From where I’m sitting in our lounge I can see a massive pile of – or massive piles, of sea glass and driftwood.
Massive piles of sea glass and driftwood may be exaggerating a bit, but there is no exaggeration when I say that there is a lot of sea glass and driftwood.
What is all the sea glass and driftwood for? Where did it come from? What are we doing with it?
All are valid questions – they have to be, because I’ve asked those same questions myself.
Where does the sea glass and driftwood come from? The beaches and coastline near East London. Here on the South African East Coast we’re fortunate to have access to some of the greatest beaches for beachcombing. We have not yet been to all the beaches available to us, and we believe there are still some untapped treasure troves out there, but we do know where we will most likely find what we’re looking for.
Sadly, many of the best beaches for collecting sea glass and driftwood are not safe due to violent crime.
What is the collection of sea glass and driftwood for? And what are we doing with it? Our collection initially started with sea glass about 7 years ago. Terry found pictures of sea glass on the internet, and recalled collecting pottery pieces on a nearby beach (when she was a child) while her Dad was fishing. We went down to that same beach, found a few pieces of pottery, and a healthy little collection of sea glass! We were hooked!
Not too long after that we started collecting the odd piece of driftwood. I’d pick up a stout piece of wood to use as a walking/clambering aid (I’m not a kid anymore), and more often than not we would collect a few interesting pieces while collecting sea glass.
As happens, our collection of sea glass and driftwood grew to beyond the point where we could have it all in view at the same time, and it became necessary to start “filing” our collection.
One evening we were chatting about our collection and decided to start selling our sea glass. Not as individual pieces, but as jewelry. So started a learning curve that is still escalating, as I learn more about using sea glass in a variety of interesting settings. Necklaces, bracelets, note-holders, chimes, dinner bells, and so on.
Driftwood sales started later – we researched the local market and found that there is very little driftwood available online – for weddings, aquariums, terrariums, tarantulas, craft projects, and the list goes on.
Until recently we didn’t do much with our driftwood except sell it on and offline. Three years ago we made several driftwood Christmas trees, and recently we started making a few other driftwood products that we sell at local craft markets.
We are truly fortunate that we are able to enjoy a lifestyle that encompasses our passions – sea glass and driftwood. Sea glass, driftwood, crafting, craft markets, blogging and several other online pursuits make our lives interesting and fulfilling.
Maybe we don’t make a lot of money, but we do have each other, and our common passions which more than compensate for anything else.
© Copyright Tony Flanigan 2018