Sunday, October 9, 2011

Sea Glass Earrings


How they become a perfect match!

Finding sea glass pairs is like doing a 1000 piece puzzle. In fact, after taking up this wonderful hobby, I no longer do puzzles. I just make earring pairs!

How it works usually is I group together all of one color and then go piece by piece. Color is the first step and then on to shape. There are so many different ones; ovals, kidneys, round, triangles, square...the list goes on and on. I tend to be a bit obsessive and will only pair together amazing matches but that takes time and a very large supply of sea glass!

So when you browse through all the pairs of earrings I have, remember, they were all in a pile just waiting to find each other. Each piece was likely found on a different day, probably months apart and likely on different beaches. They were almost definitely different vessels each with their own ancient purpose now long forgotten.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

June Highlights from the Artisans of the JCUIN Guild

Every time I stop by Sages Cupboard I am struck by the detail that is out into each piece. I love this ring!



This necklace by Miss Lady Smith is so my favorite combination of colors and textures. It's bright and beautiful!



This jasper is amazing. The color is striking and the design really highlights what mother nature had already achieved, incredible natural beauty.



Turquoise is one of my favorite stones but I always have a hard time creating with it. This design is so incredible and really does this opaque and rich gemstone justice! 



These earrings by Strung Nature really made me want to go to the beach:) Turquoise shells and faceted discs come together to make a pair of fun and funky earrings!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Red, White and Blue!

This incredible Gem came to me all the way from Seaham, England. It is perfectly smooth and is what many refer to as "End of Day" sea glass.

How did end of day sea glass come to be?

Glass factories along the shorelines of England would gather all the scrap glass at the end of the day, combine all the different colors together, then dump them all into the ocean. The result? Decades and centuries later these stunning multi-colored gems wash ashore.

No two pieces will ever be alike. The colors and patterns are as varied as the waves of the ocean. You can be assured that this is a one of a kind!

It's amazing this gem from the sea survived at all...

I paired it with a genuine red ruby, crystal clear quartz and light blue agate.
July Fourth may seem a world away right now but it is really just around the corner!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Free Shipping on All Orders Over $35.00!

Until Easter, Ocean Charms is offering Free Shipping on all orders totalling $35.00 or more. Just enter coupon code "EasterFreeShipping" at checkout to receive your discount!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

The Beads and Baubles Festival 2011 in Washington D.C.

The Spring shows are beginning! I'm very excited to announce that I will be a vendor at the 2011 Beads and Baubles Festival at the Marriot located at Metro Central!

The festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, April 9th and 10th, 10am to 6pm.


You will be able to find beautiful beads, jewelry, accessories and wearable art incorporating beads, buttons, and baubles.

This will be a marketplace for all things handmade and also offer many workshops to sharpen your skills or learn a new one!

Hope to see you there!

Monday, February 28, 2011

Snorkeling, Sea Glass Hunting and Exploring the Caribbean

I have spent countless hours floating in the Caribbean waters searching for these amazing creations of sand and sea. The perfect days were when the surf had just a ripple and the blue of the water matched that of the sky.

Jellyfish were usually a problem but as long as they weren’t boxes, we were ok. A short zap, a little sting and we would be on our way. Lion Fish, more and more over the last couple of years, hung suspended like poisonous marionettes. Fish of every shape, size and color, darted by continuously.

When we snorkeled, we were rarely in water deeper than what we could stand in. It wasn’t fear that kept us so close to shore. It was because we knew that the best sea glass was right off the water’s edge.

It was always a good 15 minute swim until the hunt began and it was always filled with muted excitement. Our excursions usually lasted 4-6 hours and had to be planned for days in advance.

Once the hunting began, my friend and I would stay within a short swims distance of each other but rarely were side by side. This was time to be “alone” in the beautiful sea but still have a buddy. It was a soul reaching experience.

I can’t accurately describe what it looks like to search for sea glass under the water. The colors and shapes are all magnified. The intense sunlight up above gives every color a bright pulsing glow. The smallest piece was seen with acute vision aided by the water and our masks.

Sea Glass collecting is unique here. The object in most places is to find a single piece of sea glass but here it it to find a perfect piece of sea glass. We don't pick up every piece we find. If we did we wouldn’t make it more then30 minutes before having to swim back to shore and unload our finds. The shear amount of sea glass in these waters allows us to pick and choose through thousands!

Every treasure we found was placed in our very special mesh baggies. We toted our precious cargo through the waves, always making sure to have them closed tight and upright for a lost piece is hardly ever forgotten.

Days when the surf was rough and unfriendly were the days you found the most unique and stunning treasures. The waves have so much power and it requires much effort to keep one hand free for digging while bracing yourself with the other three limbs. Usually you could wedge yourself in a spot with both legs and an arm and dig until either your grip failed or the waves increased.

At times it was dangerous. At times my friend and I would comment about how lucky we were that we weren’t hurt more than a few scrapes and bruises. We knew our limits well and learned early on that the ocean does not give you second chances, only subtle warnings. Every time was an experience, a fantastic memory, a true adventure.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

The Peacock's Feathers Collection