Hemp Club Jewelry

I created Hemp Club Jewelry to honor my best friend Julie, process the trauma of losing her at just 21 years old, and keep her spirit alive by carrying on a creative skill she taught me—macramé jewelry making using hemp cord.

In high school, around age 16, Julie was the friend our circle formed around. She brought together people from different ages and walks of life, and her parents’ house was where we gathered most days. Sometimes we played frisbee in the park behind her yard, watched wonderfully campy movies in her basement, or played PlayStation (very poorly) and laughed until we cried. We took our dogs to the park, celebrated every holiday together (even Canadian Thanksgiving), and dreamed about getting an apartment after college when our careers launched.

Her laid-back attitude, infectious laughter, and tell-it-like-it-is personality made her a rock for many of us. She loved classic rock—the Beatles—wore aviator sunglasses, and had long, silky chestnut hair. She played bass guitar in an all-girl rock band (and clarinet in the marching band). She was honest and genuine, a natural at speaking her mind. We could trust her with our secrets and fears and share ourselves so easily around her. That kind of authentic, non-judgmental friendship is rare in high school. It’s a gift I’ll treasure for life.

“I felt like Julie was my business partner from the other side, all along.”

On December 31, 2011, at age 21, Julie was gone in a blink after a tragic car accident. I’ve never felt a loss so profound, and I’d never had a friendship so deep. I needed to act on that loss. Julie’s parents opened a memorial scholarship fund in her name, and I turned to my creativity. I thought fondly of the craft Julie taught me during our early years of friendship at what she dubbed “Hemp Club”—friends around her back-patio table under endless summer sun, knotting hippie-style macramé hemp necklaces with twine and beads. She led us step by step, patient, observant, encouraging, troubleshooting whenever one of us messed up a pattern. She was a natural teacher.

In 2012, I began making an inventory of hemp jewelry to sell at small local events like the annual Julie Berls Memorial Scholarship fundraiser concert. I popped up with a table at the local film festival, farmers market, and flea market and even tailgated at the Jimmy Buffett concerts I attended with my dad each summer. I started experimenting with other forms of jewelry and craft: wire-wrapping, charms, beading, lampwork glass beads, polymer clay, gemstones and crystals, flower crowns and tiaras. More pop-up opportunities followed. I ordered business cards and a banner, opened an Etsy shop, and made my first online sales. It was thrilling, and I felt like Julie was my business partner from the other side. I would never have started this venture without her.

Today, I’m vending at larger festivals, but I still love talking about Julie and connecting with customers willing to listen. Many people who visit my booth have endured a similar, soul-rending loss of a loved one, and we connect as I share the origins of my creative journey. I love revisiting our memories and recounting how real it feels when she visits me in my dreams. I know she’s with me, a muse and guiding light as I grow my jewelry and flower-crown business.

I’ve been a “maker” since I was young, always drawn to crafting, art, drawing, and creation in many forms. At eight, I discovered the joy of entrepreneurship, selling bead lizards and freeze pops on the corner during free summer days.

Now I’m proud of the two creative brands I’ve built: Hemp Club Jewelry and Boho Earth Headbands. I delight in crafting custom pieces from essential-oil diffuser bracelets to beaded earrings, macramé necklaces, wire-wrapped rings, and crystal pendants. I also curate natural crystals and gemstone specimens to offer as complementary pieces with my jewelry.

My earthy collection of flower-crown headbands and mushroom tiaras is loved by customers of all ages. I’ve created custom headpieces for multiple weddings and love incorporating crystals into my crowns for one-of-a-kind designs. I was humbled to learn a customer gifted her beloved flower crown to her terminally ill friend, who cherished it so much she was buried wearing it.

Over the last 12 years of art pop-ups, festivals, and markets, I’ve connected with a wonderful circle of local artists, small business owners, and makers who inspire me daily. I’m proud to share my craft with aspiring artists of all ages, offering free demos and lessons at my booth whenever possible. Part of my goal with Hemp Club is to pass on the joy and fulfillment of making jewelry to others, just as Julie did for me. I’ve also provided space for budding artist friends to sell their work at my booth, helping them taste vending at shows without committing to a full booth alone.

I’m always exploring new creative adventures and keep an ever-shifting inventory with new collections each month and limited-edition designs. I love bringing custom ideas to life, so please reach out if I can help realize your vision for a custom piece of jewelry or a custom flower-crown design. I also offer wholesale on select collections; contact me if you’d like to carry my work in your shop or boutique.