Collecting Sea Glass: A Relaxing Hobby For Beachcombers
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A Relaxing Hobby (And Beautiful Art!)
For as long as I can remember I've had a fascination with those gleaming little pieces of glass that can be found in just about every shape, size and color.
Sea glass has a fascinating story and is a wonderful "found object" to collect. Here you'll find out what exactly sea glass is and what beautiful creations can be made from it.
The photo is from my personal (obsession) collection!
This page at a glance
Story: Collecting Sea or Beach Glass
It's really fun and educational.
It's a treasure hunt and adventure wrapped up into one. Sea glass and beach glass can be found on the shore of just about any body of water. Think of a lake or ocean as a giant rock tumbler that's taking old crushed up bottles and smoothing them into beautiful gems over years and years.
It's pretty easy to spot beach glass as one of the most popular colors is green. Although brown and clear are a close second. You can also find red, blue, amber and pink but those colors are more rare.
Collecting these gems is a really relaxing hobby. It's fun trying to figure out what bottle your glass came from and how long it has been rolling around in the water.
However because more and more people are collecting beach glass it's become more rare. There is not nearly as much as when I was a kid. This is due in part to people not dumping in our lakes as much, but recycling and the use of more plastic is also a contributing factor.
Companies do sell "artificial" sea glass that's made using rock tumblers but for a purist like me it's no comparison. Only real beach glass makes the cut in my collection!
One of the best places to find Beach Glass
The shores of Lake Erie.
QUIZ: How much do you know about Sea Glass?
Hint: The answers are in this lens!
I put this little Quiz together to help you explore the topic of sea glass. Hint: The answers are in this lens, so keep reading. :)
If you take the Quiz, let us know how you did in the comments section at the bottom of the page.
More amazing photos of sea and beach glass
Used via Creative Commons on Flickr
What is your favorite color of Sea Glass?
Sea Glass Comes In A Rainbow Of Beautiful Colors
NASGA: The North American Sea Glass Association
I love this site. Check it out.
- The North American Sea Glass Association
- The North American Sea Glass Association is a great place to learn more about the art of collecting Sea Glass. They even have a festival! The 2011 Sea Glass Festival is Oct. 8th & 9th in Long Branch, New Jersey.
Places to bookmark if you love sea glass
- West Coast Sea Glass
- Beautiful beach glass jewelry and loose sea glass for jewelery design, art and crafts. High quality sea glass earrings, necklaces, anklets, rings in sterling & more, hand collected by us from the world's oceans. Ecological. Offering the rare red, blue, orange and more.
- Sea Glass Collecting Magazine, Beach Glass
- The Sea Glass Journal is the online magazine for sea glass lovers everywhere. It is a sea glass resource containing information and articles on how-to beach combing tips, identifying sea glass and beach glass origins, craft ideas using your sea glass collection and more.
- Pure Sea Glass
- FREE Shipping for a limited time on orders of $25 or more! Continental US orders only. (ships from Maryland). Pure SEA GLASS is an incredible reference for any coastal enthusiast.
- Odyssey Sea Glass
- What is sea glass? Where can I find it? Is the collection I have unique or valuable? Here is your complete guide to collecting, sorting, and working with sea or beach glass!
- Out Of The Blue Sea Glass Jewelr
- Out Of The Blue Sea Glass Jewelry - Largest selection of entirely handmade sea glass jewelry or beach glass jewelry. Sea glass pendant sale.
- Beach Glass Bingo
- The beach glass we use has been gathered from beaches around the world. In addition to our own glass we found in Hawaii, we also have relationships with people who go to the beach and collect the glass as well.
Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems
A must have for sea glass collectors!
Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems
Amazon Price: $22.93 (as of 05/30/2012)
"West Coast Sea Glass Studio" on Etsy
Their shop has some really quality merchandise.
I found this shop on Etsy and have bought a few really unique gifts from it. There's always something beautiful and new. Check them out!
