sea glass

At the shop, we carry this gorgeous book called Pure Sea Glass and it's piqued my interest in sea glass. Not only is it chock-full of beautiful photos (courtesy of Celia Pearson), but it's a wonderful resource, providing information on everything from where to look for sea glass to the origins of different colors of glass. The book's author, Richard LaMotte, will shortly be in town down here, giving a lecture and signing books at Duck's Cottage on Friday, August 7th.

Sea glass is harder and harder to come by these days, no matter how diligent a beachcomber you are. On the one hand, this is a good thing, as it (hopefully) indicates that there's less littering of glass than there used to be. On the other, it means that even if you see it for sale in stores, it's almost always man made. Happily, there is a North American Sea Glass Association, and their annual Sea Glass Festival celebrates combers and crafters alike, even giving an award for the "shard of the year."

piece of the week: beach finds

Beach Stones, originally uploaded by Philosopher Queen.

Fun fact: I collect stones from beaches. Lately, I've been trying to figure out what to do with my little collection. I think the below is a lovely idea, only the stones I pick up tend to be much smaller. Easy to slip in my pocket and continue on. I just love how smooth the sea and sand makes them. Still, how pretty! I love the wood above, too! (from stylist Tanya Goodwin of Refresh Agency via Aesthetic Outburst)

For fans of rocks and driftwood, I recommend visiting Ruby Beach in Olympic State Park, WA. A rough and gorgeous place, there are plenty of rocks and logs to be had. It was there I picked up my first beach rock and piece of driftwood.

On this coast, I discovered this summer that a favourite antiques and glass place near the Outer Banks in North Carolina, Lammers Glass, also carries a huge selection of beautifully sculptural driftwood. The prices are very reasonable, too.