Just recently, my family and I went on a treasure hunt at a nearby beach here in RI. We live in a very small state, most counties are larger than our whole state... but we have nearly 400 miles of shoreline! We found quite a variety of colors and sizes including white, green, almost black, lavender and aqua. I was lucky enough to find a small piece of lavender \ purple glass.... Glass turns purple because Manganese actually reacts over time with the ultraviolet light of the sun to turn glass a light purple color. Manganese was used in glass making before the World Wars therefore the glass is very old.
When you are glass hunting it is important to remember to look up from the shore every now and again not to miss the wonderful view. Enjoy the sound of the surf, the interesting creatures both in the water and on the sand, the smell of the air and of course the sea shells in all sizes and colors. Be aware that not all glass is old and sufficiently worn to not inflict injury. Be careful when picking up these glass shards that you don't get cut. I like to think that I’m doing my part in helping our ecology by recycling what would be refuse.
I found it very interesting that when you find a piece of glass that is in the sea water it will look very different when it dries. In the water, you will not see the patina very well. When the glass dries, it looks completely different. Be sure to remove the piece you find from the water to see if it has that great patina. It is easy overlook clear glass in the water. Some lucky beachcombers find sea marbles at the shore. I did some research and found that ships would use marbles to ballast the boat because they were inexpensive. When ships sink the tide disperses the marbles in the current.
Sea glass can be found at shores all over the world including the great lakes. Next time you plan a sea-side vacation make it a point to look for sea glass... you'll be amazed at what the wind, salt and water can do to etch a plain piece of glass into a keepsake treasure! I found that it is a wonderful way to share some great family time together and collect unexpected treasures that can be made into wonderful necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Wire wrap them in silver, copper or gold you'll see how simple yet elegant these pieces can be!Remember to visit the forum and drop a note and be sure to sign up for my Jewelry Collecting Newsletter!
Enjoy
