See The Beauty In Sea Glass

Colorful Sea Glass

Of the many items people look for while at the beach, sea glass happens to be a favorite of mine. I remember picking up a piece and asking my mother what it was. She said, "Glass". You can imagine my surprise. All I had ever known was that glass was sharp and not a toy. But sea glass was different, it was special.

Sea glass is made from glass items tumbling in the ocean. It's this tumbling process that makes the harsh edges smooth. A piece of glass obtains its frosty look from being hydrated and dehydrated multiple times over the years. The exact length of time to create sea glass is unknown, however experts have said it can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years.

Red Sea Glass

The colors of sea glass vary. The color is decided by the item's original origin.  Generally sea glass comes from bottles, and jars, as well as windows and plates. The most common color is clear, however green and brown are popular as well. These colors are popular because they are the colors companies used for sodas, beer, and juice bottles. Glass beverage containers were popular decades ago before plastic came on the scene. Some of the rarer colors are purple, pink, gray and the rarest of all red. These colors stem from the late 19th century and early 20th century. While there is not a significant value to sea glass, if you happen to find a piece of this color and of great age, there is a chance it may be worth something.

Sea Glass Pendant from Tears Of The Sea

While there may be no real dollar value to sea glass, it does not mean it is not worth anything. There are several ways you can use sea glass. Decorating mirrors, picture frames, tables, candles, lamps... the options are endless. My favorite is making jewelry. Sea glass is able to create beautiful pieces of jewelry that are classic and timeless. Don't worry if you aren't creative enough to make your own; there are places where you can purchase these items professionally made.

You often hear the saying "finding a diamond in the rough". I feel this saying applies to sea glass. You are able to find endless amounts of sea shells at the beach. Sea glass is not as available. It is a beautiful thing to see what nature can do to a man made object. If you are lucky to come across one of these treasures, enjoy it, for it is truly something special.

How To Clean Your Sea Glass

Cleaning sea glass is actually pretty straightforward - after all, the ocean has done a great deal of the work for you. Sea glass has been smoothed and polished and its sharp edges rounded by the tumbling effect of the sea. Really, once the fragments of glass have washed ashore, it is all but finished.

Still, there is some work left for you to do. If you want to take these pieces of beach glass and transform them literally into art, then you have some work ahead of you. It's not hard - but each step needs to be followed. The results will please you, making future efforts all the easier.

Start with water. Get a bucket or two and fill them with warm water to which a mild detergent or soap has been added. Carefully and thoroughly wash each piece of glass. This well cut down on the salty smell left by the sea. Any particles of sand or sea weed will also be removed by this process.

Next, return the glass to a clean jar or other container in which fresh water has been poured. You want to let the glass simply soak for an hour or more. After the glass has soaked - removing any last residues of soap - then bring it out and place them in a colander. Strain under cold running water for at least a full minute and preferably more.

Next, lay each piece of sea glass on a soft piece of cloth. Old flannel shirts work well, as do cotton sheets or other cloths that are smooth and gentle to the touch. Solid colors are best - if you use a cloth with too many colors, you might lose sight of each glass.

Let each piece of sea glass dry.

Once it has dried out you are ready to work over each piece by hand. Brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Dip it in warm soapy water and then scrub the glass. Be sure you get both sides and also pay particular attention to the edges. Be careful not to scrape the glass or otherwise mark it up.

Rinse the cleaned pieces. Then, dry off each piece. Polish it carefully until it gleams and glistens.

And you are finished! You can move the sea glass to whatever container or shelf where you store it.
Be sure to give it a quick clean from time to time - you can get the dust off, and really let it shine!