If you are a true sea glass lover, someone who revels in discovering that elusive piece of sea glass on the beach, you are, most likely, also a sea glass purist, a person who appreciates the mystique and value of naturally occurring sea glass. A sea glass purist is not, as some might suggest, a sea glass snob. It’s simply that a sea glass purist knows the attributes of real sea glass and does not accept imitations. Here are 7 reasons to purchase authentic sea glass jewelry: It has … [Read more...]
Sea Glass! Where Does It Come From?
Sea glass groupies (and I mean this in the nicest sense) will love this informative story about the sources of sea glass. It seems that there is always more to learn about sea glass and still a huge appetite for knowledge of where to find these diminishing treasures and where they might have come from in the first place! Thanks to the experts, like Dr. Beachcomb, we can continue to become educated. Enjoy! Understanding source types can make it easier to identify age, origin and the … [Read more...]
An “Engaging” Underwater Story
Speaking of ocean and beach related stories, I couldn't resist sharing this undersea tale of love and commitment from Key Largo, Florida Keys. No it's not a shark tale or even a fish story, but a true reportage about two very smart cookies and a carefully choreographed underwater marriage proposal, complete with a ring presentation, a lingering kiss and even a little dancing. Here is the full story written by Don Rhodes of the Florida Keys Reporter. It's deep. The lovely lass with the … [Read more...]
The Artist is a Rock Star
All the way from New South Wales, Australia comes this tale of a true rock star, John Clatworthy, aka Johnnyrocks, who makes rock art on the beach in honor of a surfer friend who died recently in a work accident. Johnnyrocks says that working with rocks is like meditation because his thoughts are washed away as he concentrates on fitting rock pieces together, like playing with "nature's legos." He also collects sea glass which he brings home to make "beach glass art." I think you'll … [Read more...]
My Favorite Sea Glass Books
Books about sea glass are popping up as often as daisies in summer. Most of these books are worthwhile, and I have read and enjoyed a number of them and have listed my favorite sea glass books below. The best of the bunch are my two favorites by author and sea glass expert, Richard LaMotte. His first book, Pure Sea Glass, Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems, published in 2004, was my introduction to sea glass Although I had been collecting for many years I had never really thought about the … [Read more...]
Ocean Inspired Art
I love to spread the word about other ocean inspired artists and when I saw this story about Gwen Nichols of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, I just had to share it with you! Ms. Nichols makes the glass mosaics pictured here, originally designed with her own sea glass collection. When she ran out of sea glass she returned to her first love, wampum, which is now her artistic medium. Read about her incredible wampum jewelry here! Gwen Nichols, born and raised on the Island, was exposed to … [Read more...]
Sea Glass Hunting Brings Solace
If you love to walk the beach, as so many of us do, I know you'll enjoy this powerful story about the zen of beach combing and how it molded one man's life in ways he never imagined. Written by Peter Messerschmidt, the tale is one of discovery, self preservation and peace. Peter's story explains why we are comforted by "walking the beach" and the reasons we develop a deep, personal connection with nature as we poke along, listening to shore birds, picking up sea glass, pretty rocks and … [Read more...]
Sea Glass Jeweler Named Home Based Small Business of the Year
Her love of the sea and of beach combing led to a second career for Tiverton resident Jane McHenry. In May, the US Small Business Administration honored Ms. McHenry and her venture, A Day at the Beach Sea Glass Jewelry, as the 2016 Rhode Island Home-Based Small Business of the Year. Here’s what the presenters had to say about the winner … Jane McHenry, owner and chief designer of A Day at the Beach Sea Glass Jewelry, began her career in advertising and publishing (much of it with East Bay … [Read more...]
Curious About Cape May Diamonds?
No trip to the beautiful resort town of Cape May, New Jersey is complete without a visit to its famous Sunset Beach to look for Cape May diamonds. To learn more, I suggest you read Ellie Mercer's well researched story about the origins and mysteries of these "diamonds of the sea," originally published as a blog post by the North American Sea Glass Association. Visitors to Sunset Beach on the Delaware Bay, in West Cape May, New Jersey, have delighted in collecting Cape May Diamonds for many … [Read more...]