Santa Cruz County Storm Recovery Fundraiser
By Kirsti Scott
Waves crash over Walton Lighthouse in Santa Cruz, Clay Butler
As you may have heard, the state of California has had record rainfall and many areas near the coast have been devastated, families have been displaced, and damage from floodwaters, fallen trees, and mudslides still threaten many communties. One of the communities affected by the storms is Santa Cruz County, on the Central Coast of California. Beachcombing is a popular pastime, with sea glass, fossils, and more found on the local beaches, so local beachcombers wanted to find a way to help with recovery.
Capitola Wharf is damaged by the huge swell, Clay Butler
When I met up with local beachcombers and sea glass jewelers Svea Scholten of Sandpiper Footprints Jewelry and Marylou Forrest of Aloha Sea Glass on the beach and saw the destruction, we wanted to help with the recovery and decided to help organize a fundraiser for the Santa Cruz County Disaster Fund. All proceeds from sales of the items below will go to support trusted local nonprofit organizations working on the front lines of disaster response, recovery, and rebuilding efforts. Please consider purchasing one of the items on this page or donating directly to the Santa Cruz County Disaster Fund. All proceeds from sales will be donated directly to the disaster fund by the artists.
All the artists are selling the items themselves and then donating 100% of the proceeds directly to the disaster fund. We are helping to collect these items online to make it easy for you to find these unique handmade items and for artists to be able to reach out to beachcombers around the world who want to help. If you would like to be part of this fundraiser, please list the item(s) on your website and contact us with the link and some high-resolution photos that we can share on social media.
AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
All proceeds will be donated directly by the artists to the Santa Cruz County Disaster Fund. Several artists are donating a percentage of ALL sales to the fund. Please see their listings below. Thank you for your support!
Ceramic Beach Gnome
Handmade by Adina. Meet Irving, a clay gnome who is a beachcomber and loves finding a pile of rocks at sunset at Seacliff Beach. He was hand sculpted, has sea glass all over his hat, and is ready to hit the beach with you. Irwin is glazed with a glaze called "sea salt," so he has little tiny crystals on him. The “sea glass” all over his robe is translucent, just like glass. Irwin stands around 6–7 inches tall and is about 3 inches wide at the base. $150 plus shipping. Purchase
Hawaiian Print Brass Hand-Etched Hibiscus Monstera Ring
Love Mom Jewelry. Does an Island have your heart? For me it's Kauai. This size 11.5 ring brings me back to Kauai island every time I see it. I etched this nostalgic Hawaiian print pattern into the brass, and fabricated this unique ring. The wide ring band also has an adorable etched seaweed print. It is well constructed and will undoubtedly be one of your favorite family heirlooms! $130 Purchase
Aqua Sea Glass Coffee Lover Sea Glass Framed Art
Effy’s Creations. This framed sea glass art piece is great for coffee lovers! Mini white, distressed frame with 2 x 3 opening has an aqua sea glass Java pot/coffee pot with two white sea pottery mugs/cups on each side. Sea pottery, and sea glass were collected by me at various beaches, and not altered. The frame has no glass in it and can be stood up. $22 Purchase
Sea Glass and Driftwood Succulents Framed Art
Effy’s Creations. This framed sea glass art piece is all about the earth tones! Natural wood fluted frame with 4 x 6 opening has four sea glass succulents on driftwood “shelves.” The succulents are made with olive green and lime green sea glass; one succulent has a flower made with carnelian and another with an yellow -olive sea glass. The plants sit in sea pottery and sea terra-cotta/brick pots. All components were collected by me at various beaches, and not altered. The frame has no glass in it, and can be stood up or leaned. The best part is the plants never need watering! $34 Purchase
“Snowy Egret, Santa Cruz” Painting
Fierce Siren Studios. This acrylic painting on canvas includes some real Santa Cruz beach sand. Jo Fry from Fierce Siren studios painted it right after last fall's Santa Cruz Sea Glass and Ocean Arts Festival. It was inspired by the birds she met in Santa Cruz on the beach in the morning. Dimensions: 12 inches x 4 inches. $65 with free US shipping. Purchase
Mermaid Tear Sea Glass Pendant Necklace
Kate Samson Design. The mermaid Tear Necklace has a beautiful piece of brilliant green sea glass nested in a hand-crafted sterling silver bezel with 14k gold fill accents. Pendant comes with a 20 inch gold chain. No two pieces of sea glass are ever alike, making each piece even more special as it is passed on from generation to generation. This necklace arrives in a gift box, complete with a ribbon and a golden mermaid wax seal. $150 Purchase
SOLD ITEMS
Amount donated so far: $2,323
Thanks to everyone who has offered items to sell to support the Santa Cruz Disaster Fund, and thanks to everyone who has purchased them. If you would like to be part of this fundraiser, please list the item(s) on your website and contact us with the link and any photos we can share on social media.
