ISGA is a non-profit organiz is a non-profit organization positively supporting sea and beach glass collectors and the beachcombing community through festivals, information, educational opportunities, membership, and more.
The North American Sea Glass Association’s 10th Annual Sea Glass Festival in Ocean City, Maryland will be held August 29-30th, 2015 and will feature three lectures on Saturday. Each of the lectures will offer attendees a unique look into the historical significance of objects found along the region’s DelMarVa shorelines, and we’ll also have a lecture on Greek Sea Glass.
Bill Winkler, with the Delaware Marine Archeological Society, will offer his knowledge of the local historical significance of sea glass and treasures, which can be found along the Delaware and Maryland beaches.
Bill has either spent time at the beach or lived by it almost his entire life. In the early 1950s his family vacationed in Dewey, Delaware, where they rented a cottage on Dickinson Street. That’s where his love for the ocean started. Since then, that love has taken him from coast to coast, provided Bill with a career and even a glimpse of a time when schooners either mastered the sea or were swallowed whole by it.
In ninth grade, a guidance counselor asked what career Bill wanted to pursue. He chose marine biology. He figured it would give him a chance to be by the ocean. That meant not being indoors—something Bill didn’t want to do if it would feel like the confinement of school. Bill received his biology degree from the University of Hawaii in 1970, then continued in graduate school through 1973. He eventually left his studies to work for the airlines. My career included working for Island Air, Aloha and Western Airlines. By the time he left the islands, Bill had lived surrounded by the Pacific for a decade.
After Bill returned to the mainland, he migrated to the East Coast, where he made Pompano Beach, Florida, his home. Bill spent 17 years there fishing, surfing, scuba diving, treasure hunting for Mel Fisher and loving the beach life.
Yet Bill returned to Sussex County, just miles from where he had vacationed as a kid. Though Bill was a skilled diver, he had spent years working along Florida’s submerged barrier reef system, there was little demand for his services. So Bill ended up in the retail business with TreasureQuest Shoppe on Route 26, where he sells nautical decor and specializes in metal detectors, for treasure hunting.
Shipwrecks of Delmarva – art work by Robert Pratt, cartographer & research of the shipwreck locations with names & dates of sinking by Don Shomette. Of the 10,000 to 12,000 wrecks believed to lie on the sea floor, this is a one of a kind comprehensive representation.
After years of selling metal detectors to people who discovered shipwreck artifacts on the beach, Bill and several friends founded the Delaware Marine Archaeological Society in 1997.
In 2002 the society completed the first maritime archeological survey in Delaware at no cost to the state. They focused on one 255-foot unidentified ship that was in the surf zone at Beach Plum Island. The fact that this boat remains anonymous is amazing, considering that it is one of the largest schooners built during its time. After years of work, we put together a 3-inch-thick report titled the “Beach Plum Island Project,” which details the architecture of the schooner. It includes VHS video, more than 300 photographs and plenty of drawings. Since the report was finished, much of the ship has been broken apart and scattered by waves, but at least part of her history has been documented.
Working in and out of the sea has taken Bill from the Atlantic to the Pacific, but now Bill finds himself on the same sandy shores he loved as a kid. Bill finds himself at home along the Delaware beaches; although he still has the urge to seek adventure on an uninhabited island somewhere out in warmer waters.
Bill Winkler will feature a lecture, “The Historical Significance of Sea Glass & Treasures found along Delaware’s Coast” on Saturday at 11am during the North American Sea Glass Festival in Ocean City, Maryland on August, 29th – 30th.
Each member of NASGA will have the opportunity to share their involvement with NASGA and the NASGA Mission, and “introduce” themselves as members of the North American Sea Glass Association. We’re calling this the “Meet the NASGA Members” blog series. We’re excited to share our next member with you.
Our next NASGA Members are Sue Lemmons and Cheryl Eashum from SeaGals Gallery of DE. Sue answered the questions for the two of them.
NASGA: How long have you been a member of NASGA?
