Thursday, June 25, 2009

"Here Comes The Sun... Da... Da... Da.. Da..."


"Here comes the sun... and I say it's alright.."


Weather it be a sunrise or sunset - we - on the East Coast of Boston, Ma - simply have not seen it for a while. As I sit and write this, after what seems to be and eternity of rain and dark clouds, I can finally see a glimpse of "Big Yeller" trying to emerge from hibernation.

I have a slew of new products just begging to be photographed in natural sunlight. I am beginning to feel Vitamin D deficient. Not to mention, the artists of The Boardwalk thrive on those beachy sunny days summer brings.

So - call this my cyber sun dance to court "Big Yeller" to once again grace us with warmth on our shoulders... long dreamy days by the shore... safe journeys on the sea... and more Vitamin D than we can all handle!

"Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear... Here comes the sun, here comes the sun..."

Friday, March 13, 2009

Summer Is On The Way...

I love this time of year... and I start looking forward to it again every late fall... the onset of summer.... the warm sun and sandy shores beckons my sea inspired wearables! All authentic, hand-picked sea glass has been used in delivering these original and one-of-a-kind designs.


Only the best materials have been used to bring you fashion forward coastal clothing and footwear! Stock up now at my Etsy or 1000 Markets store! If you don't see something in your size - I always accept custom orders!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Cultivating Sea Glass & Shipwreck Pottery: Collecting Pieces of History

As an avid sea glass & shipwreck pottery collector - my passion for these fragments leads me on numerous coastal journeys. I have traveled all up and down the East Coast - hunting as I go along. Collecting has also taken me beyond the US as well. I love to explore places that can't be accessed by foot. To do so, we often kayak to islands offshore to collect.



The best times to collect usually are in the fall and spring at low tide because of all the storms that churn up the oceans floor. Full moons also bring forth many unexpected jewels... and always high & low tide lines are full of goodies. Just as a cop never reveals an informant - a sea glass collector never shares their "secret" collecting spots. Rocky inlets or beaches around a harbor usually yield the best results. Depending upon the tide, how rough the surf and/or rocky the beach is will produce different glass. I find glass that is thicker, more porous and frosted on a beach that has a rough surf with a lot of rocks. With calmer surf and a sandier beach you can find more translucent glass - yet still frosted it is not as thick.






Since I started collecting sea glass - I always wondered where they have been, what they were and who might have once possessed the item from which the piece was a part of. I love recycling, or "upcycling", these found objects into wearable art and true heirloom pieces that can be passed on through generations.



Said to be the next "semi-precious" stone of this time, sea glass is becoming increasingly more difficult to find due to environmental awareness and rising popularity. Such awareness promotes beach clean-ups, proper trash disposal, decreased "ocean dumping" and lastly, people aren't burning their trash on the beaches like they did years ago. Technology is also a reason for the decrease in sea glass. As the years passed we became smarter, thus improving on technology. Such improvements in the shipping industry lead to safer travel on the seas. That meant a sizable decrease in shipwrecks that were carrying personal items as well as trade cargo. Over the years, those pieces of history have washed upon the shores, carrying with them memories of distant lands, and have been transformed into tiny jewels that are sought from beachcombers around the world.


These pictures were from out latest travels on the North Shore - June 14th. My older daughter, Taylor and my brother Eric set out to a nearby island to collect. The last picture on the right is what we collected on shore and on the island that day. Not even half of what is pictured will be "usable" for jewelry.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Sea Glass Tank Tops Are Here!

I have just completed my first and original sea glass tank top now available for sale on Etsy! There are more in production in different colors, sizes, styles and various shades of glass. These are a perfect addition to any wardrobe - dress it up or down, wear it alone or under a jacket or linen shirt - you will be sure to impress!


Product care instructions: Hand wash, lay flat to dry and warm iron if needed.
I recently had someone reivew my blog and comment that they couldn't understand why am I promoting a tank top and what relevance does it have to sea glass.
Let me clarify - these are the first ever sea glass tank tops - meaning they are adorned with sea glass (the tank top themselves... on the strap or where ever else I dream up) I have collected - they are like jewelry, wearable art.