Shop Sea Glass Jewelry for MOM!
Mermaid’s Purse
Sea Glass Jewelry
Shop for Mom at Mermaid’s Purse
Mother’s Day is May 9
25% off
sea glass jewelry
made with sterling silver
In Celebration of our Mom’s
Memento Wrapping
Have a special Treasure that reminds Mom of you
or is just a favorite object of hers?
I’ll wrap it in a setting of Sterling Silver
to become a pendant she can wear on a chain
Hurry….need 2 day lead time
Call: 310.989.3503
mermaidspurse@att.net
Shop at the web store
or visit me
May 1 at the El Segundo Hometown Fair
Library Park, 600 block, Main Street
Booth Space #1, North side of the rose garden
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Use this Code: mom2010
where indicated in shopping cart
to receive discount
Fair Winds and Calm Seas,
Deborah Leon artist/collector
mermaidspurse@att.net
www.mermaidspurseseaglass.com
310.989.3503
A BIG MERMAID THANK YOU
HERMOSA BEACH CLEAN UP DAY
AND
SEA GLASS FINDS
Saturday, April 17 was clean up day at Hermosa Beach sponsored by Mermaid’s Purse. When we got to the pier there was a flurry of activity going on and we fit right in. Spyder Surf put on Surf Fest 3. All the top Surf sponsors were there, Billabong, Volcom, Roxy, Reef, Rip Curl, Quick Silver, Surf Riders, etc. There was a high school surf competition, bands, volley ball, beach tennis and of course the all important CLEAN UP…YEAY.
I’m so proud to say that the teenagers, our future keepers of this earth made a strong showing. Outfitted with trash bags and disposable gloves we dispersed to do our thing..collect trash.
Yes….SEA GLASS was amongst the trash picked up, but of course it never made its way into a trash bag, the Sea Glass was safely tucked into the lining of pockets to be shown after.
Helping to clean were young surfers, Boy Scouts, students serving to get community service credit, Moms, an attorney and more importantly great attitudes and fantastic workers.
Penny found a styling piece of emerald green Sea Glass from a bottle neck. She also found the largest trash item…a nasty 5 gallon paint bucket sitting in the sand.
Penny and Emily...there's that nasty paint bucket. Good job girls!
MORE PICS OF THE CLEAN UP BRIGADE DOING AN “ACT OF GREEN”
Cade, Trevor and Kurtis
Tim...a man on a mission
Kristina
Amanda and Evelyn...Bags are looking heavy!
Sonia multi tasking, cleaning, talking on the cell and looking cute
Sonia "Representing" She's wearing Sea Glass Jewelry from Mermaid's Purse..Nice!
Thank you soooooo much to all that helped. For myself, my bag got so heavy I couldn’t drag it anymore and asked a kind beach comber to toss it away for me.
I found a handful of Sea Glass most of which is usable for jewelry while cleaning. *TIP: look along the debris line to find Sea Glass also, not just the shore line.
Hermosa Beach Pier pylons
It was a glorious day and much was accomplished. Another thanks goes to the Earth Day Org. for bringing to the foreground that we must continue to be good stewards of the amazing possession we call Earth. This year is their 40th anniversary.
Fair Winds and Calm Seas,
Deborah Leon artist, collector
Be sure to subscribe to Mermaid’s Purse to receive the newsletter and get the 5 part series about Sea Glass.
SEA GLASS JEWELRY – AN ACT OF GREEN
Mermaid’s Purse
Sea Glass Jewelry
Join Me for an “Act of Green”
In celebration of Earth Day
Sponsored By: Deborah Leon
Event: Hermosa Beach Clean Up Day/in conjunction with Earth Day Org.
Date: April 17, Saturday
Time: 9:00 a.m. til 12:00 p.m.
