Sea Glass Creations – surprisingly never out of style!
After my last few shows and the recent Open Studios, I stepped back to reflect on what people are buying. I am generally pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of work that exits the studio with a new owner! As you prepare for gift-giving season, these items may strike your fancy!
One of my original designs – earrings that use a combination of sea glass and pottery still
remains a crowd favorite after 25 years! It seems that the pottery truly helps tell the story. On my end, it’s an eye test to mine through many jars to make a combination that comes close to matching. I call all my earrings an exercise in trompe l’oeil – a French term that means “fool the eye” because I do everything possible to create an illusion that they are the same! But they aren’t.
Brooches are another sleeper that fools me. Brooches have come in and out of style and a few years ago, the NYTimes even helped amplify the trend of men wearing brooches. I look to Madeline Albright and her wonderful book Read my Pins for inspiration. Wearing a brooch is a statement and its one of the easiest pieces of jewelry to always have at the ready. I leave one on every jacket. One of my favorites just found its way out of the studio and I’m told; there’s a new wave of interest in brooches! I have them in all sizes, with magnets, and some that are convertible to pendants.
Another surprise among the hair accessories is hair combs. There’s something traditional and elegant about combs that entices women to wear them. I carry many different types – some of metal wire, brass (a bit heavier), and plastic. It’s fun to watch people try them on and see just how lovely they look. 
The latest addition to my collection are the “IndePendants.” This new design is meant to be worn 
on any choker of any material that you already own. They are sold on a simple velvet or wire choker but the large jump ring allows them to be easily transferred to any other type of choker or long chain. I did this to embrace those who need to wear precious metals or none at all due to allergies and also to showcase my collection of very large, artful pieces of glass.
Among the other pieces that are unique in my collection – alligator clips, hair forks, bobby pins, and the tiny men’s department – tie clips!
I’ll have a wide variety of work available at the upcoming North Shore Arts Association and Cape Ann Artisans Holiday Market. I’ll also be in Portsmouth, NH at the Maine Pottery Company the following weekend for a Meet the Artist event on Saturday, Nov. 14th. Hope to see you at one of these events or in the studio! It’s lovely weather to start on your holiday shopping.
Well, it sounds a bit like selling ice cream to the Eskimos? As we all know, it’s the Nor’easters that churn up all the great sea glass. But instead, I drove up to Portland, Maine through a crazy storm to sell my sea glass jewelry and hair accessories on Commercial Street at the Maine Pottery Co. on Sunday. I went with no expectations as I knew that many travel plans were canceled, cruise ships were delayed or diverted, and airline passengers were stranded.
Save the date – Saturday, August 8th for this fun, one day open studio with about half of the Cape Ann Artisans plus special guest, Cynthia Curtis. It will be a fun day to come out mid-summer, see studios, meet the artists and save on sales tax up to $2500.00 in value.
Tell us about how you got into this business & why (your passion)? Also, a little about the history of the shop?
Alexanders is the only true pottery shop in Rockport. When I took over the business, the first thing I did was edit the collections and in particular the gifts and accessories to bring Alexanders back to the way it started – with a more pottery centric focus.
the pieces and hear about the artists.
What would you love to see change in the world of shopping?