Custom Jewelry Maker Creates Memories for People using sand from across the world

International Falls, Minnesota – Each personalized jewelry piece that Barb Owen-Boerger creates is a way to bring the wearer back to the best memories with their favorite people in their favorite places.
Owen-Boerger, jewelry designer and owner of Sand Bay Jewelry & Gifts, creates customized jewelry with beach sand from bodies of water all over the world. 
“Each piece is made to order, meaning it doesn’t exist until it is ordered,” said Owen-Boerger. “Though I do have a growing ‘sand library’ most pieces are created using sand contributed by the customer.”
She also creates memorial pieces with cremation ashes.
“Initially, the jewelry idea was to find a way to help a friend hold on to a piece of the beach where his mother's ashes were spread,” she explained.  I never intended it to turn into a business, honestly. Turns out, it resonated with many people. Requests and inquiries began to drop into my direct messages. Now, three years later, Sand Bay Jewelry is a thriving business.”
Owen-Boerger designs custom jewelry out of her shop in International Falls, Minnesota. It means a lot to her to be able to create keepsake jewelry, gifts, and memorials for people.
The collection of custom design jewelry and gifts includes earrings, necklaces, golf divots, key chains, and bracelets.
“People are drawn to bodies of water for solace, connection, holidays, celebrations, time with our favorite people,” she said. “Those who join us and the adventures we share give deep meaning to these places.  I hope to create pieces that allow people to capture a beautiful physical symbol of those times.  This is also the reason that so many pieces are purchased to give as gifts.”