Drilling Sea Glass

DREMEL400 XPR

Starting my venture in making Sea Glass Jewelry required I get a hand drill.  Have you ever been to that great big tool department in Home Depot?  Scary!

Thanks to the advice and guidance of my husband, he led me to my Dremel 400/XPR.

I bought a drill press at the same time.  A drill press is a stand with a mount to attach the hand drill.  It has a lever to guide the drill up and down.

I  saw this used in a video for drilling Sea Glass and it appeared to have more control and stability.

After about a month of using it..I started drilling the Sea Glass using the Dremel, held in my hand .  To my surprise I could feel the amount of pressure better and I actually had more control over the drill this way.  Go figure.  I’m sure the drill press will come in hand another time.

It is super quiet and easy to hold.  Not heavy or full of vibration.  The power is more than sufficient for drilling Sea Glass.  The motor doesn’t get hot on me.  The settings dial is super easy( there are 10 settings)  Most Dremels come with a nut and a collet.  You’ll probably need to purchase a couple of other collets in different sizes to accommodate  the different sized drill bits.

Like anything else the hardest part is developing the muscles in your hand to get use to holding it vertically straight while drilling the Sea Glass.  It comes in time,  just like learning to play a musical instrument.

DO NOT COMPROMISE in getting a good hand drill.  There are lots out there and several are very cute and miniature…they won’t get the job done…don’t get sucked into cuteness:)

Next time we’ll talk about drill bits.  Any questions?  Be sure to leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.

This Mermaid is super tired and ready for sweet dreams.  Good Night.

Fair Winds and Calm Seas,

Deborah Leon  artist/collector

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Sea Glass Hunting & Making Friends

One of the best parts of  looking for Sea Glass are the people I meet along the way.  This Monday was no exception.  After a few times you begin to recognize the other collectors, exchange names and compare finds.

Bruce appears to be a regular, a Manhattan Beach resident who walks the beach because it’s therapeutic for his back, and it turns out he and his wife are nutty for Sea Glass.

Tim Harris hit the jackpot finding a decent sized piece of cobalt blue Sea Glass.

An Excited Tim Harris!

The prized Cobalt Blue Sea Glass

Running into each other Tim just couldn’t contain his excitement and had to do a little show and tell about his cobalt blue find.  His excitement infected me to being totally thrilled for him.  Sooo…he agreed to a mini photo shoot.  Sweet!  Happy Hunting Tim, here’s to finding a Ruby of the Sea the next time.

Continuing my journey I collect trash that has been tossed ashore by this years storms.  Passing by Moms playing with their kids, I offer trash bags and ask if they can do a little cleaning while playing.  They are very obliging.  (I always carry extra trash bags to hand out )

My last unexpected meet on this expedition was a delightful, sweet woman by the name of Robin.  We talked about our finds, etc. and upon learning that I do this for my business she insisted that I take her finds and she hung out for a while to help me look for more Sea Glass.  Robin…thank you…so generous and gracious.  Enjoy the rest of Spring Break with your daughter and family.

Hunting for Sea Glass is so much more than just the find to make jewelry. It is the Sum and Total of the whole experience, delightful people, salty air, song of sea birds, the ebb and flow of the tide, wet feet, sun upon my face, cleaning my favorite place, and for a moment in time…being in communion with the creator of all creation.

Fair Winds and Calm Seas,

Deborah Leon  artist/collector

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Sea Glass Drilling..Sponge or button

Water bowl, Water, Sponge or Wood

So It may not be clear to every one why you would use a bowl with water for drilling Sea Glass…When I first heard of this, I was completely skeptical. Won’t I get an electric shock? Then I reflected to the days of home remodeling and my husband cutting tile in water. I reasoned…..I guess I’ll be okay.

The water reduces the heat from the friction of  the drill bit and piece of  Sea Glass. Keeping it cool is a must!

Wood Button Vs. Sponge.

These two tools are set in the water with the Sea Glass atop.  This helps to reduce the impact of vibrations by absorbing much of  it.

First I’ll start with the wood button when beginning the hole in the Sea Glass.  It’s a firmer, more stable surface for starting the hole.

Then I’ll switch to the sponge to finish the job….it’s softer and absorbs more than the wood button.

