Barbados Sea Glass Jewelry by Treasure Trunk Designs

Barbados Sea Glass Jewelry

by Treasure Trunk Designs

  

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The ocean as inspiration...

The ocean as inspiration...

My journey in jewellery design began with the ocean.  Breathing new life into tiny treasure found along the shores of Barbados I created earrings, pendants and even picture frames out of sea glass, bits of shell, coral and pebbles. 

See more of TTD's Genuine Barbados' SeaGlass Jewellery

Upon returning to Canada and having access to tools and supplies such as fine silver, sterling and gold, gemstones and a variety of beading supplies, designing and creating jewellery soon became my passion.  While my friends were out at the pub after work, I would be sitting in my cottage surrounded by a mess of stones, glass and wire creating my latest masterpiece.  While my friends were shopping at Holt Renfrew (which I could never afford!), I would be hording over trays of briolettes or gazing at walls of glittering gemstones that were as tempting as candy is to a child!


But the ocean - with all of it's charm, power and mystery - was never far from my thoughts.  Perhaps this is why I have recently developed somewhat of a fetish for fossil coral!


The ocean was where I found tranquility, harmony and peace.  By creating jewellery from the sea glass and shells that I found along the shores or discovering a beautiful piece of fossilized coral or shell, I am brought back to the ocean and the joy that I found there.


See more blog posts on sea glass, Barbados and the inspiration behind TTD:

• Treasure Trunk Designs - Where it all started!
• Ocean Bliss... Jack, dah beach is mine!
• Barbados' Sea Glass Rings!
• On Being Broke & Why I love Sea Glass...

- Tara, Treasure Trunk Designs

Watch TTD live:

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On Being Broke & Why I love Sea Glass...

On Being Broke & Why I love Sea Glass...

Going back to school in your 30s is not easy.  Least of which is the toll this kind of commitment takes on your pocket book!  There have been many compromises and it's been tough at times.  However, that being said, there are some finer points as well.  Being broke can actually open new doors, make you see the world  in a different light and improve your life over the long run. 

Sound crazy?  Perhaps...  but then again, there are so many things in my life that would never have happened had I not been broke.  People that I never would have met, acts of kindness that reaffirmed my faith in humanity never would have happened and experiences that would never have taken place and ideas that would have never occur let alone become realized. 

There have been many great and wonderful times in my life that would have never happened if I was was in a stable, well paying job with a fat bank account.  While I don't wish for anyone to struggle or feel the pinch of having less than a dollar in their bank account, at the same time I can't help but admit that there are moments in my life that - due to being broke - I wouldn't change for the world.

Being broke also makes a person - or at least me - resourceful.  There are risks that I took because I had nothing to lose.  Little things that I took pleasure in that might otherwise be overlooked.  The beauty of a sun rise, growing your own food, the joys of gathering wild foods, making something out of nothing.  Sleeping under the stars on a beautiful beach (until the manager finds you in the morning!) or being forced to sleep on a park bench because - little did you know - the hostel was closed and the hotels cost over 100 Euro a night!  Then being adopted by a lovely Italian family after asking where to buy good (and cheap!) pizza in a little town called Alberobello (and yes, Antonella if you ever come across this blog I remember your family well and there will always be a special place in my heart for you!)  There was hitch-hiking in Africa and the lovely Zambian man who picked me up at the border, drove me over 8 hours to Francistown all the while regailing me with his stories of being a minister in the United States, telling me about his family and being kind enough to stop the truck every time we saw an elephant by the side of the highway!

Although I often struggle and often get frustrated, stressed and depressed about being broke and the difficulty of pursuing a dream, these are experiences that - looking back - I wouldn't trade for the world.

Where is the link to my jewelry and Treasure Trunk Designs?  Good question.  Maybe you're interested... or maybe not (to the 550 post views, a dozen countries skimming past my blog and yet only 8 official 'followers' - one of which is me!)  But a blog is a blog is a blog and in the end seems to be the type of ranting and babble that a private journal is made of so I will go ahead and admit a somewhat embarrassing story of being poor, alone and heart broken on an island that most people would consider a paradise.

Without money, hungry and in a very tenuous living condition I was too stubborn to give up on a volunteer project that I had put my heart, soul, time and every penny left in my student line-of-credit!  That being said - when I wasn't working - I spent a lot of time wandering, thinking and trying to appreciate the little things in life.  During this time, I discovered a piece of glass hidden in the sand, sea weed, stones and a plethora of broken shells and the occasional wayward flip flop that someone must have lost when the tides rolled in and out.  Glimmering in the sun I couldn't resist picking it up, turning it about in my hands and admiring the effects of the sand, the sea and the tumbling motion of the waves on this chunk of glass.  A broken vessel, plate, window pane or only God knows what, that has been tossed into the ocean.  Once someone's garbage, this bit of forgotten glass had become my treasure.

I started to look out for these tiny treasures and would pick them up, take them home, wash them, sort them into different piles according to shape or colour.  Each one would be analyzed and I would wonder where it had come from, how old was it and what did it used to be? 

Soon I had filled shoe boxes with the stuff.  But what to do with it?  Yet another dust collector?  My practical side told me that it's garbage and to throw it out!  Nevertheless, I couldn't part with my tiny treasures. 

