Sunday 27 February 2011

Out with Mr.Glunker

Oh hello there :) Thanks for poppin in.

I'm sat down having a cup of coffee (much needed!) after and incredibly long afternoon seaglunking with my hubby and the miniglunker and of course my deputy fur-glunkers.

I let Mr. Glunker look after entertaining the dogs who are both totally worn out now form all the ball throwing and chasing activities. The mini-glunker didn't like the wind today so she was kind of out of sorts but perked up toward the end when the sun came out properly and she warmed up a wee bit.

It has been really nice having a day off together and enjoying each others company. It rarely happens that we have time off together since I work when he doesn't and vice-versa and we balance looking after our little one that way. It does mean we never hardly see each other.

We have made some big plans about going further afield and checking out other beaches. I think he's just indulging me and I know it was a lot of work for him to stay interested. Of course he isn't really used to having the baby rucksack on like I am so of course he made a few complaints about his feet and his back. But he did find a few things I would have missed out there.

We found lots of pretty blue and white pottery today and two marbles as well as a couple of pieces of yellow/orange glass. :) I love finding rare colours. Also, I discovered some vital information about some of the natural pottery on the beach. I believe what I'm seeing is chunks from old ceramic ginger beer bottles. The one I found today had a stamp on it that says "Buchan, Portobello, Edinburgh" on it and that company made all kinds of stuff but there is a picture of the warehouse in 1926 and they are producing bottles with a brown glazed top (like old liquor jugs). Further research has turned up bottles in good nick with ginger beer companies logos and information on them. So one little mystery seems to be solved... kind of. I'm sure the next time I'm out there I will discover more.

So time for relaxing, looking through the beach booty and maybe making some cookies. For a job well done of course ;)

xx Have a lovely Sunday!

-Seaglunker Sarah-

Thursday 24 February 2011

Wowsa Life's a Beach!

:) Hiya hiya,

I am in amazing spirits. This wee hobby turned on-the-side job has got me using my brain. I have now done several serious hunts along the Fisherrow Beach and I am learning a thing or two about Musselburgh's history. First of all, there is a  TONNE of pottery on the beach. There is so much pottery that I got too tired and too annoyed to try and check if all of it was good enough for the discerning jewellery makers.

I started to wonder why there was so much pottery. Now most of it is plain cream but some is a very ugly but very unique grey. I have found partial jars, lots of them actually and lots of jar bottoms. Today I stumbled upon one with writing which I didn't keep (wishing now I had grr) but the dogs had decided to pee on it. Anyway it said "Musselburgh" across the bottom and "beer" on the top somewhere. I think what's scattered along the beach is beer mugs/jugs.

Now after done some really preliminary research there is an old pottery that used to make all kinds of different ceramics based in Musselburgh called the Newbiggings pottery. According to one archeology report I read they made ceramics out of grey clay that was sourced in Musselburgh. I'm gonna make myself pick a few of these jars up next time I'm out and have a proper look for one with a stamp to see if it is Newbiggings.

Anyway :) I found lots of amazing stuff out on the beach today. I got a new marble and she's a BEAUTY! I found not one but TWO more bottle stoppers and yellow glass for the first time today!!! It was quite a haul if I say so myself. No really it was quite a heavy haul and I am shattered now. Here's a picture of 2/3 of it.


But the best is to come when I wash my stash and see exactly what I picked up.

The miniglunker slept through most of our hunt today and I was confident letting the dogs free as the tide was out. That is totally the best time to seaglunk I've decided :)

Righto have fun out there today and hope you find a nice stash too!

xx Seaglunker Sarah

Monday 21 February 2011

First Sale and Other fun Things

Hello hello :)

Well today has been lovely. I don't mean the weather has been nice and the birds are singing lovely (because as usual the sky is grey and overcast, the wind is bitter, and winter is still here) but the day itself has been nice!

The miniglunker woke me up early today but I didn't mind as she didn't wake up at all during the night! So I woke up refreshed and ready to face the day. I got online to check my email and Etsy and I was alerted to my first sale :) The two pieces with writing on them went. The one that said "OLD" had wee hearts on it and I knew it would appeal to the Etsy buyer. Now I am feeling confident that I'm doing something right.

So... then I had a look at the tide forecast and decided I needed to get to the beach. So out we went glunking away the dogs romping in the sand. I found lots of pretty little pieces of nice jewellery quality oh and a marble :) I love it when I find those. Then my miniglunker decided she was miserable. To be fair, we usually wait until she's a bit more worn out from playing in the floor and ready for some kind of sleepy. She just wanted to walk around. So halfway into our walk we went home. I can't concentrate with an angry baby. I bet you can't either if you were put to it.

So indoor activities, I got us both some lunch and then I nibbled away while I set up a photo shoot. The light wasn't fantastic but I am a quick photo editor. If I was on my computer at home I could show you a nice before and after shot but I'm at my day job... ahem night job... at the moment.

