My name is Maria af Rolén and I grew up in the beautiful country of Sweden. I spent my childhood sailing among the 30,000 islands in Stockholm's archipelago and exploring shipwrecks on the bottom of the Baltic Sea with my dad. Later in life I ventured across the Atlantic Ocean to pursue a career as a geologist in America, where I now live with my border collie Pip who is my best friend and adventure buddy. Pip and all the dogs I have had the pleasure of knowing in my life are the inspiration for my 2026 People's Bead design: Man's Best Friend.