I was teaching world literature at an international boarding school.

My students, heading home, asked me: “What may I bring you back?”

“Bring me back a good bead,” I replied.

And they did.

Nine beads from nine different countries.

I made a necklace with those beads. Friends soon asked me to make them one, too.

I sourced some more beads — only good beads — and made more necklaces. Sold a few. Sold some more.

One of a kind, one at a time.

Now it’s my small business.

For the girls. For the Earth.