Seafoam Green Sea Glass Baubles - For Jewelry Supply, Art and More - Ocean Tumbled | Price: $0
USES: These perfect, frosty seaglass gems are jewelry quality, and perfect for other art, mosaics, crafts, and more. They were each beach combed by ha... (full description)
Sea Beach Glass Drilling Services Option - Add Center Drilling to Your Seaglass Purchase - 30 Holes | Price: $0
CENTER DRILLING SERVICE: This service is for drilling 30 holes into THE CENTER of 30 individual sea glass pieces that you purchase from us. It is pr... (full description)
Genuine Found Sea Beach Glass - RARE Cobalt Blue Lot | Price: $0
SEA GLASS: These five, sea glass gems are perfect for the artist or jeweler. They were beach combed by me from along the Pacific Ocean's shoreline... (full description)
Rare Cornflower Blue - Beach Combed Sea Glass Swirl Necklace - Sterling Silver | Price: $0
THE SEA GLASS: This sea glass necklace was hand made with genuine, hand picked seaglass beachcombed by me from a shore along the majestic Pacific Ocea... (full description)
Genuine Beach Combed Sea Glass Necklace - Aqua Blue Swirl - Sterling Silver | Price: $36
THE JEWELRY: This sea glass necklace was hand made with genuine, hand picked seaglass beachcombed by me from a shore along the majestic Pacific Ocean... (full description)
Genuine Sea Glass Necklace - Beach Combed Cobalt Blue Swirl - Sterling Silver Bezel | Price: $136
THE SEA GLASS: The vibrant cobalt blue sea glass in this necklace is genuine, beachcombed by me from a shore along the majestic Pacific Ocean. I hike... (full description)
Sea Glass 2011 Calendar
It's not too late to order a 2011 calendar, is it? :)
Sea Glass 2011 Calendar
Amazon Price: (as of 05/30/2012)
This calendar is simply a work or art and a must have for sea glass enthusiasts. The colorful and bold photos will brighten up any room in your home.
So what do you do with beach glass?
Well that's entirely up to you! Some people put it in jars, some make jewelry or art out of it and a rare crowd keeps it for a few years then sends it back to the beach to be found again.
Do you have a Sea Glass or Beach Glass Collection?
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Blonde_Blythe May 14, 2012 @ 8:50 pm | delete
- No, and I don't know how I missed it as a kid. Sea glass is beautiful!
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SRitchieable
Apr 28, 2012 @ 8:04 pm | delete
- I really enjoyed your quiz - I scored 3 out of 5. I collected Beach Glass when I was younger, but 'forgot' about it - until now. Next time I go to a beach, I'm going to look for Beach Glass! Thanks for sharing!
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jsr54
Jan 5, 2012 @ 10:00 pm | delete
- I have a growing collection and love, love, love searching for sea glass. I have some pure glass and lots of green, brown and clear. I have most of it displayed in glass containers and recently glued some to a frame for a Christmas present. Nice lens!
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CruiseReady Jul 24, 2011 @ 10:12 am | delete
- Gee. I have lived the majority of my life near the beach, but have never collected a thing! My Dad, however, loved sea shells and sharks teeth that he found.
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blujeanmomma
Jul 23, 2011 @ 8:42 am | delete
- Except for where we are living now, we always lived very close to the beach and we would collect both shells & beach glass and often use both in crafts or put them in a pretty dish or jar. When the winter came and it was snowy outside it would be wonderful to look through our little treasures and think about the summer.
Now living away from the beach, it reminds me of the great times we had and can almost smell the salt water and coconut tanning oil.
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resabi May 23, 2011 @ 2:44 pm | delete
- Thought you'd like to know that this lens is featured in my Ten Intriguing Collections lens. Thanks for the inspiration!
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JoyfulPamela
Apr 12, 2011 @ 8:40 am | delete
- Wow, what a difference between your two sea glass lenses! I like this one so much more. Thank you for teaching us how to spark up a blah lens to make it better. I need to do this in so many places on my lenses. I just have to find the time! =D ~ I only have a small collection of sea glass that I actually found at a craft store. I got them after a Bible study that I did where the teacher used them as metaphors for making small positive changes in our lives.
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Psycho-Gamer
Apr 1, 2011 @ 4:28 am | delete
- I used to find a lot of sea glass at the beach but never was really interested as a kid....if only i knew that i have an artistic side in me...
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Momsbusy247
Mar 31, 2011 @ 9:57 pm | delete
- I do, living here outside Seattle, I get a lot of opportunity to collect Sea Glass and I love it
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brumot Mar 28, 2011 @ 10:26 pm | delete
- Never really thought about sea glass, have seen bits over the years as I live 12 mi from coast in So. Cal. great find here.
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