Margaret Miller
Margaret Miller grew up with the Atlantic Ocean as her playground. She lived in Virginia Beach's North End from 1962 until 1976, when she moved 100 miles south to North Carolina's Outer Banks. where she lives today with her husband Marc, daughter Savannah, dog Raven, and cat Isabel, soon to be joined by son Simon, who is serving overseas.
Being an avid beachcomber, she continued to add to her collection of shells, driftwood and beach glass when she moved to the Outer Banks by walking the coastline almost daily.
Always in love with art, it wasn't until she worked with renowned Outer Banks designer goldsmith, Sara DeSpain, that she explored metal working and jewelry craftsmanship. A year with Sara gave her practical, hands-on experience, and as the years progressed, she developed her own style by melding beach glass, shells, prescious metals, pearls, and a variety of gemstone beads into her own brand of jewelry. Thus was founded Low Tide Jewels.
"I like to think that I capture the constant motion of water in my work," says Margaret. "The ocean's many moods are reflected in my work and range from calm and fluid to rough and stormy."
Margaret uses only genuine hand-picked seaglass in her work, and refuses to alter it in any way. She is a member of the North American Seaglass Assocation and the Outer Banks Wedding Assocation.
The term beach glass, refers to a piece of glass that has been tumbled in sand and seawater for a long period of time until it is polished smooth. The glass I use was actually found on the beach, primarily in this area.
A well-worn piece of beach glass that is completely smooth with a cloudy yet glowing appearance may have been in the ocean for decades. Depending on the color and well-worn appearance, the glass can be dated back to the early 1900's.
In my mind, the beauty in a well-worn piece of beach glass is hard to compare. Each piece is unique in shape and glows with an inner light similar to that of a moonstone. I'd like to think that I am enhancing the natural beauty of each piece by placing it in a setting where it can truly shine.
My designs are meant to capture the fluid lines of the ocean and coastline. At times the glass may appear to be hidden just beneath the surface, as if one is actually reaching down into the ocean or sand to retrieve this rare wonder that man and Mother Nature created together.
For more information on beach glass check out Pure Sea Glass, Discovering Natures Vanishing Gems, a wonderful book by Richard LaMotte.