We are new members this year, but have been following the organization and related links and members’ sites for several years.
NASGA: Can you share your “personal sea glass story” (how and when you became interested in sea glass)?
Cheryl and Sue of SeaGals Gallery of Delaware
Our sea glass journey began long ago. As sisters, we have always been very close. We grew up camping and doing all the things that do along with that, including beachcombing. Our jewelry boxes were full of fossils, beach stone and sea glass from the Delaware coast. Over the years, we continued our beachcombing and collecting beachy things. As these things began to pile up, my husband, a neat freak (a real challenge for an artist…), asked me one day to either get rid of the piles or use them. So, of course, I chose option number 2, and I used them! We started with a lot of shell and beach stone art. It was Cheryl who came up thought to wrap beach stones into pendants. They were quite popular. Then we thought about the sea glass we had been collecting forever, wrapped it and quickly learned that there was there was an entire sea glass culture out there. We were hooked and have been making jewelry and sea glass art ever since. Lucky for us, our families have been very supportive of our venture.
NASGA: Please tell us about your particular craft and when you formed your business or began practicing your skill. (For members who create jewelry, the questions would, of course, differ from those who design mosaics or authors).
Eight years ago, I assisted a Girl Scout troop with arts and crafts, of which many were beach themed items we invented, such as shell ornaments, soaps, etc. We decided to create a business badge, which would incorporate learning basic business and marketing skills by selling their items at a local craft show. When unexpectedly asked the name of our business, we impulsively replied “SeaGals Gallery”, since we were all girls. The items we had were a huge success, and although the girls were pitifully bored, that moment rekindled my deep-down desire to create. The next year, my sister, Cheryl, joined in and together, we have cultivated and grown SeaGals Gallery of DE. Although we started with ornamental decorative type things, we moved into sea glass jewerly world six years ago- and now- cannot imagine life without it!
NASGA: Are you also an avid sea glass collector (or do you solely enjoy working on your craft or skill), and are you partial to a certain type or color of sea glass?
We are absolutely committed to finding and using the glass in the state in which it is found. We like to find the pieces with words, letters, and unusual shapes, and of course, all the different colors. We also use pottery, fossils and still at times, pretty beach stones. Cheryl is very creative with pieces that have markings or patterns, using them as a background to create pendants with tiny artistic scenes.
NASGA: If you are a collector, can you tell us about your collection and whether it may be difficult to part with some of your creations or incorporate your favorite pieces into projects?
We have quite an extensive collection, so we try to separate by color in organizers and jars. We have specific pieces that we are partial to and will probably never part with those pieces. These special pieces are the ones that we found on trips or were found by someone close to us and have sentimental value. We also have jewelry that we made for ourselves that would be hard to part with, although we have sold jewelry right off our bodies before, at client’s insistence. There was one piece that sold that way and although I was hesitant, I decided to do it, thinking I could make another for myself. I haven’t been able to find the same elements since, so, I learned that lesson the hard way.
NASGA: How has your craft evolved over time (how has experience helped you to perfect your craft and whether you were self-taught or took classes or had some other type of training, or whether you perhaps happened to discover your craft by accident or had an experience that shifted your focus from one type of craft/skill to another)?
Cheryl at annual pirate festival
As mentioned, Cheryl started out wrapping beach stones and fossils and then we incorporated sea glass. We initially sold some really old sea glass & good colors for next to nothing! I do wish I had kept the large lavender one from my ‘old jewelry box’ though, but we live and learn! It is interesting to look at pictures of our original work and see how far we have come in technique and style. We make unique pieces for women, kids and men, but we really enjoy making Pirate and Wench bling the most!
NASGA: Have you previously been (or are you currently) active in the association (have you had the opportunity to organize a festival, serve on the board, deliver a presentation, participate in educational-related events)?
