THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS PRESENT!
Dec 10 2010
We are all looking to give that perfect Christmas present.....I've been thinking a lot about that these past few weeks......and I know I'm not alone!
While I love designing jewelry, I do have to admit that creating commissioned pieces has not been my favorite thing to do--but my attitude has changed.....and here is why!
Several months ago a friend of my husband's asked if I would be interested in creating some jewelry for his daughter, daughter-in-law and granddaughters for Christmas gifts. Walter is a gentleman in his early 80s who lost his beloved Charlotte several years ago. He is a member of our local yacht club and my husband's favorite sailing companion aboard "Summer Time", a Cape Dory sailboat my husband beautifully restored. Walter had some sea glass he and his wife had collected over the years and wanted me to turn it into Christmas gifts for his "girls".
Perhaps it's because I'm a grandmother and granddaughter that this touched me so much. I have my "Nana's" diamond ring and I wear it 24/7, but the real treasure I have that belonged to Nana is her donut cutter! Sound strange? Well, Nana made donuts every Saturday morning with that cutter. The memories from that little trinket--that was "Nana being Nana"--I can still see her patting the dough out so she could cut as many donuts as she could!
It is my hope that when Walter's girls open their Christmas gifts, these presents will fill them with memories of their grandmother. Memories of their grandparents in their beautiful Maine seaside home that their grandmother designed and memories of their grandmother walking the beaches and collecting the sea glass that each of them can now wear--thanks to their grandfather thinking about that Perfect Christmas Present!
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours.......
--Maureen
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What is it about MAINE that is so much to me? An early morning sunrise over the Atlantic is one of the many treasures! Fog in the morning, the smell of salt air, harbor bells, the beautiful lighthouses....the list could go on and on! Another added treat for me is walking the beach looking for those pieces of sea glass that I can turn into "By the Sea Jewels"! Remember.....Code word "ocean" for your 15% discount! --Maureen
Spending a few days in Belfast, Maine, and loving it! We've had some summer like weather and today it is somewhat foggy, somewhat overcast, but oh so BEAUTIFUL! Spent a day in Bar Harbor enjoying the area without the hustle and bustle that will be there soon! Had a GREAT lunch at Galyn's.....awesome lobstah roll.
Did a little seaglass hunting...but Belfast is really too protected from the Atlantic Ocean! So I did the next best thing....did at little shopping! If you are in Belfast, check out "Coyotte Moon". It's one of the nicest boutiques I've seen. And "Beyond the Ocean" has some incredible seaglass items! We bought a seaglass window made my a local artist--can't wait to get back to Biddeford Pool to hang it!
This is no place like the Maine coast! No beaches or rocky coasts come close! Hoping to get out there today....do a little walking....and maybe, if I'm lucky, fine some treasures at low tide! The pendant posted is made from a piece of seaglass I found in Maine! Ahhhh, I can smell the salt air already! --Maureen
What a weekend in Maine! Spring is definitely around the corner! Great weather to spend time outside and lunch at "The Ramp" in Kennebunkport. If you haven't tried it, put it on your list--It's a hidden gem in the area! Been busy working on bezel setting sea glass and hope to have a pieces added to the site shortly!
Fall settles in today! And once again we ask....where did the summer go? It continues to be in the 60s with beautiful blue skies here at Biddeford Pool, but there's a new crispness to the air. Traffic is lighter, boats are coming out of the water, little shops are closing for the season, no long lines at restaurants.....all signs the season is over! But there's something beautiful about fall at the ocean.....the water is suddenly a deeper blue with diamonds sparkling on the surface...... the sunrises and sunsets are incredible......the nights are great for sleeping.....the leaves are just beginning to turn......In short, it doesn't matter the season here, the beauty continues! And for me, it's time to get back to work creating more jewelry for the next season which will be here just as quickly as this season arrived! --Maureen
The Facebook Fans' Contest is over! Congratulations to Lynn Lindsley Henley, Sue Marinaro and Marney Peterson Kirk who each won one of the above By The Sea Jewels' designs! Also, thank you to Derek Massey who purchased the pieces for this contest! All participants will receive a 15% discount code which will be good for a limited time for purchases on this website! If you would like to participate in future contests and specials, please email me your email address and I will notify you about upcoming events! --Maureen
FaceBook Free Jewelry Raffle this coming Saturday at 6 pm. It was my birthday this week, but you could get the gift! My Mid-Atlantic Marketing/Sales Rep (ahh, that would be my son, Derek) has purchased the above two pendants to be raffled off! I am adding the Biddeford Pool Starfish below as a third piece to be raffled off! He's hoping one of his followers will win--I'm hoping one of my friends wins! 
This had to be the most beautiful weekend of the summer so far! The Seaside Fair was a great success! Lots of great vendors and the Biddeford Pool Community Club made the BEST lobstah roll I've ever had! Sold some jewelry and met a lot of fun people! Already looking forward to the 2010 fair! Other weekend highlights included breakfast at The Wayfarer at Cape Porpoise (which is a weekly must for us) and boating around Wood Island Lighthouse. A great weekend.....and now it's time to get back to making some jewelry and getting ready for the "free jewelry" giveaway which will be posted in a few days!
By the Sea Jewels will have a table at the 2009 Biddeford Seaside Fair. Stop by this annual event for local arts, crafts and baked goods! A treat not to be missed! The Annual Biddeford Pool Seaside Fair will be held this upcoming Saturday, July 18, 2009, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Biddeford Pool Community Center! Paypal will be shut down on this site during the duration of the Fair.
Somehow, I don't think I can ever have enough seaglass! I love it in jars all over the house! It just screams "BEACH"! Of course, I love making jewelry from it.....but it's the whole process of taking that walk on the beach and finding that treasure! Some days there's nothing to be found....but other days we find a handful of treasures! Anybody else out there as crazy about finding those treasurers as I am?
WELCOME! When you're lucky enough to be near the ocean, you're lucky enough! Don't know who said that but they are so right! Don't know if it's the salt air, the surf crashing, the vastness of the ocean....but I love it! Walking along the water's edge with Riley looking for seaglass and just being "in the moment"......ahhh, I don't think it get's any better! And so the jars and jars of seaglass have brought me to this site! I hope you enjoy looking at my jewelry and wearing it as much as I enjoy creating it! Please stop by often and leave your comments! --Maureen
