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The Ultimate Guide to Sea Glass: Beach Comber's Edition: Finding, Collecting, Identifying, and Using the Ocean's Most Beautiful Stones
Full-color expert advice for first-time seekers start new collections and veteran hunters who want to learn more—from California to Cape Cod, from the Gulf Coast to the Pacific Northwest, and around the world!
As the owner of one of the world's most elaborate sea glass collections, Mary Beth Beuke gets to talk about these prized ocean gems on a daily basis. Unfortunately, with each passing day, sea glass becomes more and more difficult to find, making the hunt more of a challenge to the seeker—especially one with limited experience in sea glass hunting.
There are several reasons why the hunt is so important to the sea glass seeker. Some find their Zen moments in the solitude and beauty of the hunt. Some collect to add color to their lives. The history, mystery, and discovery of sea glass are also strong forces that draw collectors to shorelines around the world, looking for these pieces of physically and chemically weathered frosted glass.
Whatever your reason for wanting to learn about and start your own collection of sea glass, the window for doing so is closing as pieces are becoming more elusive due to a growth in sea glass popularity and a decrease in recent glass bottle production.
Take this manual with you as you search for your own collection and make notes about what you find along the way.
As the owner of one of the world's most elaborate sea glass collections, Mary Beth Beuke gets to talk about these prized ocean gems on a daily basis. Unfortunately, with each passing day, sea glass becomes more and more difficult to find, making the hunt more of a challenge to the seeker—especially one with limited experience in sea glass hunting.
There are several reasons why the hunt is so important to the sea glass seeker. Some find their Zen moments in the solitude and beauty of the hunt. Some collect to add color to their lives. The history, mystery, and discovery of sea glass are also strong forces that draw collectors to shorelines around the world, looking for these pieces of physically and chemically weathered frosted glass.
Whatever your reason for wanting to learn about and start your own collection of sea glass, the window for doing so is closing as pieces are becoming more elusive due to a growth in sea glass popularity and a decrease in recent glass bottle production.
Take this manual with you as you search for your own collection and make notes about what you find along the way.
- GenresNonfiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2016
5 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 12, 2021
Some people collect seashells while walking along the beach. Others attempt to leave the sands cleaner as they pass by picking up some of the trash that is tossed up by the waves. While others collect the glass tumbled and smoothed by the movement of the waves and tides.
And that's what this book is about. The author has been collecting sea glass - or beach glass if you want to talk about pieces found on the edge of lakes - for most of her life. She talks of colors - most is clear, brown or green - along with various curious origins of some pieces. Japanese fishing net floats that travel across the ocean. Multi-colored pieces that are created when bottles were thrown into a beachside bonfire, fused, broke up and then were tumbled. The day's leftovers from a glass blowing or manufacturing plant dropped into the water. Broken automobile light lens. Broken windshields. Broken medicine and soda bottles. Mason jars, porcelain and ceramic pieces. Glass ornaments and knickknacks. Serving dishes, inkwells, beads, marbles, stoppers, electric insulators, perfume bottles and lots more
As trash is no longer dumped into the ocean or lakes, which is definitely good for the planet - if you can overlook the tons of plastic trash - but for someone looking to get into this hobby, true sea glass (not stuff planted by friends and charlatans) is slowly disappearing. But it can be found when strolling along the beach tidelines.
2021-229
And that's what this book is about. The author has been collecting sea glass - or beach glass if you want to talk about pieces found on the edge of lakes - for most of her life. She talks of colors - most is clear, brown or green - along with various curious origins of some pieces. Japanese fishing net floats that travel across the ocean. Multi-colored pieces that are created when bottles were thrown into a beachside bonfire, fused, broke up and then were tumbled. The day's leftovers from a glass blowing or manufacturing plant dropped into the water. Broken automobile light lens. Broken windshields. Broken medicine and soda bottles. Mason jars, porcelain and ceramic pieces. Glass ornaments and knickknacks. Serving dishes, inkwells, beads, marbles, stoppers, electric insulators, perfume bottles and lots more
As trash is no longer dumped into the ocean or lakes, which is definitely good for the planet - if you can overlook the tons of plastic trash - but for someone looking to get into this hobby, true sea glass (not stuff planted by friends and charlatans) is slowly disappearing. But it can be found when strolling along the beach tidelines.
2021-229
February 18, 2022
I know so much about seaglass now
June 4, 2023
As a life long sea glass collector, beachcomber, I am always interested in reading about a fellow enthusiast's own sea glass and/or beachcombing journey. There is also always something new to learn about the subject. The treasures in the photos are beautiful, I only wish they better lined up with the text. I also found the information was mainly presented in a very generalized way when often it is more relevant to some parts of the world, but not many others. (Especially the sea glass colour rarity chart.)
