Sands of time: A class in jewelry making and capturing memories

— Sand has the ability to capture time. One may gaze upon the tiny tan grains and be transported back to building a sandcastle with a sibling or leaving footprints while walking with a loved one.

Barb Owen-Boerger took the sands that were part of people’s memories, encapsulated them in pendants, and made them into wearable art, including necklaces.

“And at the end of the day, what really draws people to the jewelry is its connection to a place that speaks to us,” the Detroit Lakes resident said.

Owen-Boerger is offering locals an opportunity to learn how to make the jewelry during a class at the Holmes Theatre on Tuesday, April 9, from 6-9 p.m. All materials are provided. While she will have her collection of sand from various locations on hand, people are encouraged to bring their own.

You can

at dlccc.org. Owen-Boerger said each participant will leave with a finished necklace.

“My aim is to provide something that is beautiful jewelry and a conversation piece,” she said.

Owen-Boerger began her jewelry journey when a “soon-to-be family member” was cleaning out his family home.

“The hardest thing about leaving his home was, that’s where they spread his mom’s ashes,” she said. “I told my niece, who was marrying him, to grab some sand from the beach.”

When the sand was delivered, Owen-Boerger contemplated ways to create a memorial keepsake. She decided to seal the sand into a pendant with resin. The wearable artwork was a hit, and she soon began offering sales to the public.

For years, she made intricate jewelry, some with inscriptions and others with artistic designs. But, what started as a hobby transformed into a job. Owen-Boerger began to feel more like a machine than an artist, and her workspace became a factory instead of a studio.

“I think I kind of used COVID as an excuse to back out of that business because I just stopped enjoying it,” she said, noting her supplies were placed in storage and remained there until she moved to Detroit Lakes.

Owen-Boerger, a Mayo-trained wellness coach, took a position in Detroit Lakes and moved from the North Shore area. Before the move, she was forced to do something with her boxes of jewelry-related items. Three common questions gave her the answer.

“It just dawned on me one day,” she said. “There are three things people always ask when they see my jewelry. First of all, they asked, do you have sand from this lake or that beach? Then, they asked how much sand do I need? And, the third question is, how do you do that? I was like, oh my gosh, I have everything I need to show people how to do this.”

The idea was a quick hit on the North Shore, in the metro and elsewhere. When her employment in Detroit Lakes concluded, she dove into her new business and increased the class opportunities. She thought the lakes area would be a great addition to her schedule, and encouraged area residents interested in setting up a class to call her at 218-417-0217.

Owen-Boerger explained her joy for making wearable art has returned, and grown. During class, she often watches people bond and reminisce about the sand they collected and the moment that seemingly lives in the tiny grains.

“I get to go on adventures vicariously,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun.”