We have never organized a sea glass festival, but we have organized several craft shows, and it is truly a challenging experience. Those who have never set one up, most likely have little idea of how difficult it is. We did host classes for the first time last year, at the request of group hosting a week-long event. We initially committed to one class for about 15 people. These slots quickly filled during event registration, so we opened up a second class, both for 20 people and quickly filled all 40 slots. During the classes we discussed what genuine sea glass is, where if comes from and how to learn more from the NASGA website and the festivals. These folks were from all over the country and several from other countries, so it was really fun to share our passion and see their creative sides unfold. During the 2 hour class, each person were able to wrap at least 2 pieces, not all expertly, but enough to get a fair try with guidance. However, some were quite good at it and to see the pride of accomplishment from each attendee was very rewarding. One lady even went sea glassing while she was here in the one of the worst places for bugs, and we were so excited that she found glass. She wrapped it and did a nice job.
NASGA: How has your membership in NASGA benefited you professionally and/or personally?
Formal membership demonstrates commitment to the cause of preserving genuine sea glass.
NASGA: Is there a particular NASGA festival that stands out as your favorite (if the member has participated in several, or more than one), and can you a share a memorable experience associated with a previous NASGA festival (whether sentimental, humorous, ironic)?
This year will be our first NASGA Sea Glass Festival, but we’ve participated in many over the past 6 years. The first one in Lewes was most memorable. People loved our items, and we did very well. However, as the culture has grown, we’ve not been accepted into that show as often as we would have liked.
NASGA: What are some of your other interests or hobbies? If you could learn another skill (does not need to be art related) what would it be?
Hobbies: gardening, making jelly and canning. Other things I would do: Write mystery stories; rehab old houses, travel the world
Sue during craft festival
NASGA: Where can readers find out more about your craft or skill? Also, are readers welcome to contact you, and if so, what is the preferred method for them to reach you?
I found a red marble very early on. I sold it on an artsy seashell pin for $5.00. Again, live and learn, right? I’ve never found another.
NASGA: How have you helped strengthen and support the NASGA Mission?
By continuing to get the message out to others that using genuine sea glass in natural state as found is true sea glass. We also throw back any sea glass pieces that are not totally ready yet, to secure future sea glass finds. Also, researching the history of found sea glass.
Each member of NASGA will have the opportunity to share their involvement with NASGA and the NASGA Mission, and “introduce” themselves as members of the North American Sea Glass Association. We’re calling this the “Meet the NASGA Members” blog series. We’re excited to share our next member with you.
Our next NASGA Member is Meg Carter with Made by Meg
NASGA: How long have you been a member of NASGA? Since 2014, but I have participated as a vendor in the NASGA Festival for 4 years.
NASGA: Can you share your “personal sea glass story” (how and when you became interested in sea glass)? I have always been a collector. At a young age my Mom introduced me to the art of collecting by sharing her rock collection from her childhood. I was impressed by the organization and labeling of each specimen. I always found myself picking up rocks or shells when at the beach. Growing up in inland Connecticut, trips to the beach were usually based around visits to my grandparents in Florida. I would collect all sorts of beach treasures on those trips. It was on a trip to Maine with a friend at the age of 9 that I found my first piece of sea glass. It was not just any piece of glass, it was the top of a spice container which still had in place the top with holes. Sea glass became a favorite to find from then on. It was not until I started my jewelry business many years later that trips and expeditions to search for sea glass really made my collection thrive.
Meg at a North American Sea Glass Festival
NASGA: Please tell us about your particular craft and when you formed your business or began practicing your skill.
My interest in the jewelry industry was fueled by working in sales for one of the major jewelry chains during college. My art degree and a childhood of crafts and art projects developed my art skills. My passion for collecting beach treasures started from a young age. All of these factors came together when I was commissioned to make some sea glass jewelry. After then making some sea glass jewelry for myself, friends and family it soon became apparent that I might have a business. So in November of 2008, I created Made By Meg. After a few years my business was thriving and it was necessary to leave my 8-5 job to run Made By Meg full time. I now have a full studio in my home where I make wire wrapped sea glass jewelry, bezel set sea glass jewelry and specialize in sea glass and diamond engagement rings.
