The story behind my seaglass calendar photo for March

March is almost over now, I'll have to catch up with my post this month!

What does a bunch of turquoise gems, rusted key and coins on rotted wood make you think of? Pirate's loot and sea adventures! But that was not what I have in mind when these blue-green seaglass and pottery were selected to go with verdigris speckled beach coins and skeletal key.
One cloudy summer day. I took them to my favorite beach, and laid them on an old wooden log. I've had my eyes on that log for quite some time - dark brown, almost black and covered with holes, quietly rotting away - it's the perfect background for some bric-a-brac with history!
I found all these seaglass, sea pottery and lucky coins from different beachcombing visits, spanning many years. I just could not decide which is my favorite! The milk glass bottle tops are really unique; and I've never seen any other marble with turquoise cat's eye in pale green glass; those large, rounded turquoise gems are my dreams come true...and I'm so luck to have found that many beach coins, even though, except the US penny, all were corroded beyond recognition.
Yet I have to confess - there's one among the collection that was not a beach artefact - the skeletal key. I've bought this antique brass key at a flea market, painted it with verdigris patina and surprised myself with the result. Did I fooled you too?

The Story Behind My Seaglass Calendar Photo for February

     Everything white and beautiful, collected one by one with love!  I still remember how each came into my possession.

 The heart shape coral in the center was collected from Okinawa when I visited three years ago. The beach was literally covered with sun-bleached seashells and coral in all sizes and shapes! The oval, fan-shape coral at the top right corner, the small white coral branch at the left lower corner, the clam shell at the right lower corner and the spiral just above it which was the worn-out center of a conch shell - all came from the same Japanese beach.
    Two mini seaglass bottles, a ceramic roller and a ceramic mug handle came from a local beach in Hong Kong. This beach has been a dump-site, and now my favorite place for seaglass hunting.
    Then there were the cut-glass stopper and the porcelain stopper, both given to me by a generous friend from the States. She also sent the tiny sand dollars that I've scattered at the top and lower right. Cute as buttons!
    Most of the seashells were collected locally, except for the Murex shell at the top center. I found it in East Malaysia, when I was still a toddler.
    Who could miss the perfect seaglass eggs, unmistakably English? These were the only ones I've bought - I just couldn't resist, knowing that nothing quite like them exists outside of the UK.

 And don't forget about the sand in the background! These I have collected right beneath the Egyptian pyramids. It was another interesting story, when I travelled the backpackers' way.
   So there you have it, goodies that came from all over the world and spanning a lifetime, gathered in harmony. 

The story behind my seaglass calendar photos

Reaching home tired from a full day's work, I am instantly cheered up when I saw what the postman left for me - a big parcel from Down East publishers! In the summer of 2011, I took photos of my seaglass collection for their 2013 seaglass calendar. These are my complimentary copies! As I look at the photos of each month, and savored every word of the informative captions by Carole Lambert, memories rushed back. How I worked hard to make these photos unique and interesting! In the coming monthly blog posts, I will tell the story behind the photo for that month.

JANUARY 2013
English seaglass multies - these ones in whirls and layers of peacock shades - their rich colors and patterns are best appreciated when wet and under bright sunlight. I have experimented with glass vessels of different shapes until I found this shallow dish. Deep enough to immerse all the glass and just the right size without getting in the way of the peacock feathers behind it. It was a very sunny day. The seaglass casted colorful shadows, and the water made interesting patterns at the edge of the dish. The peacock feathers exerting their brilliant colors. A dynamic pose of still life!

 

Seaglass Calendars and Cards

Have you bought your copy of the 2012 Sea Glass Calendar by Down East Publishers yet? The 2013 one is coming up soon! I am the featured photographer for both calendars, and all seaglass photographs in the calendars are available as blank cards in my shop! Just let me know which months are your favorite and how many you need.
Contact me at http://www.ecstasea.etsy.com
Here's some examples from the 2012 calendar:





I've include one example from the cover of the 2013 calendar:

I open another shop on etsy - EndlessLoveVintage!

Hi everyone! It's been quite some time since I've blogged. I was busily preparing for another new shop on etsy. The same idea of recycling, but this time it's vintage - I've rediscovered the beauty of some stashed away jewelry and striving to find them new, loving owners! The shop is expanding quickly with the addition of fashion accessories and other what-nots.
Maybe there's something you like here?!
Scroll down to see more items in both of my shops!

Seaglass Cards and Coupon Code - new goods and good news :D

Hi everyone! I've been away for quite a while, shifting my time and interests temporarily to other issues. I'm back now, bringing new goods and good news :D

First, the 'new goods' are seaglass cards.
These are no ordinary seaglass cards - I have taken these photos as the sole featured photographer for the 2012 Seaglass Calendar, published by Down East Publishers. I now proudly present these beautiful, high definition photos as cards, individually or as set of four. Cards and blank and suitable for any occasion!

Check out my shop for the cards here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79488047/set-of-four-seaglass-seasons-blank-cards
http://www.etsy.com/listing/79487873/seaglass-blank-card?ref=v1_other_2

Check out the seaglass calendar on amazon.com here:
http://www.amazon.com/2012-Sea-Glass-Down-East/dp/0892729368/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312984241&sr=8-1

Second, the 'good news' - coupon code especially for ecstasea.etsy!
If you followed this blog and liked my etsy shop, please let me show my appreciation by offering 10% off everything in ecstasea for you and all your friends! Just enter 'blogVIP' at checkout to claim your 10% discount! It's valid immediately with no time limit, so spread the news and try it out right away!

Happy shopping!

10% Sale for Valentine's Day & CNY 2011!

Chinese New Year usually falls on Late January or early February every year, and traditional celebration lasts for half a month! This year, the first day of CNY is February 3, and Valentine's Day falls on the 12th day of CNY.
Red and pink are the traditional color of happiness, love and good fortune, and a popular color during CYN as well as Valentine's Day. What's better than to give your love ones gifts in red or pink?
I'm offering a 10% sale in my shop for everything that has red, and pink in it - starting right now until the 15th day of CNY, i.e. Feb 17! So you'll have plenty of time to browse and choose the best gifts!
What's more, I will include seaglass extras in a special Chinese New Year red packet! The 10% off will be refunded into your paypal account right after I have received your payment.
Check it out here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/ecstasea?section_id=7707607
Happy shopping!