Serendipitously, I came into an incredible collection of vintage, hand-blown glass beads originally made by Fineine Studios. Each one is completely unique, no two are exactly alike, and it was their particular little magic that inspired me to start making jewelry of my own.

I called it PARACORD SUMMER because it summed up the moment I was in. I was itching for the feelings of adventure, freedom, and endless possibility summer brings. It's the time of year when I feel most creative, inspired, and fearless.

Honestly, I thought the whole thing might be a little like a lemonade stand. Something I would set up for the summer, have a lot of fun with, and pack away when the season changed.

But somewhere along the way, while making jewelry and sharing these very special beads, a little community started to form around Paracord Summer. And I realized I wasn’t quite ready to pack it up.

So Paracord Summer will come back season after season, with new pieces, new finds, and hopefully plenty more adventures. My hope is that wearing it serves as a little reminder to make the most of life - the way we make the most of summer - all year long.