Red Bird Pendant
Aloha Sea Glass This Red Birdie pendant measures approximately 7/8” x 1/2”. It is made with fine and sterling silver. The red sea glass is from Northern California. The pendent comes with an 18 inch silver snake chain. $125 SOLD
English Garden Pendant
Sandpiper Footprints Jewelry. This feminine English lavender pendant is handmade with sterling (.925) & fine (.999) silver and hand stamped with lots of dainty flowers surrounding a beautiful thick and almost perfectly round rare lavender piece of sea glass, giving the feel of being in an English garden. There are two jump rings soldered closed to hold the chain securely. The piece is finished with a lovely patina to accent the details. An 18“ snake chain is included. Measures approximately 1” square. $155 SOLD
Opalescent Sea Glass Pendant
Love Mom Jewelry. This glowy, opalescent, light blue/whiteish piece of natural sea glass was found in Davenport, California, just north of Santa Cruz. The pendant size is 7/8" x 1/2" wide. The bezel is fine silver and the back plate is sterling 0925 silver. This is a petite piece and does not come a chain. $110 SOLD
Grey Blue Sea Glass Pendant
Love Mom Jewelry. This is a gorgeous piece of grey / smoky light blue sea glass, found on the California coast. I set this in fine silver, with a thick sterling silver accent wire and three handmade balls. The back plate is sterling silver with a light patina. In some light, the glass looks sultry grey, in a brighter light, it looks more pale periwinkle blue. The pendant is 1 1/4 x 3/4" wide. $140 SOLD
Countdown to Valentine’s Day ADVENTure Calendar
LC’s Glass. This limited-edition advent calendar includes 14 days of unique beachcombing finds from the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao), including a sea marble and sea glass hearts and other colorful sea glass finds. Each calendar is unique, so items displayed are not necessarily the ones you will receive. $100 with free shipping to the US. SOLD
Cucumber Green Jelly Fish Earrings
Mint Jellies. Cucumber Green sea glass found in Californiaand set in Argentium Sterling Silver and fine silver. Argentium sterling silver is .935 pure silver with germanium added to the alloy. It is hypoallergenic and tarnish resistant. $160 SOLD
Cobalt Sunset & Seagull Pendant Necklace
This Tiny Ocean. Super sweet little piece of cobalt sea glass set in an ocean sunset frame adorned with a 14K Gold filled seagull. This pendant measures 1 inch in diameter and hangs on an 18 inch Italian made sterling silver chain. $140 SOLD
Red Sea Glass Pendant
California Comber. Be it red, orange, red/orange, orange/red, this Italian sea glass is an eye catcher. Found on a beach in Italy, this piece measures 1 3/4” x 1 1/4”. It comes with an 18” .925 Italian sterling silver chain. The pendant is all hand crafted by me with .999 fine silver bezel and .925 sterling silver backing.
