Wow, Can’t believe the school year is almost over. Only one more day and the School’s out for summer! I am leaving tomorrow after work for  Virginia as I will be participating in the Virginia Beach Surf Art Expo all weekend. This will be the first show where I really am starting to branch out and do more than just sea glass. Can’t wait to see how it goes.

Whimsical and fun!

I love pinterest, it can be so full of new ideas. Here are a couple I have made after being inspired by pinterest. The first is a gorgeous mirror surrounded by starfish. I just love it!. It took forever and a day to make though.Sheesh

My favorite! Perfect for that beachy cottage

My absolute favorite!

This second one is simply too gorgeous! The picture does not do it justice. Since I was using my phone though I guess I can’t complain. I have made several of these burlap wreaths so I guess I will see what the public thinks….

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Branching Out….

This gallery contains 16 photos.

So it is time to Branch out a bit and add a few new things to the Old Shop. May have to change the name if I keep doing this. Although I am still keeping to the beachy theme. So … Continue reading →

Thinking about planning a trip

So I have been tossing around an idea. Let me know what you think….

My version of paradise!

My idea is to start planning trips to areas that are known for their sea glass collecting. Of course you can never guarantee how much sea glass there will be but some places are much better than others.

Look at all those greens....

I thought this could be a really fun trip for those that love sea glass as much as I do and who knows what we may find.

Look at those gorgeous turquoise!

Just looking at these pictures gets me excited about the treasures waiting to be found.

Look at all that sea glass just waiting....

Are you in?

SHow about it? Do you want to go? Each of these pictures are from a different part of the world. Shall I plan it?

Switching it up!

So the time has come to shut down my website…Actually I am transitioning it from a place of its own to totally being on Facebook. I was never really happy with the website and unfortunately, lack the expertise to make it the place I want it to be.

The website had become a little thorn in my side. One I tried to forget about but yet still hoped it would get better on its own. Obviously there was a problem with that logic.

So alas, the website will come down and the store is going up on Facebook. you can check it out by going to my FB page seaglassartbychar and clicking on the “shop Now” button on the left.

It is still a work in progress and I must say my photography is not the best but it will get better. I will be so excited to get this shop up and running so I can focus on the fun creative side of things.

Details are my undoing….Just ask my poor husband LOL

Do you have an online store? What do you use? How do you like the results?

You see I have this Turtle….

I love making pictures out of the sea glass I have collected over the years. I love walking on the beach and finding these little treasures. I have so much beach glass it is really rather amazing. Now that we no longer live at the beach in fact we are no where near the beach I dreadfully miss it and the time I spent on it. Every time I sit down to create a new piece of artwork I think about my many treks along the beach bending over, squatting down, yelling with excitement as I found that awesome piece. I love making pictures with the sea glass I have. however the true beauty of sea glass is when the light can shine though it. So I found these awesome frames that have allowed me to make some new pieces.

I love these Frames and I love the way the light can flow through the glass.

At The Beach!

These frames started me thinking though…What if I could make some sculptures similar to stained glass but with sea glass? Thus the Sea Star was born:

"Dancing Sea Star"

Now I have this turtle which started this whole post.  He has over 100  pieces of sea glass in him and I really need to finish. But he seems a bit overwhelming…I guess I just need to start wrapping and wrapping and wrapping…..

"Turtle"

I have big plans for this turtle and I am nervous he won’t be as great as I have him pictured in my mind. Does that ever happen to you?

The Legend of Mermaid tears.

Sea glass is often called “Mermaid Tears.” Here is the legend of the mermaid tears and why people call sea glass mermaids tears. Legend of Mermaid Tears. The maidens could change the mighty course of nature, but were forbidden to do so by Neptune, the stern, watchful god of the sea.
One dark, storm-ravaged night, with sails ripping and masts cracking, a schooner fought to find safety in Friendly Cove off Nootka Island in the San Juans. The ship was familiar to the mermaid who swam along its side . . . she had weathered many crossings with the ship and its captain. As the ship heeled in the violent wind, the captain lost his hold on the wheel, tumbling perilously close to the raging sea. In an instant, the mermaid calmed the wind and tamed the waves, changing the course of nature and saving the life of a man she had grown to love from afar.
For her impetuous act, Neptune banished the sobbing mermaid to the oceans depths, condemning her for eternity never to surface or swim with the ships again. To this day, her gleaming tears wash up on the beaches  as sea glass . . . crystalline treasures in magic sea colors, an eternal reminder of true love.

A new project

Mostly I create framed pictures out of sea glass. However, I have been playing with idea of trying to figure out a way to get the light to shine through the sea glass as this is the true beauty of sea glass. With that in mind I found these great frames that are about 10″x10″ in size and I started making these. I love them because the light is able to shine right through the glass. So now on to the next project…. Many, many years ago. Gosh, I hate to admit it but almost 25 years ago I dabbled in stained glass. In the process I cut my hand very badly and decided that stained glass was not my cup of tea… Well fast forward 25 years and I am rethinking that. What if I could create a “stained glass” picture out of sea glass? Well here is the result of that marriage.

"Have a little Faith"

What do you think?

When Lightening Strikes….

“Sea Glass…hhhmmm oh yeah that’s the stuff made when lightening strikes the beach like in that movie? Right?” Oh goodness, how many times have I heard this question? To this question I almost always respond, “Do you believe everything you see on T.V.?” Don’t get me wrong I loved the movie Sweet Home Alabama

In the movie you are led to believe when lightening strikes  sand a beautiful piece of sculpture is created….

Could you imagine walking on the beach and finding something this beautiful. If this were true every beach would have thousands of metal rods covering it anytime there was even a threat of a storm. The above glass sculpture was created by the Simon Pearce glass company out of Vermont.

You may ask, “So when lightening strikes sand what really happens?” well….You get fulgurite and it’s not pretty.

I really hate to bust another myth created by the wonderful minds in Hollywood…but someone has to say it, “You can’t believe everything you see at the movies.”

What is your most prize possession found while walking on the beach?

What is Sea Glass?

I have wanted to blog about sea glass for some time. But as with everything have not found the time to do it. So here we go. I am committing to blog about sea glass on a regular basis.

I guess we should start at the beginning and answer the question, “What is Sea Glass?” Well sea glass is not made per say from the ocean as many people ask me. No lightening striking the sand during a storm does not make sea glass. Although that would be very cool. I will write more on that later.

Old Bottles

In all honesty sea glass is trash. Yes, you heard me it is trash. However, Mother nature takes this trash and turns it into beautiful treasures. Technically, Sea glass (also known as beach glass, mermaid’s tears, lucky tears, and many other names) is glass found on beaches along oceans or large lakes that has been tumbled and smoothed by the water and sand, creating small pieces of smooth, frosted glass.

To sum it up :Glass Becomes Sea Glass or Beach Glass when:- A

Sea Glass

piece of glass has been tumbled by natural wave action to the point where there are no sharply-defined edges or corners, and 2 -The natural action of elements in the water along with sunlight and tumbling action have produced a unique frosted or etched surface covering all sides of the glass.
If these two factors are not present, it is just a glass shard, no matter where it is found.
*The term “Beach Glass” is more general and includes naturally-tumbled glass that is found on freshwater beaches as well as ocean beaches.

So now you know. Have you ever found any sea glass? What is your most prized piece.