In the end this book wasn't the best sea glass guide but nor was it the worse.
In the end this book wasn't the best sea glass guide but nor was it the worse.
January 22, 2023
For more bookish thoughts, see my blog: Craft-Cycle
A nice resource for those already interested in sea glass and beachcombing who understand the basics. Would recommend to those who have already started a sea glass collection and are looking to learn more about what to look for in a locale and how to identify their pieces.
Beuke goes through different names for glass exposed to the elements, types of sea glass, and information on collecting, identifying, and caring for sea glass. She includes many photographs of her own finds, those entered into competitions, and those of other collectors she is acquainted with. There is also information on what makes sea glass authentic versus tumbled glass, a discussion of seeding beaches with raw glass or sea glass, and some basics on different colors, shapes, and types such as marbles, bonfire glass, multis, and stoppers.
While the content was good, unfortunately the composition of the book was a little sloppy. Many of the photographs were lovely, but were often too blown up to the point they became blurred. Others filled most of the page spread and the spine cut through the image of the sea glass itself. There were also multiple photographs that were referenced incorrectly (i.e. "to the left" when it was really above), which made reading slightly confusing.
In my own perception of the book, I found Beuke's narration grating at times. Though Beuke is impressively knowledgeable about sea glass, locations, and types, she often overshadowed the glass in her stories. She recounts many tales in which she was correctly able to identify a piece to the awe of all around. This continuous theme in her stories got a bit dull and repetitive after a while as I was more interested in the glass' history and journey rather than her feat in impressing others. Still, in general, I enjoyed her sharing her wealth of information.
Overall, a nice resource for experienced sea glass hunters looking for a deeper understanding of the trade. Resources at the back of the book include a glossary, index, and a My Sea Glass Records chart.
A nice resource for those already interested in sea glass and beachcombing who understand the basics. Would recommend to those who have already started a sea glass collection and are looking to learn more about what to look for in a locale and how to identify their pieces.
Beuke goes through different names for glass exposed to the elements, types of sea glass, and information on collecting, identifying, and caring for sea glass. She includes many photographs of her own finds, those entered into competitions, and those of other collectors she is acquainted with. There is also information on what makes sea glass authentic versus tumbled glass, a discussion of seeding beaches with raw glass or sea glass, and some basics on different colors, shapes, and types such as marbles, bonfire glass, multis, and stoppers.
While the content was good, unfortunately the composition of the book was a little sloppy. Many of the photographs were lovely, but were often too blown up to the point they became blurred. Others filled most of the page spread and the spine cut through the image of the sea glass itself. There were also multiple photographs that were referenced incorrectly (i.e. "to the left" when it was really above), which made reading slightly confusing.
In my own perception of the book, I found Beuke's narration grating at times. Though Beuke is impressively knowledgeable about sea glass, locations, and types, she often overshadowed the glass in her stories. She recounts many tales in which she was correctly able to identify a piece to the awe of all around. This continuous theme in her stories got a bit dull and repetitive after a while as I was more interested in the glass' history and journey rather than her feat in impressing others. Still, in general, I enjoyed her sharing her wealth of information.
Overall, a nice resource for experienced sea glass hunters looking for a deeper understanding of the trade. Resources at the back of the book include a glossary, index, and a My Sea Glass Records chart.
June 19, 2017
Picked this up as an impulse read at the library since, let's face it, who doesn't love sea glass. It's a beautiful little paperback with some amazing photos of sea glass. Without question, this book has the most information about sea glass that I've ever seen, but it feels like they had to stretch a bit to expand a magazine article's worth of info into a whole book. Nonetheless, it seems destined to sit on end tables and coffee tables at beach hotels and cottages. It felt like the book was self-published, as there are numerous errors, missed internal references and photos that appear on the wrong pages. The sloppiness in the production would keep me from buying it for someone as a gift.
March 23, 2018
I'm gonna say I read this, but to be honest, I skimmed the section on sea glass collecting communities and the different kinds of sea glass. I was more interested in how people find it, the history of glass, and the best practices of sea glass collection. I will definitely go back to reference any pieces I find.
February 8, 2018
Tragically, the captions and photos don't line up. I got used to having to turn the page to see the photo being described. One of the saddest photos is of a piece of sea glass on a two page spread and the actual glass in hidden in the binding so the photo is just two pages of background.
May 24, 2021
Not what I expected. I thought it might have tips, locations, and hints for the everyday beachcomber but, is geared towards professional collectors and those interested in sea glass history. I felt like reading a book report. I'm giving it 2 stars just fir the lovely photographs.
August 25, 2018
I mostly skimmed this to look at the photos, but it looks like a good resource for a future date.
February 6, 2024
Absolutely stunning photography. Loved the information and historical notions about the history and locations.
January 1, 2017
More info than I could handle!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews