Trashy Jewelry – Not!

Well, here you have it – fabulous, original, unique, exquisitely made, beautiful jewelry.   We saw a ton of jewelry at the Made in Hawaii Festival – but Trina from Sea Glass Obsession blew us away with her stunning line made from sea glass she collects on the beaches of Oahu.  The sea glass is actually trash.  That’s right, old bottles, and throw away glass objects thrashed by the ocean for years (to get the desired effect) and then washed up on our Hawaiian shorelines.  Making some of the most stunning pieces of art.

We recognized in Trina the background most creative geniuses in Hawaii come by.  From not knowing how to make a living in Hawaii, to finding her perfect niche quite unknowingly.  Out of boredom Trina took a wire wrapping class at a Puka bead store.  Out of nowhere (now here) she started to designed wire wrapped sea glass under the keen instructions of her teacher.  Trina had never even heard of sea glass before. Ahh, love at first site.  Now to go find more sea glass.  This is where the obsession started.  We can’t imagine walking head down (we get distracted easily) at the beach searching for sea glass – but Trina does, and loves it.  It shows in her work.   What a great daily routine: walking the beaches for sea glass then to a creative studio at home where you turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Here’s what surprised us just as much: her prices.  This is amazing to us.  We handled many of her items at the show, examined them carefully (beautifully made) and when we saw the price tag, we asked if this was a show special because we have NEVER seen such beautiful jewelry at these prices.  Trina explained, “I keep my prices affordable for the average customer.  I will not sell my jewelry at outrageous prices that would prohibit the normal person living on a budget from being able to afford.  This is very important to me, even though I have limited myself in my ability to wholesale my products.”   Folks, this is what living in Hawaii does for us – it provides a sanctuary to find ourselves in a creative process, become in-tune with our ‘aina (land) and where money is not the golden key – rather life and the pursuit of happiness prevails.  Trina is one happy girl!

To shop with Trina, click here (opens a new window).  We’ll be adding this to our list of sites for the perfect gift.