Our History
Our Story
The Shoreside Chic Years
It all started with doing two things I loved. It was going to the beach and making jewelry. Back then I was designing jewelry that was all about coastal vibes. I was using sea glass, beach sand, seashells, and freshwater pearls for materials. I called my jewelry business Shoreside Chic and it was a hobby. I spent my weekends selling my goods at craft festivals and markets in Maine and New England.
That period was full of firsts. I built my very first website, packaged orders from my living room floor, created a mobile shop from a vintage travel trailer, and celebrated my very first wholesale order. Everything was small-batch and handmade with a focus on authenticity and coastal charm. It was a time of experimentation and discovery. These early experiences helped shape the foundation for what my jewelry business would grow into.
The Boheme Chic Years
As my jewelry business grew, so did my style. The Boheme Chic years marked a colorful new chapter where beach inspired jewelry met a more free-spirited, boho style. I began incorporating nautical rope, detailed charms, and colorful gemstone beads into my jewelry. I was blending coastal elements with a relaxed, wanderlust aesthetic.
This was also the time I truly started to explore the wholesale world. I hit the road, traveling to trade shows across the country, connecting with shop owners, and sharing my work with new audiences. It was an exciting and challenging season of growth. I received my first department store order. I’ll never forget what it felt like to see my jewelry reach that next level.
The Beachdashery Years
This was the era where sand jewelry became the heart and soul of my business. I started making beach sand jewelry back in 2004. It was just a material and I was using different shades of light and dark sand from Maine. Over time, customers started giving their own beach sand to use and I started growing my sand collection. I loved focusing on the sand collection and turning jewelry into meaningful keepsakes. People could wear their beach and carry it with them, no matter how far from the shore they were.
I opened my first retail shop in South Portland. It was a cozy little spot where beach lovers could come in, browse, and chat about their favorite coastal places. Before long, we outgrew it and moved into the Old Port, right in the middle of Portland’s buzzing creative scene. During the Beachdashery years, I wanted to build a brand and this period helped define what kind of a business owner I wanted to be.
Life changed in 2020 in ways I couldn't have imagined. Like many small businesses, I had to pivot quickly during the pandemic. I closed my Old Port shop, dissolved the wholesale part of the business, and moved the business entirely online. I found myself back at home. Everything was shifting in my life. My marriage ended. I left the ocean behind and bought a little house tucked deep in the woods in a town I’d never heard of before. The daily beach walks that once inspired my work became long, grounding walks beneath the trees.
I started working with gemstones again, real flowers, and earth elements that reflected a deeper connection to nature as a whole. My life was no longer just the sea, but the land and the wild, raw beauty of everyday places. Boheme Wild Wanderlust was born from this transformation.
The Boheme Wild Wanderlust Years
Today, my business is a reflection of everything I’ve learned, loved, and lived through. I create nature-rooted jewelry using beach sand, real gemstones, wildflowers, and natural materials that tell a story. While beach sand jewelry is still part of my offerings, it’s no longer the focus. My work has grown into something deeper, inspired by both the woods and the water.
From a living room floor to a quiet woodland studio, this journey has been anything but ordinary—and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Every piece I make is a little piece of that path, and I’m so grateful to share it with you. Thank you for supporting my journey!
HI, I'M KATE