Frequently Asked Questions

I always welcome studio visits by appointment.  There are retail locations that carry the work (see “Purchase” section of website.   Cape Ann Designs also exhibits in select shows regionally including annual events like “Art in the Barn” (hosted Essex County Greenbelt), seARTS Celebrate Wearable Art and Cape Ann Artisans  bi-annual Open Studio Tour (June and October),  and the Rocky Neck Art Colony Holiday Show.   All events are listed on the website.

No, unfortunately, I don’t really have time or interest at this point in my life.  This is a passion and I prefer to spend my time creating and sharing the work.

All work is truly one-of-a-kind.   When I started the collection, I called one line “Athena” and the other one “Venus” to showcase their own personality and price points.  Athena was a more basic style and Venus was more decorated and use rarer colors of glass or pottery shards.

All work is truly one-of-a-kind.   When I started the collection, I called one line “Athena” and the other one “Venus” to showcase their own personality and price points.  Athena was a more basic style and Venus was more decorated and use rarer colors of glass or pottery shards.

Yes, I love the challenge of designing with a customer.  I can also design from your own sea glass collection (using mine where necessary to match things up!)

I design and make all of the work myself.

If I know the person or the family personally, I am happy to do this.  As a “thank you” I will offer to make a piece of jewelry or hair piece from their favorite pieces.  It takes a very long time to sort through someone’s collection to garner what is actually “useable” but I am happy to give a good collection a home!

I make a point to use glass that I have collected.  Once I made the mistake of buying some and it became clear as soon as I got it home that it was tumbled.  That all ended up in my garden or in the trash.

It’s not about where, it’s about when.  Generally speaking, the best sea glass is found way off the summer months.  In the summer, the beaches are filled with treasure hunters and there’s no foul weather to kick up the new harvest of glass.   In terms of where, any working harbor is the best place – and of course right here in Gloucester is where I have found my glass over 20 years.

As mentioned earlier, all Sea Glass is authentic, found on the shores of Cape Ann and occasionally foreign locations! The sea glass is being used without tumbling or polishing.   Findings for earrings are sterling or 14K gold filled.  Wire is a mixture of artistic wire (mostly for hair accessories), sterling, gold, and brass for jewelry.  Often artistic wire is used for additional security.  Fresh water pearls, glass beads, shells, and other decorative elements are added to most pieces.