Its funny just how much multi-tasking you can do on a lunch/dinner break.

Now I've got a fair few things I can list on Etsy. I basically went through the rare bag pile and got them ready to list. There is still quite a lot to photograph but I figure on another angry baby day we can do just that.

:) Righto best get back to work. Sometimes the most inspiring and creative ideas happen when your mind is otherwise occupied. That's why its always a good idea to have a pen handy.

-Seaglunker Sarah-

Friday 18 February 2011

Midmorning Hunt

Hello Hello :)

Hope your day has been nice. Mine has been sooo long. (Yes I realise my one follower is you, Tristan, and it was lovely to see you this afternoon home early. Congrats on passing your CA assessments xx)

Soo I feel like a zombie. I've had a few LARGE cups of coffee but nothing can shake the feeling of sleepy. It could have something to do with the fact I was in bed late, up in the middle of the night for a hungry baby, and early up. And of course a late shift at the day job.

But my seaglunking was GREAT. I got a few firsts. I found my first bottle stopper. I found my first totally intact kick-up. I also found a pretty patterned piece of glass that is kind of rose tinted. So all in all a good day at the beach. I say that but actually it kind of was a work out on the ole vocal pipes. The tide was coming in and Penguin (the collie dog) is pretty obsessed with waves. I know it isn't the best scenario when one is trying to make a living as a seaglunker. Yelling doesn't really work. After he gets about hmmm 50 metres he just can't hear me anymore. So unfortunately he had to be stuck on the lead. He is really bad on the lead because he pulls. So, I had that to contend with in addition to Gizmo plowing other dogs down and chasing seagulls.

My glass doesn't come by easy :) It is collected with love, enthusiasm, and possibly a bit of madness.

So all I want is a big glass of wine but alas there is no wine. So a cup of tea and a cuddle into the sofa with my knitting is what I'll have instead. 

G'night xx

-Seaglunker Sarah-

Thursday 17 February 2011

Friends

Well Hello There :)

Ooo ooo I've posted more Etsy things. It's fun and exciting and I feel like a little kid who's had too many sweeties. Had some friends round today and didn't manage to get much done in the way of... well anything. Oh wait I did try and look up the tide times and unfortunately they did not coincide with our walk this afternoon.  According to http://www.odysseyseaglass.com/collecting-sea-glass.html if one starts planning their day around tide times... one is no longer a casual collector. Hmm.

I like that site by the way its got a genuine fun-loving vibe :)

Would you like to see the fun we had instead?
Miniglunker made a new big friend today :) Was sweet.
So we drank coffee and chatted and I shoogled and unhappy sleepy baby who even now is refusing to have a nap. I have given up hence why I'm on here blogging and let her loose in the high chair with a baby biccy and part of a donut. I suppose sugar is really the last thing she needs to inspire the sleepy but it is buying me half an hour.

So I'm trying to get the hang of this blogging etsy world and there is so much to learn. I may need a few weeks to suss it all out properly.

Aww isn't that a sweet face over there? Yea she melts my heart sometimes too. She's been into everything today including... well all of it. The really great thing about a baby who crawls around on the floor. When you pick her up you are reminded that the floor needs to be swept because of all the dog hairs. Eww I know. Haha.

Just not enough hours in the day to do all the things I long to do.


The tide was in and the glass was out today. Perhaps I can make some sense of the tide times soon and catch the waves at the right time tomorrow.

Remember to look down and if its shiny pick it up. Or if its fat and squishy and is googooing at you pick it up and give it a huge smooch!

-Seaglunker Sarah-

Wednesday 16 February 2011

More Admin

Today has been a lovely relaxing day. I've had to take a load of my foot as its just not getting any better with all these walks to the park. So baby H and I have been doing indoor activities today. For her thats meant dusting the floorboards with her knees and for me its been a bit of relaxing with some nice music and knitting. I know I can't be seaglunking all the time but its odd how much I wanted to go out today even though it was raining this morning.

But I have to be hard on myself. My foot needs to heal.

So today has been filled with listing etsy items. I tell you what just listing one item is a lot of work. I had to think about my shipping costs and my policies and what I would write to my customers. It has taken quite a lot of thought but I think I'm at a good jumping off point.

Oh would you like to see one of my pendants? I took a picture of it today as I have listed it on Etsy now. I'm actually very proud of it. I know this is just the beginning and I'll get better with time but you have to agree :) its pretty nice.

What do you think?





Well my time is fast approaching where I should be getting ready to leave. I work some nights and weekends at a part-time job. So as much as I would love to stay and gab and list a few more etsy items I am going to just have to leave it for today.


Have a lovely day wherever you are and of course if you have any beach booty why not turn it into something new??

-Seaglunker Sarah-


Tuesday 15 February 2011

The Interwebs

Hello and Good Afternoon!

