Page 52 - Discover Summer 2020

Gems of the Ocean CONTINUED

others might miss. Much like those pictures that hole rather than wrapping it with silver or gold
have been drawn with items hidden “in clear wire. The glass must be dipped into and out of
sight”, once you are wise to where the artist water repeatedly during the drilling process, in
might stick an out of place object, you’re more order to prevent overheating and breakage. This

likely to find it. is accomplished using a drill bit that is not much
thicker than a large sewing needle. Because the
Actually, she found her first piece of sea
bit is so small, she must use a diamond encrusted
glass while taking pictures. She was shooting
bit, which has the strength to pierce the glass
abstracts of seaweed and other aquatic vegetation
without breaking the bit.
when she spotted something unusual in her lens.
That was 12 years ago on North Farm Beach in Lynn says that her most successful sea
Rhode Island, a stretch of beach near her home glass hunting forays were in New England, on
that was a little more private and quiet than the beaches of Bristol, New Port and Martha’s
some of the other beaches. She would often go Vineyard. The rocky shores of the coast of Maine
there to walk, read, or just produce strong currents
relax and enjoy nature. and waves. Cargo
ships that pass close
She’d noticed an
to certain beaches also
older woman who frequently
help to create waves,
came to the same beach, to
and this intense activity
walk and scavenge for little
helps to smooth the
treasures and objects of
glass. She says that the
interest. Lynn showed her the
best time to find sea
glass that she had found; the
glass is right after a
woman explained what it was
storm.
and shared some of her own
finds. The most
common colors of sea
After that, Lynn took
glass are: Kelly green,
special notice of sea glass in
brown, white, and clear.
the local shops, and saw what
These would likely be
pretty jewelry it made. She
from beer, juice, and
spoke with the owner of one
soda bottles. Jade and
shop about how the jewelry
amber colored pieces
was made. This led to the
of medicine bottles,
purchase of a Dremel drill,
whiskey bottles, and
which she used to make several pieces as gifts for
early bleach bottles are less common. Lime green
family members.
most probably comes from soda bottles made in
The glass can be wrapped in wire to the 1960s. Even less common colors are: purple,
secure it to a chain, Lynn explained. Otherwise, citron, opaque white, cobalt, and cornflower blue
it must have a hole drilled in it as a means of from early Milk of Magnesia bottles.
attaching it to the chain. She prefers drilling a
Some extremely rare colors include: gray,

50 Discover Smith Mountain Lake SUMMER 2020