Beachstars

By Sherri Neale

After retiring as an educator in the Northern Virginia area, my husband and I built a vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. It was there that a local beachcomber introduced me to the joy of discovering pieces of glass tumbled smooth by the ocean. I was instantly intrigued and found pleasure in hunting for them along the Delaware shore.

A Star is Born

On a vacation in Virginia, I visited an art store and bought a stained-glass star. Subsequently, on a trip to Costa Rica, I met a woman who was highly skilled in the art of stained glass and lived only a block away from my home in Virginia. She agreed to teach me how to make my own stained-glass stars.

Finding Glass

Once hooked, I used trips and vacations for more than sightseeing. Every destination included a trip to the area’s beaches to search for sea glass. On a trip to the Greek Islands, I collected pounds of sea glass. Bringing it back to the U.S. in my carry-on bag was an adventure. An airport security guard pulled it out of my carry-on and called all the other guards over to see it. I held my breath as they put their hands through it, and I did not relax until they allowed me to go through security with my treasures in hand.

I researched other places in the world to find sea glass and visited Seaham, England, where the North Sea tumbles and creates multicolored sea glass from hundreds of years of coastal glass-factory waste. Using the multicolored sea glass in my stained-glass stars, matching and contrasting the colors of the stained glass with the sea glass, produced unique stars.

Off to the Markets

I began by selling my Beachstars in shops in Alexandria, Virginia, and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Very few people knew about sea glass, but locals and tourists were receptive to learning the beauty and value of sea glass. I attended several sea glass festivals, participated in workshops, and eventually became a vendor at my first festival. I invited friend and fellow retired teacher Roxy Chitlik to help me. We loved explaining to customers about how and where sea glass originated and how trash glass becomes sea glass.

Tell Me a Story

After giving a Beachstar to her granddaughter Lily, Roxy told me Lily said she believed the star kept her safe at night. She called it her “Safe Star.” Roxy took that idea and wrote a children’s book, Beach Star, the story of a young girl who finds a starfish on the shore and puts it back into the water. After doing that many times, she is rewarded with a beach star of her own.

Sparkle and Shine

Selling the Beachstars and the book is a pleasure for both of us. As retired educators, there’s no greater love than teaching others about the history, beauty, and joy of sea glass. Going to festivals and selling at events and online allows us to pursue creative outlets, meet new friends, and share what we’ve learned through our mutual love of sea glass.

You can learn more and follow Sherri on Facebook @beachstars46.

This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 46 the January/February 2025 issue.