The Ultimate Guide to Sea Glass

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.

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.

"The Ultimate Guide to Sea Glass is the only book on the topic that will be needed and comes from a lifetime collector who shares her twenty-some years of beachcombing to show how to understand, collect, identify and use sea glass. From understanding glass colors and possible origins to the history of sea glass from history and modern collectors and how they are used, this blends a coffee-table presentation with full-page color art with a lovely, artistic discussion that will appeal to artists, nature buffs and collectors alike. The result is a highly recommended guide for any sea glass enthusiast." —Midwest Book Review