Some pieces of Sea Glass shatter easier than others depending on the color of Sea Glass.  I find the light blues are extremely sensitive to vibration and can shatter easily.  This is such a bummer….the light blues are definitely in the rare category, hard to find and after getting almost to the end and holding your breath for it seems like an eternity just for it to shatter…..well….it doesn’t make for a happy artist.

Stay tuned as next I’ll talk about the Dremel.  I love my Dremel!

If you haven’t yet, you need to get the Mermaid’s Purse Newsletter.  It is filled with information about the world of  Sea Glass.  The 5 Part Series on Sea Glass is getting rave reviews.  Only SUBSCRIBERS GET THIS , and it’s completely FREE.

Use the form at the top right corner of this page.  Your a click away.

Be sure to confirm the email from Mermaid’s Purse.  The Newsletters will start coming.

Til we gather again,

Fair Winds and Calm Seas,

Deborah Leon   artist/collector

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Sea Glass – Tools for Drilling

The second most asked question in my business after…where do I

collect my Sea Glass? Is…..

How do I drill the Sea Glass?

In this Post we will start with the tools.

I have found that not all tools are created equal.  In fact it took a lot of research, experimentation, practice and patience.

DREMEL400 XPR

Collets of various sizes

Drill Bits of various sizes

Water bowl, Water, Sponge or Wood

Glasses for protection

BREAK DOWN
1. Hand Drill: I prefer the Dremel400 XPR, it is light weight, fits my hand well, has 5,000 – 35,000 RPM, 10 speed settings, can be used with a drill press if desired, has endless number of attachments for every job.

2. Collets of various sizes to accommodate the different size drill bits.

3.  Drill bits for making holes in glass.  This part is huge!   You are not cutting sea glass, you are grinding sea glass.  I tried the others that are shaped with a point and spiral (INFERIOR).  I order my bits from a wonderfull company call Rio Grande item # 349016.  You just have been given the biggest tip for drilling.:)

4.  A container for water…most use a plastic container.  I feel most comfortable with this shallow finger bowl.  A piece of sponge or wooden button is what I use to set the Sea Glass on top of while drilling in the water.

5.  Glasses for protection and fine visibility.  Many recommend safety glasses or goggles with a larger shield…these make me uncomfortable.  A pair of glasses with larger lenses work out just fine for me.

Just a reminder, the items listed are tweaked to my preference.  You too may have to experiment.

Next post well start talking about how to use our tools.

I know you may have questions..please feel free to comment and I will respond.

If you haven’t yet, subscribe to Mermaid’s Purse Newsletter to get the 5 part series on Sea Glass.  (upper right corner of this page)

Til then,

Fair Winds and Calm Seas,

Deborah Leon   artist/collector

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West Winds Sea Glass Collection

West Winds

Mermaid’s Purse is adding a new collection called:

WEST WINDS

This line of Sea Glass Jewelry is meant to be more budget friendly so all Mermaids and Mermen can enjoy accessorizing  with these incredible sea beauties.

I’ve heard over the past year how much someone loves my pieces but that it was a bit out of reach due to the fact that the existing collections are all set in sterling silver and many  rare colors are used.

Sooo…I’m in process of designing pieces using leather and less sterling silver.  I’ve been learning how to do Celtic braids and knots with leather.  Looks very cool!  The color of  Sea Glass used will be the common and uncommon colors.  None the less beautiful, just easier to find.

WEST WINDS….The name came about while watching the Olympics one evening with great friends and during commercial I asked my friends to throw out ideas for names.  Several good suggestions but this is the one that stuck.  Turns out it is the name given to a home in Manhattan Beach that my friends just inherited.

I love the name WEST WINDS!!!  Makes sense too, seeing that the storms generated that bring Sea Glass to me are North Western, Western or South Western.  So there you have it…The WEST WINDS Sea Glass Collection.

Designing and making right now…be watching for pics!   You’ll be able to shop soon!

Fair Winds and Calm Seas,

Deborah Leon  artist/collector

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Winner of Sea Glass Shard Contest

Congratulations

Nancy White

Your are the Winner of the Sea Glass Shard Contest

Nancy's Entries

The winning shard is the Black Sea Glass on the left of the photo.

Black Sea Glass is in the rare spectrum of colors and can be quite old.

