Memorial Day Sale at my Website

Enjoy 15% off from now until May 30, midnight, EST  at my website
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Lucky Sea Glass

Want to See Some of My Australian Sea Glass Creations and Genuine Opal?

Genuine boulder opal, copper wirewrap, on a copper chain by Lucky Sea Glass

I haave been back about a month, and have been eager to create some designs with the Australian sea glass I found in Darwin.  Also, in Sydney I was able to buy a few boulder opals, which I am wirewrapping.  Here are a few of my lates designs.  They are available at my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/shop/LuckySeaGlassJewelry   Remember, if you like my facebook page, I will send you the code for a discount if you send me a message!

Sterling silver ring with amber sea glass from Darwin, Australia

India, Australia, and Sea Glass

I know it has been so long since I have written here! Have been in India for four weeks last Fall and just got back from five weeks in Australia.  Also, it took me so long to recover from the jet lag as Australia is so far away and in a completely different time zone-- 14 hours ahead of the East Coast.

Along the Great Ocean Road

Sleepy Koala, along the Great Ocean road

Twelve Apostles

Sea Arch

One of many amazing sunsets

Anyway, I had amazing experiences in Australia.  We started in Melbourne, drove along the Southeastern coast called the Great Ocean Road,  where I beachcombed but found very little sea glass, but beautiful scenery.  Then we took a train from Adelaide across the continent to the Northern Territory, Darwin.  In Darwin, where there had been a devastating typhoon in the '70's, I found lots of sea glass.  Then we went on a cruise of the Kimberley Coast, beautiful scenery, and I gave a talk and trunk show with my sea glass creations onboard.  The cruise ended in Broome, where we took a camel ride on Cable Beach at sunset.  Then on to Sydney for five days, by plane, for five more days before heading home.  Whew! Car, train, ship, plane -- did it all.  Here are some pictures!

Some Pictures From Cruises Lisbon to Dublin

The two cruises were really great expeditions to Portugal, Spain, France, Guernsey, England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.  We stopped at tiny islands and visited sites like Mont St.Michelle, Normandy beaches, Iona, Giant's Causeway in Ireland, Gehry museum in Bilbao, and many more. I even found sea glass along the way.  Here are some pictures.

Oporto, Portugal

Scotland

Boots outside shop in Ireland

Swinging bridge in Ireland

Wildbeests and Zebras Crossing the Mara River in Africa

It was an amazing sight -- in the morning, we had done a game drive to the Mara River in the Maasai Mara, and were lucky enough to see some zebras going across the river, once they were emboldened.  But, in the afternoon, rather than go on a game drive elsewhere, our fellow travelers all wanted to go back to the river (about an hour, bumpy ride) in the chance that we might see the wildebeests crossing the river.  Well,  we were so lucky!  As we approached the river, we saw masses of wildebeests heading toward the river.  When we got to the point where we could watch them head   toward the river's low point where they could cross, we waited expectantly.

Finally, a few zebra started across, despite an ominous looking croc on the other side.  The wildebeests still hesitated, and some turned back.   But then, a few started across -- and then suddenly there were hundreds crossing -- even babies.  Here is my amateur video and pictures, but I am not sure the video was uploaded.  I will try again soon if it hasn't!

Some Pictures From Africa - Lions

I know many of you are interested in Africa -- it was so amazing to see the animals in the wild.  I can't imagine going to zoos any more.  Here are some pictures of lions --- I have taken thousands of photos, so please keep watching as I go through them!  Here you can see the lions -- mother, father, and cubs!!  I couldn't believe it when they went up on the rock, just like in the Lion King musical!

The King

Lioness and Cubs and the King

Dad on rock with his cub!

Finally -- some pictures -- Lions,Leopards,Elephants and. more- AFRICA

Sorry this took me so long to start posting the African pictures! here I am already back from our cruises in Europe!  Here are a few lions -- I will post more soon, I promise.

I can hardly wait to post the fabulous pictures I took in Africa.  Keep watching this blog.
Africa
is so different from the United States and Europe, as the animals roam freely and the landscapes are so vast.