NASGA: Are you also an avid sea glass collector (or do you solely enjoy working on your craft or skill), and are you partial to a certain type or color of sea glass? Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is not known for sea glass and with good reason. It is a good day if I find two semi frosted pieces of sea glass and that is with a trained eye. For me to keep my business going it requires me to go on trips to replenish my supply. When those trips do happen they are very exciting and I really look forward to them. I have always been partial to the sea foam shades of sea glass, but there’s something about white sea glass that I think most collectors overlook. The pureness and soft look of a well frosted white piece really calls to me for some reason.
Meg enjoying the beach and beautiful sunset
NASGA: If you are a collector, can you tell us about your collection and whether it may be difficult to part with some of your creations or incorporate your favorite pieces into projects?
I keep my sea glass collection very organized. I have divided my collection by quality, then color, then size. Over the years I have tried different methods of storing my collection, but have found the most convenient and accessible way to store it is in removable drawers. I have my best quality pieces for engagement rings in individual gem display holders for easy viewing and to keep them safe. My most unique finds are in a basket on my work table so I can view and enjoy them on a daily bases. I am also very attached to unique pieces that have designs or clues to the pieces original state. Pieces that really call to me are special and often kept in my own personal collection.
NASGA: How has your craft evolved over time (how has experience helped you to perfect your craft and whether you were self-taught or took classes or had some other type of training, or whether you perhaps happened to discover your craft by accident or had an experience that shifted your focus from one type of craft/skill to another)? Wire wrapping is an obvious place to start with sea glass jewelry and is where my craft started. My style of wrapping is more organic than ornate and makes the sea glass more of the focus than the wrapping style. I enjoy the way the piece of glass almost has a way of determining the design. I am completely self taught in wire wrapping and have always found it fun and therapeutic. Before starting my business I had done an apprenticeship under a local jeweler where I learned the basics of using a torch and soldering. After a few years in business I decided to dabble in using a torch again. I went back to the same jeweler and purchased the equipment I had learned on. I had to reteach myself as it had been so long since I learned. After a lot of trial and error and patience I was able to figure out how to bezel set sea glass. It was not long after this, I was commissioned to do my first sea glass and diamond engagement ring. After that first one was complete it snowballed quickly. Now, at any given time, I am working on 3-4 sea glass engagement rings. They are my passion and my favorite pieces to make. Working directly with the customer to design and create a unique ring that is so special is so exciting. Getting an email from a customer saying “she said YES!!!!” and knowing that customer intends to wear a piece of my artwork and jewelry everyday for the rest of their life is truly an amazing feeling. I have also grown my wholesale business providing jewelry for many retail locations. I have lots of goals and plans for the future when it comes to expanding my jewelry line. Also being a stay at home mom, time is limited to reach these goals, but I am so excited about the future and the possibilities.
NASGA: Have you previously been (or are you currently) active in the association (have you had the opportunity to organize a festival, serve on the board, deliver a presentation, participate in educational-related events)?
Still new to being a member of the association, I have not held an active roll or board member title, but I look forward to the opportunity in the future.
NASGA: How has your membership in NASGA benefited you professionally and/or personally?
Being a part of the association has given me the opportunity to show my support for the sea glass community as a whole. I believe that the world of sea glass is still in its infant stages and is quickly gaining momentum and interest throughout the world. I find, especially in the area I live in, it is common to hear people ask me “what is sea glass?” It seems like a strange question given the people I converse with on a regular bases, but there are still many people who have never even heard of sea glass. It is exciting to be a part of things from the beginning stages. For generations to come, sea glass is going to rise in popularity and be harder to find, so it will also be prized.
