Jeweler turns trash into treasure

ENGLEWOOD - It's nature's way of turning trash into treasure.

You can find sea glass at beaches all over the world, but only a few people can turn it into a wearable work of art.

Lisl Armstrong of Englewood, in Southern Sarasota County, knew she was destined to make sea glass her life the first time she stepped on the Beach at Rincon in her mother's native Puerto Rico. That was more than 20 years ago.

Sea glass, also known as mermaid's tears, is what happens when manmade broken glass ends up in the ocean.

But for Armstrong, it may as well be diamonds or emeralds.

"As far as the ocean's concerned it's a rock, so it just tumbles it and smoothes it and washes it up on the beach and it looks like a jewel." Armstrong said. "It looks like a gem, and it is, a sea change gem."

Armstrong scours the beaches of the world looking for what sparkles amidst the sand and rocks. Puerto Rico remains her favorite, but she has also combed the beaches of Italy's Amalfi coast, Bali and the North Carolina Outer Banks.

Armstrong says there are common colors and rare ones. Amber is a more common color from old beer and soda bottles and interestingly, even old Clorox containers.

Lisl says she finds lots of green sea glass in Puerto Rico, compliments of the island's "rum and coke" industry.

She makes each piece of jewelry by hand – pendants, earrings, bracelets and necklaces. And no two pieces of sea glass are alike.

"Every single piece of sea glass is different. It's like a fingerprint or a snowflake. It's just impossible for two to be exactly the same," Armstrong said.

Armstrong also says each piece of sea glass also has its own story, which she shares on her website.

"I like to say my jewelry brings out your inner mermaid," Armstrong added. "There's something sea siren about it,"

From trash to treasure, and kissed by the sea.