Woman sitting on a beach wearing a hat and smiling.

How Mother Beach Came to Be

Mother Beach began not with a business plan, but with a childhood memory that has weathered decades like sea glass itself. At the family cottage on Gramma's beach, spanning 75 years of love and laughter, Patricia first discovered the magic of beach glass collecting during Sunday visits.

When the world felt uncertain during the pandemic, that original poem—written years earlier at age 39 during a time of healing—still resonated with a universal truth: the beach represents a safe, positive landing spot where we find exactly what we need, when we need it.

Just as sea glass transforms from something broken into something beautiful through time and tides, Mother Beach celebrates that same journey of transformation in all of us.

Explore our Collection

What Mother Beach Stands For:

  • Authentic Beauty

    True beauty comes from authenticity, not perfection. We celebrate the imperfect, weathered, and transformed—both in our sea glass and in ourselves.

  • Community Connection

    Like sea glass smoothed by countless tides, we're strengthened by our connections. We foster a community where every story matters and no one walks alone.

  • Environmental Stewardship

    We believe in giving back to the beaches that give us so much. Through our cleanup initiatives, we protect the shores that nurture our souls and provide our treasures.
Learn more about our Clean-up Initiative

The Mother Beach Promise

We believe everyone deserves to feel connected to something larger than themselves. Through authentic coastal treasures and the stories they hold, Mother Beach creates a community where no one feels alone.

Every purchase supports our mission to preserve childhood memories, honor family heritage, and remind others that like sea glass itself, we are all transformed by our journeys into something more beautiful than when we began.

Our Most Frequently Asked Questions

What is sea glass, and why is it special?

Sea glass is a unique form of natural art created by the ocean. These beautiful, frosted glass pieces are formed when broken glass is tumbled and smoothed by saltwater and sand over many years. Each piece tells a story of its journey, making sea glass art truly one-of-a-kind coastal treasures.

What is the difference between sea glass and beach glass?

While often used interchangeably, there's a subtle but important distinction:

  • Sea Glass: Formed in saltwater environments like oceans, sea glass is created by the tumbling action of saltwater waves and sand. It has a distinctive frosted appearance due to the corrosive nature of saltwater. Sea glass typically comes from coastal regions and has a more rounded, smoothed texture.
  • Beach Glass: Typically found in freshwater environments like lakes (especially the Great Lakes), beach glass undergoes a similar smoothing process but in non-saline water. It tends to be slightly less frosted and may have a slightly different texture compared to sea glass. The tumbling process is gentler in freshwater, sometimes resulting in less dramatic smoothing.

At Mother Beach, we celebrate both sea glass and beach glass, but you'll find all beach glass in our art & treasures as we're based in the Great Lakes region. Our collections showcase the beauty of glass transformed gently by freshwater.

Where do you source your beach glass?

At Mother Beach, we mainly collect beach glass at our favorite beach in Erie, PA. All of our items are crafted using ethically sourced and responsibly collected glass, ensuring each artwork has an authentic and meaningful origin.

Are your sea glass art pieces authentic?

Absolutely! Every beach glass piece in our collection is genuine, carefully selected, and crafted with passion. We pride ourselves on finding and creating authentic coastal art that captures the essence of beach glass and its natural beauty.