NASGA: Is there a particular NASGA festival that stands out as your favorite (if the member has participated in several, or more than one), and can you a share a memorable experience associated with a previous NASGA festival (whether sentimental, humorous, ironic)? I have enjoyed all the festivals I have attended and participated in. It is so exciting to meet and talk with so many people that share a passion for sea glass. So many people with one common interest sharing stories, ideas, artwork and experiences is fun and inspiring. Having the opportunity to meet my customers and share my artwork and jewelry with them is very rewarding for me. I would have to say the Cape May 2014 festival sticks out to me because of two visitors I had at my booth. I have made many sea glass engagement rings and all of them have been for customers all over the world and not one of them I have met in person, until the Cape May festival. Two wonderful ladies had chosen me to make a ring for their engagement. Their ring has always stood out to me because of the way I designed it. They had mentioned writing poems to each other was something special between them. They shared one of those poems with me as inspiration. I used their poem and designed the ring around it. It is one of my favorite designs (it is the Beaufort design in my portfolio). When I was at the Cape May festival I was conversing with customers, as usual, when someone walked up to my booth put her hand out in front of me showing off a ring and said “recognize this?” I obviously did immediately. They had driven for hours just to come to the show and meet me! I was so touched by this I was almost in tears. It will be a memory that will always be special to me.
NASGA: What are some of your other interests or hobbies? If you could learn another skill (does not need to be art related) what would it be?
Although my business and making jewelry takes a majority of my time, I have joined in helping with my husband’s hobby in brewing craft beer. We, both being artists, enjoy the creativity of trying new recipes that suit our tastes and sharing with friends, family and neighbors.
NASGA: What is your favorite beachcombing find? My favorite find is surprisingly not sea glass. Here in Myrtle Beach, SC there’s not much sea glass, When my head is down and looking at the surf, I am usually looking for shark teeth. My husband and I have an extensive collection that we have found over the years. In case you are not familiar with collecting shark teeth, most are surprised to learn that most of the teeth you will find are black or brown. The teeth you find that are black are millions of years old. If you find a white tooth it is not nearly as old and extremely rare. In November of 2007, when my then boyfriend took me to the beach at sunrise for a beachcombing walk, he had something else in mind. He proposed as you might have guessed. I said “yes”, obviously, and after our excitement we proceeded to walk down the beach looking for shark teeth, as normal. After only a few steps, I found a white shark tooth. It was a special find for a very special day.
Carter Sea Glass Color Naming
NASGA: How have you helped strengthen and support the NASGA Mission? One of the NASGA Mission points is “Provide a forum and knowledge base for sea glass enthusiasts to communicate with other individuals who share their passion for genuine beach sea glass.” I have helped strengthen this objective by creating the Carter Sea Glass Color and Rarity Guide. Over the years I observed a need within the sea glass community. While referring to colors and calling them names, nowhere was there an expanded standard for what each color should be called. I found a need myself with this issue. When customers would make an order for a custom piece they might say they would like “aqua” color sea glass, My opinion of what “aqua” was and what someone else’s opinion of “aqua” could be completely different. I believed that for the community to communicate, a list of standard names needed to be created. I went to my own collection and spent many hours to finally decide on 81 colors of sea glass which I then officially named. I also found while doing this that a user friendly rarity scale would also be beneficial to the community. Rating each color on a 1-10 rarity scale is an organized and simple way of discussing and classifying a rarity grade. I compiled all of these names and rarity grades on a poster for display and use. The colors are arranged in an artistic way making the guide not only a useful tool, but a work of art. My hope is that going forward, the Carter Guide can be used as a go to standard name and rarity guide for all sea glass collectors. So far the community has had a very positive response to the guide and it is already being used by collectors all over the world.
Each member of NASGA will have the opportunity to share their involvement with NASGA and the NASGA Mission, and “introduce” themselves as members of the North American Sea Glass Association. We’re calling this the “Meet the NASGA Members” blog series. We’re excited to share our next member with you.
Our next NASGA Member is Steve Gladhill and Tammy Thatcher of STBeachFinds from St. Leonard, Maryland.
NASGA: Hello, Steve and Tammy. How long have you been a member of NASGA?
