Trying to hold down a full-time job with so many “unpaid” hobbies gobbling up minutes in my day is a real drag!
Getting sidetracked from photography, another one of my favourite pass times is beach-combing. I had never heard of beach glass until a month ago when I was in a small arts and crafts shop in Redcliffe. The owner started chatting about beach glass and introduced me to some jewellery and home decorative pieces made by a local lady.
I had been picking up bits a pieces of sea glass over time with the idea of “doing something” with it one day but I had no idea it was a “thing”! A quick google of beach glass inspired me to sort out the pieces I had to see what treasures I possessed.
It’s such a relaxing pass time and if you’re in the right spot for sea glass it’s a real kick every time you see something laying there. I liken it to one of those video walk-through games where you find all the gems and treasures.
I’m not into craft activities in particular. I may attempt to use some of the glass to cover a picture frame but prefer instant gratification and waiting for glue and paints to dry takes way longer than taking a photo and clicking the view picture button to admire your work.
I will most likely sell the glass once my partner has had enough of finding sea glass in draws and every nook and cranny around the house. But then again …. I could cover the walls with it!
Finding Sea Glass – Hotels around the Redcliffe Peninsula and the year they were built.
- 1878 Bay View Hotel
- 1881 Redcliffe Hotel
- 1883 St Leonard’s Hotel
- 1901 The original Belvedere Hotel
- 1902 Moreton Bay Hotel
Each low tide reveals hidden pieces of glass. Wild weather is great because it stirs up the ocean. The glass bottles tossed into the ocean from the shoreline over the many years provide an endless supply of Sea Glass for the collector. The Brisbane River empties into Moreton Bay washing glass from the city over the sandy bottom. Some of this ends up on our shores adding to the variety of Sea Glass found.
Lovely collection I’ve been collecting for a few years would love to get some jewellery made eventually. It’s fun just beachcombing and hoping.
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Thanks Glenys, I hope to use my seaglass in picture frames and small decor pieces like tea-light candle holders and lamp shades. Can’t wait to give up full time work so I can spend my time with the seaglass
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This is so cool! hehehe 🙂
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Thank you Tinny Time 😆
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I kniw exactly where you’re coming from about the job vs hobbie/interests. What I find frustrating though is why you need one to be able to do the other…:-( life’s too short as it is.
Great site…looking forward to more exciting articles.
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Thanks for calling in juliav305. If we didn’t need money, life would be sooooo much fun!
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Amen to that…where do I sign up 🙂
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I never knew it was a thing either until a few years ago. I might start collecting it myself. It is pretty 🙂
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I have seen quite a few different crafted items with sea glass. I love the tea-light candle holders someone made by simply stacking and gluing the pieces together. I have also seen some gorgeous picture frames and wine coasters. I even saw a picture of a garden wall that had the sea glass embedded in it. Sea Glass Emporium recently sold a piece of sea glass for $575.00. https://www.facebook.com/SeaGlassEmporium
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That’s great. I’m now following the SeaGlassEmporium FB page 🙂
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Have fun starting your own collection 🙂
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If we ever move near a sea shore, it’ll be this and sea shells.
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I love shells as well but we don’t get many washing up on our shore here. Lots of rubbish though 😦 I use little plastic dog-do bags that are tied to my dogs lead to hold the sea glass. For every quarter of a bag I fill with sea glass, I fill 2 bags of plastic rubbish.
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It sounds like I should collect plastic . . . more of a daily haul, and probably for less effort.
Thanks!
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You found some wonderful sea glass! We’ve found our best pieces south of San Francisco. We never thought to look for sea glass in Australia – will have to see if we find any when we visit again in a couple of years. Lovely blog.
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Thanks for calling past Pam and it is nice to meet another sea collector. Our area was a popular holiday destination at the turn of the century with quite a few old hotels along the waterfront. That is a whole heap of beer, wine and whisky bottles tossed into the sea. The Brisbane river empties into Moreton Bay so I dare say many pieces of glass are tumbled across the seabed and end up on our shores as well. Lucky me 🙂 If you visit Brisbane, we are only about 35km north of the city so plan a day trip to the Redcliffe Peninsula.
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This is the BEST info! We already plan on flying from LA to Brisbane. We went to the mountains last time and really enjoyed the parrots. This is definitely on our list. And if you ever come to America, we can tell you exactly where to find sea glass near Monterey (south of San Francisco). Thank you!
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Check tide times before you come out Pan. Our beaches here disappear at high-tide. I visited San Francisco when I was about 5 years old. We were on a 6 week driving holiday. I suffered from motion sickness so was zonked out on travel sickness pills. I slept or was “not quite with it” for the trip so barely remember a thing 😦
I would love to go back to the states, so if I do make it, Monterey will be on the itinerary and I will take you up on your offer to divulge your sea glass hot-spot.
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Thank you! California beaches are like that too – many go under at high tide. If you ever do make the trip, I will be happy to help with an itinerary – we’ve been all over the West, and are also experts on Florida.
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Wow, some really cool photos here. I used to collect sea glass when I was a kid. I love the colours and textures.. I too am easily distracted creatively speaking, it’s nice to “meet” someone else with the same chronic interest in everything!
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Hi Jay, lovely to meet you. Gee, don’t we have a lot in common 🙂 Thank you for calling in and taking the time to introduce yourself.
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Love the sea glass – I’m a complete addict!
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It’s a GOOD addiction 🙂
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Wow yeah lamp shades sounds super cool, didn’t even think about that 🙂 Maybe also it would be good to attach sea glass to a small window so the sunshine lets the colors in 🙂
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Yeah, you could just go crazy…. A window sounds fantastic!
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You could do like a mosaic painting with it. I found beautiful colored little rocks and glued them onto canvas to make a lovely piece of art, then framed it. Jewelry would be amazing with sea glass.
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Great idea, thank-you Jelena 🙂 I have seen some amazing jewellery and home decor pieces done with sea glass. The lamp shades are really cool too.
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The famous glass artist Chihuly started out by combing beach glass…you never know where things lead. 🙂
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It’s a very addictive activity 🙂
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I collected a whole Vase full and we have it in the Bathroom looks quite good
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Like the old saying.. one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
A handful tossed into a bowl placed on a coffee table is effective and guests can’t help but pick up the smooth pieces and run their fingers over them. PS Don’t use you favourite bits… accidents happen!
Thanks for visiting and for your following 🙂
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Amazing stuff, I’ve never really seen sea glass before. It would be amazing to see jewellery made with it.
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Hope to show some jewellery here soon.. Keep an eye out next time your at the beach!
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