Welcome to 2020! Look forward to lots of beachcombing photos from this happy wanderer during this year but first a recap ... 2019 was a creative success for me with a huge increase in sales, a new retail outlet, a new online shop and lots of positive feedback on my work. A little determination and a lot of effort was most definitely worthwhile! It has been great to share my love of the beach with you all and follow the dream of running my own business. During 2019 I found lots of amazing and rare pieces of sea glass on the beach at Seaham. Some of these found their way into my Etsy shop where they are for sale and the rest I have kept and maybe they will find their way into one of my creations. In 2019 I was very excited to have my Sea Glass Art accepted for sale at The National Glass Centre in Sunderland. It is on display amongst the work of many talented glass and ceramic artists - I am so thrilled. It is a lovely gift shop and worth a visit if you are in the area. It is a spectacular location on the River Wear where you can have a coffee and if you are lucky catch sight of a ship in dock.
And finally, I opened a new shop on Folksy which is an online e-commerce platform similar to Etsy but based in the UK. So, that it a little about what I have been up to in the past 6 months. Wishing you all a creative and fulfilling 2020 where all your dreams come true!
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Sea glass has been in the sea for decades, tossed and tumbled by the waves, washed to shore and then back out again.
If it could tell its stories, what stories would they be! Sometimes moving, sometimes still. Some pieces shine brightly in the sand some surprise you, appearing dull until they are held up to the light. Some pieces have rough edges and others have had their rough edges smoothed away over time. Get it? Its like life isn't it! There is a poem by Bernadette Noll titled "I want to age like sea glass" - here are some of my favourite lines: "I want to age like sea glass. Smoothed by tides, not broken. I want my hard edges to soften as the years pass - made not weak, but supple. I want to be picked on occasion by an unsuspected soul and carried along - just for the connection, just for the sake of appreciation and wonder. And with each new encounter, new possibilities of collaboration are presented, and new ideas are born. I want to age like sea glass so that when people see the old woman I'll become, they'll embrace all that I am. They'll marvel at my exquisite nature, hold me gently in their hands and be awed by my well-earned patina. Neither flashy nor dull, just the right luster. I want to age like sea glass. I want to enjoy the journey and let my preciousness be, not in spite of the impacts of life, but because of them." I hope you enjoyed Bernadette's words and my photos. You can find more of the poem through searching on the internet and more of my sea glass at seaglassseaham.etsy.com Hurray!! The rain has stopped and we can go out to play again .... this is Friday evening at Seaham beach and after 4 days of consistent heavy rain the clouds have gone and the sky is blue. I couldn't wait to get out and get some fresh air ... ... and I wasn't the only one The sea gave me the gift of a lovely rare turquoise piece along with many others. Turquoise is between green and blue and a calming colour which aids clear communication (a bit of colour therapy there!). This piece will be for sale in my Etsy shop soon, it will make a stunning piece of statement jewellery. You can check it out at SeaGlassSeaham if you are interested. A sunny day at Seaham beach today with a fresh breeze coming off the sea - just perfect for a spot of fresh air therapy! The tide was on its way out - something that brings out my inner child as I make fresh footprints in the new sand. This always makes me smile! The pebbles look lovely, sitting in the sand as the water washes over them, don't they? So ... legs stretched, lungs filled with fresh air and all my senses nurtured, time to collect sea glass and today the beach gave me a tiny yellow heart - for joy. Photographed on white sea glass and a white pebble, sitting on a large piece of driftwood. A happy day - as always at Seaham beach.
This rusty old sign leads the way to the beach - it actually reads 'Vane Tempest Viewpoint' and points to a landscaped area from which you can view the beach and it stands in Vane Tempest car park.
Vane Tempest was the name of the colliery, closed in the early 90s, which was one of three in this local area. The town slid into decline until the coastline underwent a regeneration in the millenium and it was designated a 'heritage coast'. Seaham is now a thriving little community, attracting visitors daily to its beaches. My walk today was mid-morning and the beach was busy with dogs and people. The tide was on its way in but there was still plenty of time to walk and admire the sea (and pick up some sea glass along the way!) Watching and listening to the sea is mesmerising, don't you agree? I love being outside! Being out in nature relaxes and invigorates me, whether this is by the sea or amongst trees and flowers. It connects my body to the earth and cleanses my soul - it is always, and always will be, my happy place. The sea was kind with her gifts today and gave me green - for healing (and for the heart for those who are interested in colour therapy and the chakra system). Namaste ... |