We’ve been a member of NASGA since April 2015
NASGA: Can you share your “personal sea glass story” (how and when you became interested in sea glass)?
We have lived on the beach most of our lives. We walk the beach to relax and enjoy nature. In doing so you find all kinds of interesting things especially sea glass.
Some of ST Beach Finds sea glass collection
NASGA: Please tell us about your particular craft and when you formed your business or began practicing your skill.
Our business started approximately 3 years ago. Our collection had grown so much that we need a way to share it with people. We both love to be creative and started by a lot of trial and error, along with online research and most of all going to festivals and talking to people. We taught ourselves how to do wire wraps, drill glass and which glues work best.
Steve sorting sea glass for projects
NASGA: Are you also an avid sea glass collector (or do you solely enjoy working on your craft or skill), and are you partial to a certain type or color of sea glass?
We are most definitely collectors. Some of our most prized pieces decorate our home. We have a few reds, yellows and many shades of blues.
NASGA: If you are a collector, can you tell us about your collection and whether it may be difficult to part with some of your creations or incorporate your favorite pieces into projects?
It is hard sometimes to part with that special piece but we ask ourselves, if someone else would enjoy it as much as we do and would another piece work as well in the project? The piece usually ends up being used. Of course we all have those pieces that we absolutely will not part with.
Tammy sorting sea glass
NASGA: How has your craft evolved over time (how has experience helped you to perfect your craft and whether you were self-taught or took classes or had some other type of training, or whether you perhaps happened to discover your craft by accident or had an experience that shifted your focus from one type of craft/skill to another)?
We have definitely evolved over the last few years. We look back now on some of the early photos and can see an improvement in the quality of our work. We continue to research new techniques and talk to other crafts people to see what is working for them. Exchanging information is the best way to help each other succeed.
NASGA: Have you previously been (or are you currently) active in the association (have you had the opportunity to organize a festival, serve on the board, deliver a presentation, participate in educational-related events)?
We have not had the chance to do this yet, as we have only been members since April.
NASGA: How has your membership in NASGA benefited you professionally and/or personally?
We are hoping being part of NASGA will help us network and build our business over the upcoming years.
Favorites from ST Beachfinds’ sea glass collection
NASGA: Is there a particular NASGA festival that stands out as your favorite (if the member has participated in several, or more than one), and can you a share a memorable experience associated with a previous NASGA festival (whether sentimental, humorous, ironic)?
This will be the first festival in which we are participating. We hope to come away with some wonderful memories that we might share next year.
NASGA: What are some of your other interests or hobbies? If you could learn another skill (does not need to be art related) what would it be?
Steve: Become a Captain and pilot a boat to journey around the world.
NASGA: Where can readers find out more about your craft or skill? Also, are readers welcome to contact you, and if so, what is the preferred method for them to reach you?
We always welcome contact with anyone interested in sea glass. Please feel free to use either our Facebook page, STBeachfinds or send us an email stbeachfinds@gmail.com
Small sea glass bottle stopper
NASGA: What is your favorite beachcombing find?
We found a salt cellar, a stopper with a W engraved, a stopper that is smaller than a dime and a few whole bottles. Of course, any piece of red is a treasure.
NASGA: How have you helped strengthen and support the NASGA Mission?
We walk our local beaches and pick up trash others are leaving behind while always searching for sea glass. When out in our boat we see things floating in the bay and stop to retrieve them if possible. Sometimes these items are incorporated into crafts used in the other side of our business which deals with nautical designs. We feel that by upcycling we are doing our part to help protect our beaches, waterways and the marine eco-system.
NASGA: Thank you , we hope you enjoy your first NASGA Sea Glass Festival in Ocean City, Maryland, August 29th and 30th!
The North American Sea Glass Association’s 10th Annual Sea Glass Festival in Ocean City, Maryland will be held August 29-30th, 2015 and will feature three lectures on Saturday. Each of the lectures will offer attendees a unique look into the historical significance of objects found along the region’s DelMarVa shorelines, and we’ll also have a lecture on Greek Sea Glass.
