The Ultimate Guide to Sea Glass: Finding, Collecting, Identifying, and Using the Ocean's Most Beautiful Stones

by Mary Beth Beuke, Lisl Armstrong (Foreword)

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 life. 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.

In The Ultimate Guide to Sea Glass , Beuke provides information that will help first-time seekers start new collections and veteran hunters learn more about their current sets. Beuke shares her experiences in gathering her own collection via photographs of vibrant and rare pieces, as well.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Photography

272 pages, Hardcover

First published June 3, 2014

Reviews

[Yodamom · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely way to spend your morning walking along the shore looking for treasures gifted from the sea, total serenity.



I wish I was there now.




I am a life long collector of sea glass and tiles. I saw this book sitting on my library's new book shelf and grabbed it up. I got it for the pictures, it has beautiful photographs. Then the pictures had a story that drew me in and I started reading it. I ended up reading the whole book, and wow, there is a lot of very interesting history to be found in these broken pieces. Who knew there was so much to tell about a little shard of glass ? I moved to the Gulf Coast 1o years ago from the West Coast where I had built up a large collection, but the glass I found here on the gulf was so different, now I know why ! It's really a very cool story.
Read the book ! Fall in love with sea glass.

[Cindy Kleback · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sea glass is something that I find lovely, and this book educated me on where these gems from the sea originate. Great photos throughout.

Awesome quote: "Sea glass starts out as refuse glass that was broken and then discarded into the sea, only to find its seeming resting ground in the ocean or upon the shoreline. The piece is then awakened as powerful elements of sand, tide, water and weather buffet the shard over time and terrain. It is transformed during the voyage: sanded, smoothed, hydrated, and finally starts its second life as a gem."

[Curtis Steward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended

This is the first book I have ever read on this fascinating topic. I learned a great deal. Beautiful photographs too! Thank you for sharing your passion and expertise, Mary Beth.

[Ross Reinhiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very pretty book.

[Cristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photos! Makes me want to go to the beach!!!

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got me more excited about collecting more sea glass 😊

[Abe Hasner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, I am officially a 90-year-old man

[Emily Briano · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is SO much more to know about sea glass than I could've ever imagined. I have more appreciation for its rarity and beauty. It was amazing to see all the different colors that have been found. Even Fiestaware and toys and bottle stoppers can undergo the sea glass weathering process. So many environmental factors, along with the growing popularity of collecting it, are making it harder and harder to find. A beautifully photographed and written book about a fascinating subject.

[Elissa Sweet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've begun collecting sea glass casually this year and picked up this book on vacation. A great reference for a beginner to learn more about the types of sea glass, where and when to get the best ones, etc., with beautiful photographs.

Also I realized while I was thoroughly enjoying it what an old lady/New Englander I have become.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a sea glass collector or want to be, this is a must have reference book. Informational with excellent photos.