$145 SOLD
Great Wave Handmade Enameled Pendant
Love Mom Jewelry. Inspired by the Japanese print "Under the Wave off Kanagawa" this pendant is made with a technique called vitrious enamel, which involves etching, hammering, sanding, applying patina, coating, and firing at high temperatures. Enameling is truly a labor of love — extremely time consuming process, but also very gratifying. The pendant measures 1" across and comes with a brass chain. $80 SOLD
Aqua Sea Glass Mermaid Tear Necklace
Art of Sea Glass. This mermaid tear pendant features a glowing piece of aqua sea glass. Handcrafted of 99.9 fine silver and only genuine sea glass. It's one inch long and comes on an 18” sterling silver chain. $85 SOLD
Ocean Love Puerto Rico Sea Glass Pendant
Facets Artisan Jewelry. This Ocean Love Sea Glass pendant has the organic shape of authentic Puerto Rico sea glass. The piece is cleaned and set in a cut out silver bezel with a sea star hugging the side. Pendant comes with a 16-18" adjustable sterling chain. $150 SOLD
Mako Shark Tooth Fossil Necklace
Jill Smith. This necklace features a 10-million-year-old fossilized Mako shark tooth found in the hills of Bakersfield, California. It's strung on a combination rosary chain with Chrsyoprase chalcedony gemstone chips and 14k gold filled paperclip chain. $125 SOLD
Sea Glass Flower Framed Mini Artwork
beachykeenbyKK. Handmade with love in South Carolina, this lovely piece displays three flowers using three pieces of genuine blue sea glass as the flower heads and hand drawn stems. The mini 3"x 3" white distressed frame includes an easel backing for tabletop display on your desk, bookcase or favorite shelf. Please note that the frame does not include glass due to the dimensional art. This unique piece will make the perfect gift for that special someone that loves coastal decor, flowers, or sea glass! $33 SOLD
Mix + Match Sea of Blue Sea Glass Earrings
Tossed & Found Jewelry. Sterling silver cast prong earrings with these sea of blue sea glass found on the beaches on the North Shore, Oahu. (length: 2") $165 SOLD
Mako Shark Tooth Fossil Necklace
Jill Smith. Jill Smith. This necklace features beach finds from east and west! There are two Victorian-era pipe stems found on the banks of the River Thames in London paired with a tiny hagstone from a Southern California beach. They are strung on a sterling silver flat cable chain. $95 SOLD
Pure Silver Seahorse Pendant with Ocean Background
Himani Natu Silver Jewelry. Himani is donating 20% of the proceeds of sales of everything on her website for the month of February. Pure silver Seahorse Pendant with an ocean-themed background. Gilded with 24k gold using an ancient Korean gilding technique called Keum Boo. Pendant dimensions are 1-1/4" x 3/4" with an 18" sterling silver snake chain. $140 SOLD
Seaglass Dragonfly Necklace
SaltyZen Designs. Happy dragonflies flutter around a bright blue piece of sea glass! Dragonflies are etched and layered to give dimension. A very bright blue piece of sea glass is the centerpiece. Handmade with sterling silver. Includes chain. Dragonflies are a symbol of change, transformation, and adaptability! $165 SOLD
Mini Zen Desktop Beach
Beachcombing Magazine. Sometimes a quick trip to the beach is all you need to get your day back on track — just open your Beach Therapy Box and pretend you’re there! The box contains sand, a tiny collection of genuine seashells and sea glass, real wood rake, a beach-themed post card to add as a background to your beach. Beachcombing donated the proceeds from 10 Beach Therapy Boxes to the disaster fund. $15 SOLD
Seacliff Pier in Aptos damaged by high waves during the storms, Kirsti Scott
Santa Cruz County Disaster Fund
The Santa Cruz County Disaster Fund is dedicated to supporting residents impacted by floods, wildfires, earthquakes, mudslides, debris flows, and other local disasters. Contributions to this fund will be disbursed as grants to support trusted local nonprofit organizations working on the front lines of disaster response, recovery, and rebuilding efforts. Your support will help benefit those most affected and offer ready resources to organizations responding to local needs.
This fund has been activated to support local nonprofits responding to the atmospheric river storm and flooding of January 2023.
The needs of responding nonprofits are evolving as they help people and neighborhoods assess damage, clean up, prepare for new storms, and recover from storm-related losses and hardships. Likewise, small business owners are assessing damage to their family businesses and are in touch with us about their needs.
