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

Full-color expert advice for first-time seekers start new collections and veteran hunters who want to learn more—from California to Cape Cod, from the Gulf Coast to the Pacific Northwest, and around the world!

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 lives. 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.

Take this manual with you as you search for your own collection and make notes about what you find along the way.

Mary Beth Beuke is the owner of West Coast Sea Glass and was the president of the North American Sea Glass Association from 2005 to 2010. Her sea glass art jewelry can be found in more than fifty galleries all over the world. Her story and collection have been featured on the Travel Channel and in National Geographic, Smithsonian, Coastal Living, Ocean Home, the Seattle Times, and more. She exhibits her collection at museums and libraries often and resides in Sequim, Washington.

Lisl Armstrong is a sea glass jewelry artist and collector. As a leading authority on sea glass, she is often called upon by her peers to lecture at sea glass festivals and to assist in other educational efforts. She has beachcombed all over the world, served as vice president of the North American Sea Glass Association, and created the organization Sea Glass Artists & Sea Glass Collectors. She resides in Englewood, Florida.