Location: Hermosa Beach Pier, Pier Avenue, Hermosa Beach…We will meet at the statue in front of the pier
ALL SCOUTS WILL EARN 3 HOURS COMMUNITY SERVICE
ALL FAMILIES WELCOME
Mermaid’s Purse will provide trash bags and disposable gloves
Bring you own implement for picking up trash if you like, i.e. long tongs, stab sticks, grabbers
Pack a lunch and bring water…we will gather back at the pier to eat together and take pictures at Noon.
El Nino storms have washed ashore a lot of debris this year. The cities do a good job cleaning but as I have gone out looking for Sea Glass, there is still a lot of plastic and trash along the debris lines. This is a good opportunity to give back as we all are the recipients of enjoying time at the beach. Hope to see you there. 
For questions or to RSVP contact:
Deborah Leon
310.989.3503
mermaidspurse@att.net
Fair Winds and Calm Seas,
Coastal Creations & Design
Big Write Up on Mermaid’s Purse
Sea Glass Jewelry
South Bay, California Girl gets Noticed
Coastal Creations & Design
Seaworthy Products for Those That Fancy the Sea
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Original Sea Glass Jewelry Creations by Daniel Renee & Deborah Leon
One of the great things about writing a blog like Coastal Creations and Design is the ability to attract wonderful folks that share the same common interests. As fate has it, we recently received a few favorable comments to a current post from two very talented artists, and both create exceptional sea-inpired jewelry from beach-combed sea glass. So I checked out their websites and Wah-lah! . . .the inspiration for another coastal creation. (See what writing a nice comment to our blog might bring you!)
Click : Coastal Creations & Design to read more.
It is a thrill to be recognized for my artwork in making Sea Glass Jewelry. Being paired up with Danielle Renee is most impressive and an honor. In this emerging niche of Sea Glass Jewelry which is very competitive, it’s great to be recognized with a stamp mark of quality.
Thank you to all my clients, followers and visitors. It’s fun sharing and creating for you.
Fair Winds and Calm Seas,
Deborah Leon artist/collector
meraidspurse@att.net
www.mermaidspurseseaglass.com
Sea Glass Jewelry-Percision Drilling
SEA GLASS
THE RIGHT DRILL BITS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
Drill Bits of various sizes
KNACK
Drilling Sea Glass for Jewelry is a knack but with the right drill bits that knack is made a little easier…in fact, a lot easier.
SHAPE
As you see in the pic, the shape may seem confusing to most of you. It’s not sharp and pointed at the end with graduated spiral edges. My drill bits are barrel shaped. WHY? We are grinding Sea Glass NOT cutting it.
Using this type of drill bit reduces the shattering of Sea Glass. The time to make a hole in the Sea Glass is much quicker also.
DRILLING
To get the cleanest and straightest dill holes, I always start with my smallest drill bit. It’s the size of a needle and is the one I use the most. After the 1st hole is made I graduate to the next drill bit til the desired size is achieved. Yes, it means changing the drill bits about 5 times….but that’s the nature of getting the best hole without cracking the Sea Glass.
When drilling your piece of Sea Glass, set it in the water with your piece of wood or sponge underneath ( be sure water covers the surface of Sea Glass ). Many use a marker to mark both sides of the Sea Glass to assure a straight line. I eyeball it unless the Sea Glass is so dark I can’t see through it.
Starting at a low speed ( #2 on my Dremel dial ) to minimize the vibrations, I drill 1/2 to 3/4 way through the Sea Glass, turn it over and drill from the other side.
SAFETY
Good lighting and glasses for safety are a MUST!
GOT QUESTIONS? SEND A COMMENT! I’ll answer your questions.
MERMAID’S PURSE NEWSLETTER: Offering a 5 Part Series on SEA GLASS for Subscribers ONLY. It’s FREE, INFORMATIVE & FUN. IT’S GETTING GREAT REVIEWS.
TO GET YOURS: Fill out form at top, right corner of this page. SUBMIT…you’ll receive a confirmation email. CLICK the link….you’re on your way to the world of Sea Glass with Mermaid’s Purse.
Fair Winds and Calm Seas,
Deborah Leon artist/collector
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
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
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
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