Popping a Cork on a Portugal Cruise with Answers.com

Recently, I was invited to be a guest author for Answers.com, which has over 200 million visitors worldwide.  My areas of expertise are cruises and jewelry making  ( both of which I love).  My first article has just been published so I am putting the link here.  It is about cruising the Douro River in Portugal.  I hope you check it out and let me know what you think!
 http://cruises.answers.com/destinations/pop-a-cork-on-a-cruise-in-portugal 

Fantastic Florida Sunsets

I just have to share the amazing sky that I saw in Florida.  This was not your usual sunset -- the whole sky was on fire.  I didn't touch up these photos -- they are real.  Enjoy.

This was taken on a different night!

Hot Air Ballooning in France and Sea Glass Design

If you have ever been hot air ballooning, you know what an uplifting (no pun intended maybe) experience it can be.  Soaring over beautiful lavender fields in France or over ancient temples in Myanmar or migrating animals in Africa with only the swooshswoosh of the hot air heater and the clicks of cameras breaking the silence...I am posting a couple of my balloon pictures from Provence, but also some of my latest sea glass creation -- a necklace with sea glass from a Greek Island (Aegina) that is a hot air balloon inspired design.  Enjoy!

Balloon over Provence by Lucky Sea Glass

Balloon over Provence by Lucky Sea Glass

Sea Glass (Greece) and Sterling Silver by Lucky Sea Glass

Pictures of Portugal

Home at last!  I took almost a thousand pictures, so I will just post a few here from the beginning of our trip, in Que Luz and Sintra.  And, we didn't visit all of Portugal -- didn't go to the resort area of the Algarve, in the south.  Here goes...   Let me know if you want me to post more of them.

Royal Summer Palace in Que Luz with amazing gardens

Que Luz palace

Our Pousada, used to be royal stables

Pena Palace in Sintra

Beautiful water lilies near a mansion near Sintra

The Douro River Cruise, Portugal and sea glass

Portugal has been fantastic, even though I wasn't able to find much seaglass.  I did find a tile and sea glass in Lisbon.  The cruise alo ng the Douro River is so beautiful and the vineyards terraced up the rolling hills are,worth seeing.   I will post pictures soon, but try to see it yourself one day!

tile and sea glass and plastic found at port of Lisbon

Castles, Palaces and Seascapes

Just a taste of some great photos to come.  There is so much to see in Portugal.  So far we have seen  three beautiful palaces,  a Moorish castle high on a hill, and amazing views of the Atlantic.   I found some smooth stones and a piece of sea glass.(maybe)

Impressionists by the sea in San Francisco and the Golden Gate

In addition to the great trip to Mendocino and Ft. Bragg, we also spent a few days in San Francisco with a friend.  The Legion of Honor Museum is having an exhibit of paintings by French impressionists with the theme of boating and the sea.  Beautiful models of boats that were in paintings in the 19th century and also, of course, Monets, Seurats, Degas, and others.  It is not a big exhibit, but it does work the theme well.

When we walked outside of the museum and looked to our left, the light was so perfect over the bay that it looked like another impressionist painting.  When we walked down a little bit, we were rewarded with lovely views of the Golden Gate Bridge.  I didn't have my camera with me, though.  Sorry.  You'll just have to go see it yourself!

Views of Germany

Today, I thought I'd add some pictures from our wonderful wine and gourmet cruise in Germany about a year ago.  There have been a lot of visitors from Germany on this blog.  We cruised on the Moselle and Rhine rivers, and ended up in Cologne.  It was pretty cold (November) and they were setting up for the Christmas markets.   I actually wore my hat from Antarctica while I was there.  Unless you are going for the markets, I would suggest you go during warmer months where there is more daylight, too!  I didn't find any sea or river glass on this trip -- although I did pick up some glass in Rudesheim (spelling?) -- it was alongside the river, but not really tumbled.

Strasburg Cathedral

View of Cologne