Here is Nancy’s Story of her Sea Glass

Fabulous tears  bestowed upon me as I walked upon the ocean floor in the beautiful Bay of Fundy, in St. Andrew’s, New Brunswick Canada.  The phenomenal Bay of Fundy tide is quite a spectacle in itself, rising and falling up to forty feet in some areas in the province.  But even as you witness the rising and ebbing of the tide, it is unbelievable!  St. Andrew’s is quite near the border of Maine, and hundreds of years ago the busy little harbour boasted a number of wharves that merchant ships from all over the world used to load and unload their wares.  Apparently they used all forms of glass, (china dishes, perfume bottles, wine bottles, vases, etc.) as ballast in the bottom of their ships for their journey across the seas to the little town on Passamaquoddy Bay.  Once they finished unloading their cargo, they simply dropped the ballast into the sea beside the wharves.  With the force of the mighty Bay of Fundy tide, that beautiful glass now washes up in tiny pieces on the rocky shore once the tide has ebbed.  The tide in that particular area rises some twenty-eight feet, so when it ebbs, you quite literally walk on the ocean floor, and it is simply magical! I have dreamed away many beautiful days in the warm sunshine, listening for the weeping sound as I collect the glittering gems the tide leaves there for me.  I return every summer to the enchanting little seaside town, rent the same little cottage on the beach, and sit on the deck excitedly awaiting the ebbing tide!

As the Winner…Nancy White will be receiving these Sea Glass Earrings

Amber Sea Glass Earrings/ Shell & Aquamarine Beads/ Sterling Silver Bali Sea Stars

To all my Mermaid Friends, Happy Hunting.

Fair Winds and Calm Seas,

Deborah Leon    artist/collector

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Sea Glass-Art Deco?

Today’s Find…A Queen’s Ransom

This piece of Sea Glass looks as though it is from a piece of jewelry..perhaps a brooch

The design looks Art-Deco to me…what do you think?

Posting this for my Sea Glass friends to help out too.

SPECTACULAR

Sea Glass found on stoney beach

Art-Deco design?

Sea Glass & Art-Deco

I screamed with excitement over the find turning heads in my direction..not caring, I continued to talk aloud to myself.

Tracing the identification of this piece of Sea Glass will be very rewarding.

!!! CONTEST !!!

ONE DAY LEFT TO ENTER

Subscribe to Mermaid’s Purse to get the details

(upper right corner of this page)

You could be the Mermaid to own these Sea Glass Earrings

Fair Winds and Calm Seas,

Deborah Leon  artist/collector

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Best Sea Glass Shard Contest!

ENTER TO WIN THESE

SEA GLASS EARRINGS

Amber Sea Glass Earrings/ Shell & Aquamarine Beads/ Sterling Silver Bali Sea Stars

SUBSCRIBE (Free) to Mermaid’s Purse News Letter for Details

(upper right hand corner of page)

Start digging through your SEA GLASS STASH

to enter your favorite piece.

Fair Winds and Calm Seas,

Deborah Leon  artist/collector

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Mermaids, Sea Glass & Coca-Cola

Sea Glass Coke Bottle Shard

Coke Bottle turn Sea Glass

Sea Foam Green, Coke Sea Glass

This is one of the Sea Glass Treasures from this Mermaid’s stash…a remnant of a Coke Bottle face. I found it several years ago in South Bay, California. I won’t sell, give it away or make Sea Glass jewelry with it. It’s not perfect in terms of rating sea glass but it is a perfect find. It has it all…history, frostiness(some glassy spots but I like it this way), identification markers, you can see the hydration from the inside out. I haven’t traced this one yet…but I gave a similar one away that was manufactured in Oregon, was found in Hawaii, and a Hawaiian girly brought here to California. What a trek! Part of the fun of collecting Sea Glass. Sometimes it’s for making jewelry, other times it’s just plain treasure.

Subscribe to get your Mermaid’s Purse News Letter. There’s a CONTEST for the BEST SEA GLASS SHARD and a prize for the winner. Subscribe to get the details.

Fair Winds and Calm Seas

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Salvaged Treasure-Sea Glass Jewelry

Salvaged Treasure Bracelet

Sea Foam Colored Sea Glass

Pink Rhodochrodite Semi Precious Stone