Contestant's Case to Win
This is based on the number of votes received.From my studio nestled along the shore, I dream of and work with the stuff that mermaids and pirates are made of. Come journey in the kayak with me.....
Eight years ago I put my lifetime of beach combing and love for the ocean to work and now run a full time, multi staff business with two studios. West Coast Sea Glass Jewelry, takes historic, vintage, ocean tumbled glass (which at one time was something unwanted and discarded) and beautifully sets it into the finest in sterling silver jewelry. Searching for these tiny, ecological masterpieces sculpted by the oceans, we've hiked, kayaked and traversed the globe for these colorful, romantic gems of real history.
Let's quickly back up: With one of the world's rarest collections of seaglass that spanned decades of hunting and a real penchant for marketing, I had a head full of designs and the energy to launch an idea that no one that I knew had ever heard of. However, I didn't have the time.
Back when the idea was a new and fresh, I was a full time, professional pastor. I had one computer, a few courses in metalsmithing and a passion for escaping to the beach on my rare days off. So when I became pregnant with twins, I decided to step away from the 20 year ministry profession I had loved and poured my heart into.
With some time to light a fire under my creative business ideas, my home on the beach became a haven of creativity for myself as I managed toddlers and got busy crankin' up my sea glass jewelry business to reach the world.
It quickly exploded and my twins and my business partners and I were hiking all over the Pacific, Mexico, Caribbean, Hawaii, Greece, Italy and anywhere to add to our sea glass collection. I operated with the commitment to never go in the hole financially and to date, each year our sales have exponentially increased even when other art businesses around us were folding.
Now in its 8th, full time year, we sell all over the globe in over 40 stores. We just shipped hundreds of genuine, beach combed pieces in silver jewelry to Eddie Bauer and were on the Travel Channel's "Treasure Hunter" show last year. Our pieces have been featured in National Geographic, Coastal Living, Denmark's International Dive Magazine, Italy's VetroTime, Isreal's Nisha, Seattle Times and too many more to list.
I was elected and currently serve as president of the North American Sea Glass Assoc. a non-profit organization that donates to shoreline restoration projects around the world. I manage a staff of 5 from two beachy studios.
I am one of the founders of an at-home professional artists group. I speak and teach often for art groups. I've joined the faculty at a local college to teach five courses in the Art/Business dept. about how to implement an art business in a professional manner. I write articles for art groups and ecology websites often and am an organizer for art shows and events.
Member: Green Your Theme
Member: Designer Jewelry Showcase
Member: Northwest Art Alliance
Member: B.D.T.H. Creative Collective
Member: North American Sea Glass Assoc.
Member: Etsy Recyclers Guild etc.
Thanks for your consideration -Mary Beth
