September 28th marks our 11th year in business. Can you believe it?! When I look back at the trials and tribulations we’ve endured over the years as a small business it makes me so proud of what we’ve accomplished. Not only that, but it fuels my passion and makes me want to continue learning, growing, and kicking ass as a woman-owned business and entrepreneur. From our very first Sandbead (formerly Sandora Bead) to our successful Kickstarter campaign, to our first retail partner – every moment has such special meaning to me and my core team. We collectively feel blessed to be where we are today and look forward to what the future holds.

Here are a few designs from “Memory Lane” – We’ve come a long way baby.

As a business owner and jewelry designer, I’m 100% self-taught so when we first started out I would purchase stock items and piece them together to create a finished product. Luckily over the years, I continued to learn and hone my craft and our designs have evolved dramatically since the early days. From sketch to CAD drawing to molds, all of our designs are inspired by the earth and all she has to offer.

As an independent designer, one very valuable thing that I’ve learned is that it is okay to ask for help when you need it. Sometimes you have an incredible vision, but you can’t quite get it down on paper. That’s when I bring in a more experienced designer like L.M. Conte of Rhode Island. She helped to finesse some of our absolute best-sellers like the 7-sand Rope Cuff below, and I’m proud to collaborate with such a talented and experienced designer. Being able to ask for help to bring your dreams to life is so important.

Handmade Bracelets

Not only have our designs evolved, but our Sandbank has grown from just a few hundred locations to over 5,000! That means we catalog sand and earth elements from over 5,000 beaches, ballparks, mountains, hiking trails, golf courses, and more. You can visit our website, choose a silhouette that you love, then choose an element that’s meaningful to you. We will handcraft your design and ship it directly to your home within just a few weeks. Every piece of jewelry that leaves our studio captures an experience for our customers and that’s why I’ve named it “experiential jewelry”. Every experience holds sentimental value for the wearer which is so special to all of us at Dune Jewelry.

Personalized Rings Handmade with Sand & Earth Elements

It took me a while, but over the years I realized that not everyone is as crazy about jewelry as I am (shocker, right?!)  Knowing that, we’ve added home accents such as wine stoppers, candles, and ornaments to our lineup. The perfect gift for the person who has everything!

We’re 11 years in with so much more on the horizon. Make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for behind-the-scenes sneak peeks and to learn more about our brand.

Thank you for your love, support, and kindness over the past 11 years, and cheers to 100 more!

With love & sandy hands,

Holly