Patricia Samford, Director, MAC Lab
The first lecturer featured is Patricia Samford, from the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab (MAC Lab) located in southern Maryland. The MAC Lab is a state-of-the-art archaeological research, conservation, and curation facility located at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum, the State Museum of Archaeology, in southern Maryland. The MAC Lab serves as a clearinghouse for archaeological collections recovered from land-based and underwater projects conducted by State and Federal agencies throughout Maryland.
NASGA: Patricia, thank you for participating in the North American Sea Glass Association’s 10th Annual Sea Glass Festival in Ocean City, both as a presenter, and as a Shard ID expert on Saturday and Sunday. We’re excited to have you join us this year.
NASGA: You’ve studied both land and marine archaeology, specializing in ceramics and pottery. What is your favorite part about doing what you do?
The Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab, where I work, has over 8 million archaeological artifacts from across the state. Ceramics and glass make up a good portion of the collections from sites that date after European contact. Having those collections at my fingertips and being able to share them with the public through our Diagnostic Artifacts in Maryland website (http://www.jefpat.org/diagnostic/index.htm) is one of my favorite parts of my job.
NASGA: Is there a favorite beach that you like to frequent and refer to it as “your beach?”
My favorite beaches would have to be those of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I have not found that much sea glass there, but I am intrigued by all the shipwrecks off these shores, often referred to as “the graveyard of the Atlantic”.
MAC Lab Director Patricia Samford shows College of Southern Maryland President Brad Gottfried a canoe dating to 210 A.D. which is currently in the freeze drier to preserve it. The canoe has been soaked in a special solution that helps the cells retain their shape during the freeze-drying process. The vacuum removes the moisture as vapor through sublimation. The canoe will be weighed weekly and when the canoe’s weight stabilizes the freeze drying is complete. Photo Credits: College of Southern Maryland
NASGA: You’ve traveled to many different places and walked many beaches during your travels. Where is your favorite place to collect?
I will be traveling to Scotland this summer and I look forward to beachcombing in the Outer Hebrides. I hear that British sea glass is a rare treat!
NASGA: Do you have any beaches on your “bucket list?”
I would love to visit Glass Beach near Fort Bragg, California. The photographs I have seen of this beach are amazing.
NASGA: Do you have a memorable beach-combing experience you can share with us? And what did you find?
This was not beachcombing per se, but I lived in a small town in North Carolina on a tidal creek. A nor’easter blew the water out of the creek and a friend and I were able to walk out on the creek bottom and pick up pieces of pottery from the 1700 and early 1800s, when the townspeople used the creek as their trash dump.
NASGA: Aside from collecting and aside from your expert experiences, what are some of your other interests or hobbies?
I love to travel and have quite a few countries I would like to visit (not all of them with beaches!). I also enjoy reading about the past and imagining what life was like to past generations.
NASGA: Thank you for sharing your story. We’re looking forward to the Ocean City festival and your presentation and expertise in ceramics and pottery.
Patricia Samford’s Lecture Information: Beyond Sea Glass: Identifying Sea Pottery Saturday, August 29th 1pm – 2PM Patricia Samford, Director, Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab, Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, St. Leonard, Maryland
Tucked away amongst the fragments of beautiful beach glass you have picked up over the years, there are probably more than a few fragments of pottery as well. Have you ever wondered how to identify and date them? If so, be sure to attend a talk given by Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab Director, Patricia Samford. Using examples of colonial and post-colonial pottery from the Lab’s collections, Dr. Samford will provide tips for identifying and dating your pieces based on paste color, hardness and decoration. Patricia will also be on hand all weekend long as a Shard ID expert. Attendees are welcome to bring their sea pottery for identification.
Bill Winkler, with the Delaware Marine Archeological Society, will offer his knowledge of the local historical significance of sea glass and treasures, which can be found along the Delaware and Maryland beaches.
