahjong business.
For the Destin artist known for capturing the beauty of the Emerald Coast, inspiration arrived in an unexpected place: a Mahjong table.
When she couldn’t find a set that reflected the beauty of the Emerald Coast, she created her own. Filled with hand-drawn illustrations of native flowers, emerald waters, sugar-white beaches and nods to Destin’s fishing heritage, the collection has quickly become a local favorite and is now finding homes on Mahjong tables across the country.
Known for her vibrant, colorful coastal artwork celebrating the Emerald Coast lifestyle, Morgan has built a following through pieces that capture the beauty and charm of coastal living. Designing a Mahjong collection became a natural extension of the place that has inspired her work for years.
When she searched for a set that matched her artistic style, Morgan realized something was missing. “There are so many beachy sets out there,” Morgan said. “I really wanted one that reflected the place I call home.”
So, she picked up her pencil and designed one herself.
Not intending to sell the collection, she shared the finished set with friends before posting a video on Instagram. The response surprised her. “I posted a video on Instagram and it blew up,” she said. “I knew I had stumbled on something special at that point.”
That personal project has since grown into the Emerald Coast Mahjong Collection, a hand-illustrated tribute to Northwest Florida.
Every tile is illustrated by Morgan without AI-generated artwork or clip art. Native flowers, local wildlife, emerald waters and sugar-white beaches all appear throughout the collection. Even the backs of the tiles feature a photograph Morgan captured while at the beach with her children, transformed into a watercolor-inspired wave pattern.
The local touches continue throughout the set. The Joker tiles depict tourists, her husband’s suggestion, with one featuring a fisherman proudly holding a red snapper, a nod to Destin’s fishing heritage.
Morgan also credits the local Mahjong community with helping shape the collection. She learned the game from local instructor Morgan Smith, leaned on Jenn Marvel throughout the design process and relied on her Mahjong group to test sample sets and provide honest feedback. “They’ve given me so much encouragement, constructive criticism and help,” she said.
This summer, Morgan celebrated the collection’s debut with three launch parties in Destin, two at Bitterroot and one at Camille’s at Crystal Beach. Guests enjoyed open play on the new sets, shopped the collection and celebrated almost a year of work coming to life.
During each event, Morgan asked a simple question: “Who traveled here from out of state?”
More than half the room raised their hands.
Guests had traveled from Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama to celebrate the launch. “That really blew me away,” Morgan said. “That so many folks would plan a trip to Destin to play with the tiles I designed? A pinch me moment, for sure.”
The excitement has continued since launch. Morgan said nearly 90% of online orders have shipped outside Florida, with her Emerald Coast-inspired designs now finding homes from California and Idaho to New York and New Hampshire.
For Morgan, the collection has become another way to celebrate the Emerald Coast through art and share a place she loves with people across the country.
The Emerald Coast Mahjong Collection is available online, with select items also available locally at Zoo Gallery, Mahjong Beach House, Patchouli’s and Lola’s. Sold-out tile sets are expected to return soon, along with new mat designs and matching accessories. MariluMorgan.com/mahjong