One day the idea crossed my mind to make jewelry with the sea glass I had found.  I had never made jewerly before and had no idea where to begin.  Although there were two jewelry supply shops on the island, they were expensive and had very little stock to choose from.  So my first pieces of jewelry were made with  standard electrical wire.  That's right.  Electrical wire which I would wrap and twist by hand all the while tearing up my fingers! The addition of a tiny pair of pliars and wire cutters made a world of difference.  But living alongside the ocean didn't flatter my jewelry much!  Within a few months, this varnished copper wire - nicked, scratched and left exposed to the salty sea air became covered in a goopy and unattractive green!  It seems the salty ocean air had sped up the oxidization process by a million percent.  How frustrating...  time to try again!  And try, try again I did.

Since those initial days, my jewelry has evolved to include gemstones, sterling silver, fine silver clay, gold and a mish mash of equipment, tools, a facebook page, an online store and even a blog ;)  But my favourite aspect of TTD will always be my beautiful sea glass. 

Tossed to the sea as garbage, pushed and banged about, broken, scraped, rolled and buried in the sand.  Sea glass is a forgotten treasure just waiting to be found, loved and appreciated for all of it's beauty. 

Maybe sea glass is a little like me...

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Ocean Bliss... Jack, dah beach is mine!

Ocean Bliss...

"Jack, the beach is mine!"

As the sunshine begins to peak through the cold winter sky and the icicles start to drip, melting the snow beneath, I can't help but remember the warm sundrenched days that I spent in Barbados. 


What was only supposed to be a maximum of 6 months volunteering as a consultant for a children's garden initiative, my passion for the project was too strong and a year later I was finally packing my bags and returning home to Canada. 


As a volunteer, there was never much money for fancy dinners, rum-soaked nights or joining my friends who always had one fabulous outing or another to attend. 


Thankfully, the beach was always welcoming and always free. In fact, unlike some of the other islands, all beaches in Barbados are open to the public.  This is somewhat of an historical carry over - held strong and firm by the people of Barbados - that was incorated into the law after Jack Dear, a lawyer for the Barbados Board of Tourism made the decree that hotel owners had the right to bring their property down to the waterfront.


It was this story as well, that led to a very famous song by a Barbadian calipso artist - the Mighty Gabby!  Although I never had the chance to get to know Gabby during my stay in Barbados, he will always stay firmly planted in my esteem.  Why is that?  Well, aside from his wonderful music, the Mighty Gabby used to volunteer his time teaching music to the children at St. Paul's school where I first started working in Barbados.  To me - for a big calypso star like that to volunteer his time at a little school like that - well, that was pretty impressive!


The song is called "Jack, the beach is mine!" As the story goes, Gabby came up with the idea for the song one night while he was singing at a hotel. A white woman said to him, “could you play some local music.” Jack - the corporate lawyer from the Board of Tourism - was at the hotel that same night.  The encounter led to the creation of “Jack”.  (You can find the lyrics and a YouTube video to listen below!)


So, inspired by my memories of Barbados and all of my wonderfully supportive Bajan friends, here is a peak at my current 'work-in-progress'.  It's a huge triangular chunk or sea glass found just outside of Speightstown in a little spot where I used to drink my morning coffee (Roger I think you know where that is!)

Work-in-progress!  Huge chunk of triangular sea glass with a wave pattern that's frosted over by the natural tumbling of the sea and the sand.  The sea glass is wrapped in fine silver and surrounded by an assortment of quartz chips as well as pink, peacock and keishi pearls. 

Let me know what you think! (finished seaglass necklace!)

SEE MORE SEA GLASS JEWELLERY! 

“JACK, THE BEACH IS MINE!”

Lyrics and song by The Mighty Gabby, from the song Jack, Barbados.

I grow up bathin, in sea water
But nowadays, that is bare horror
If I only venture, from my seashore
Police Telling me, I cyan bade no more
Cause “Jack” doan want me to bade on my beach
“JACK” tell dem to keep me outto reach
“JACK” tell dem, I would never made de grade
dey STRENGHTEN SECURITY and build barricade
Dat cyan happen here in this country
I want Jack to know that the beach belong to me (we)
Dah cyan happen here, OVER MY DEAD BODY
Tell (big guts) JACK (him)
GABBY (I) say that de beach belong to me (we)
(chorus)
Look! That beach is mine, I can bade anytime
Despite what they say I go there anyway
(I gine bade anyway)

Here is the YouTube link to listen to "Jack"!  I love this song...  the Mighty Gabby is awesome!

Watch TTD live:

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Barbados' Sea Glass Rings!

* Barbados' Sea Glass Rings! *

After stocking up on supplies during my shopping spree at Metalliferous in the fabulous New York City, I finally got around to my sea glass from Barbados.


(check out my blog "New York City - A Road Trip!" @ http://treasuretrunkdesigns.blogspot.com/2011/02/new-york-city-road-trip.html )


This project was a lot of fun but it was also soooo frustrating!  My first attempts at creating bezels and rings, and I choose awkward, irregular shapes and heights... What was I thinking?!? 


Dave, from Metalliferous, tried to persuade me to take a step back.  He said, and I quote, "Don't you understand?  It's like you're going into the Amazon!" Ha!  This guy was awesome, helpful and hilarious!


Anyway, so here are my first attempts at making rings.  I hope you like them!


Tara, Treasure Trunk Designs



Watch TTD live:

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Thank You!



Below you will find some pieces that I've picked out for future rings. 

What do you think?