Sea Treasures Wall Hanging
Collecting Sea Treasures
Before collecting beach items such as pebbles, sea glass, shells and driftwood from public or private beaches it is always best to check that it is permitted. Pebble beaches, in particular, are protected to ensure that collectors do not damage them. Driftwood is a valuable micro-ecosystem for many beach living creatures, so can be replaced with fallen weathered branches collected from woods that allow foraging.
To replace sea glass; crafters online sell packs of tumbled recycled glass which offers a very similar look. Alternatively, recycling washed-up plastic bottles from a beach tidy up can be cut into irregular shapes to make a statement piece on ocean pollution.
You will need
Skill level: Beginner
- 20 sea glass or tumbled glass pieces (sizes from 1.5cm to 3.5cm)
- 1 piece of driftwood or small weathered branch approximately 51cm long
- White macramé thread (suitable for micro macramé) cut into 3 x 100cm and 2 x 60cm
- 20 x Size 8 aquamarine glass beads
- Beading mat
- Scissors
- Ruler or tape measure
- Air erasable marker (optional)
- String or twine (we used kitchen twine)
- Sandpaper (optional)
To make
1. Check your driftwood or weathered wood piece to see if it needs any smoothing with sandpaper before starting to decorate.
2. Cut your string or twine and tie to the wood for hanging. This project uses a piece 83cm long so that the ends were double and triple wrapped before knotting.
3. Sort the sea or tumbled glass pieces by size or colour on your beading mat. These can be wonderful textures, so it can be fun to play around with the layout and see what looks best as a row. The longer, central strands can be laid out first and then the smaller side strands.
4. Cut the macramé thread into five pieces, these will be doubled up so the ends can be threaded through a loop around the wood. (A). Once looped around the wood, knot the thread so it stays secure (B).
5. For even spacing of the glass pieces, use a ruler and air erasable marker on the thread. This is entirely optional as the spacing can be done by eye to give a more random effect.
6. Make a knot in the doubled thread where you have left your spaced marks or where you prefer; ours was 5cm from the top. Pull the knot tightly. Using the first sea glass piece, place the glass so that one thread is lying underneath and one thread on top.
7. Using one of the Size 8 glass beads, thread onto the doubled macramé thread and push up to the bottom of the glass piece. Pull tightly to make sure it holds the glass in place and then make a knot under the bead. Your sea glass piece may slip at this point! Gently push back in a try to re-tighten by separating the two strands and pulling apart so the knot tightens.
8. Add the remaining glass pieces to all the strands by repeating steps 6 and 7 where you have marked the thread, or wherever you prefer to place your glass pieces.
9. You have completed your wall hanging and it can now be displayed!
Project by Addison Evans