My miniglunker is fast asleep for a much needed nap. Yay! She can be one cranky baby when she wants to be and going down for nap-time was pretty hard today. But *whew* sit down to a cup of tea is much nicer now that I can get onto the Internet. I am looking for a suitable picture of me but I am thinking that may have to wait for a photo shoot out on the beach.

We haven't gone out glunking today. Its possible we just won't today as I have many busy mommy things to do. But admin is important and I think its time to get a few things listed on Etsy and organise some of yesterdays finds of which there were many flawless jewellery making pieces. I guess I'm learning about that from my fellow Etsyans, some bits are for crafting and mosaics while others feel great to the touch and look stunning when worked into jewellery.

Rightio well I guess I ought to get back over to etsy and list a few things. I have some knitting to do today and more experimenting with seaglass in knit/crochet projects. I have my afternoons work cut out for me and of course we all know babies don't stay asleep for long. My miniglunker will be up soon and ready for fun.

:) Look down and all around you may spot a treasure that someone else has missed.

-Seaglunker Sarah-

Monday 14 February 2011

Valentines on the Beach

Welcome and Hello!

I'm Sarah and this is my blog devoted to all things Seaglunking. I know you might not know what that is. I didn't either until about a week ago. A seglunker is one who wanders around beaches in search of sea glass, pottery, and other goodies. I sometimes refer to the other gumf that I find  "sea booty". I mean it in the pirate sense and not in the badunkadunk way.

Hopefully as my skills develope as a blogger I will be able to showcase some of my best finds here and where I found them and maybe even shots of me finding them. This of course won't be that easy because of the way I hunt for my beach treasures.

I am a full-time mommy of one amazing little girl who is nearly *gasp* one year old! I am also a fur mommy to two scroungy beach loving mutts. So you can imagine I certainly am not your typical leisurley seaglunker. With the baby snuggled nicely in her babyrucksack which happens to be on my ruck (the bodunkadunk meaning here) and two dogs chasing waves I sometimes get distracted from the sands and pebbles to tend to the needs of my little ones. This is often a harsh "no do not eat that!" followed by "oh crap I think he just ate a... ewwww"

So picture taking will be a challenge. I will try and appease you as and when I can manage such a task.

In the meantime, perhaps you can just take my word for it.

I think its awfully fitting that I should find what I found today. Today is Valentine's Day (as if that could escape your notice) and is full of love and romance and other nausiating things. Don't get me wrong I love receiving chocolates and flowers as much as anyone else so I'm really not complaining. Really. So with love on my mind I ventured out on what looked like a soggy morning. The rain had stopped by the time I got myself and the baby and the dogs all ready. It was actually sunny and warm and after the initial start to our walk where I picked up the poo from tall grass and shouted at the dogs not to run off, I actually took my gloves off.

Now if you are at all familiar with Scotland and specifically any beach pointed toward the North Sea, you'll know that on a bleak February day, venturing out without a hat, scarf, and gloves is just well plain bad for your health. But off the gloves came anyway and although I'm surprised I am quite pleased. I just hope that this is not a bad sign for more snowy days to come. So I felt slightly more comfortable, but not entirely as I still had 10 kilos (possibly more) strapped to my back and was sweating in akward places under the rucksack. The rucksack is one of those professional things you know that straps round your waste and over your chest so the weird places are really in weird places. I guess thats enough about the odd warm weather.

As I was wandering toward the quay letting the dogs run along the beach I felt inspired to pick up more bits of pottery. I usually pass up collecting the red clay pottery but I just felt like I should snag some today. To my surprise hiding under one of the larger pieces of pottery was a beautiful light blue glass heart (light blue is a fairly rare colour for me). It was a flawless piece (that means it didn't have any chips or glossy places) of seatumbled glass. Yippee!

The reason I collect glass is two-fold. Firstly, I love it. I feel like a right pirate or gypsy or hippy or whatever you want to call me. I love shiney objects and I love the thrill of the chase. (All these qualities will undoubtedly make me a very good fisherwoman as and when I am ready to take up fishing as a hobby) Anyway the second reason is to sell my goodies on to the artisans of the world and see them made into something even more beatiful. Ok there is a third reason, I am also one of these creative types  making little trinkets and DIY jewellry as well.

So you can say I have mixed feelings what to do with this beautiful little heart. I know I couldn't really do it justice if I decided to make something with it but I do love a challenge and would like to try. But I also know that there are artisans out there who would love to have it for themselves to make something truly special with it. What to do? Luckily I don't have to make a decision about it right away as I've just set up my Etsy shop and have lots of other things to list first.

Speaking of my etsy shop if you'd like to visit it the address is www.etsy.com/shop/SarahSeaGlass. There isn't anything up just now but as I've only had internet installed... today (I know today is the day!) it will be just a wee while longer before I put anything up. You'll just have to steady your anticipation for just a bit more.

So this is to be the first of many blogs about my seaglunking adventures. Its likely to be a good read with babies and dogs involved so stay tuned in. Remember to keep your eyes to the ground as you never know what's glunking around.

-Seaglunker Sarah-