The Saint John Sea Glass Festival brings together Maritime treasure hunters – New Brunswick

A love for sea glass and the things made from it brought together hundreds of people for the first-ever Saint John Sea Glass Festival on Saturday.

The festival is the brainchild of Karla Rodriguez-Moran, who quickly embraced the hobby after moving to Saint John in 2019.

« I became obsessed with sea glass, so I started making little things…little necklaces, and giving them to my church friends, and they said ‘you should sell them,' » she said.

After attending a sea glass festival on Campobello Island last year, Rodriguez-Moran decided to organize something similar in Saint John. She expected limited interest, but soon heard of 50 vendors.

Already hoping to hold the festival again next year, Rodriguez-Moran said people come from all three Maritime provinces and had even heard that some had made the trip from Maine.

“I never thought it would be a big thing. I was hoping to get ten people together,” she said.

Products on offer ranged from jewelry and artwork to photographs and wood crafts.

Kim Tobin was one of the sellers, a lifelong collector, she started making out of necessity.

« My husband looked at all the stuff and said do something with it or get rid of it, so I started making the jewelry, » she said.

Tobin was thrilled to see the turnout, especially the number of interesting vendors.

« You have no idea if it’s going to be something people enjoy as much as I do and it’s been so fun seeing all these different things – everyone’s so creative. »

The festival was an introduction to the hobby for some who were unfamiliar with it before.

« I’ve always lived by the sea and never thought about it, » said Pauline Taylor, who attended the festival.

« I saw these little pieces of glass, I didn’t know it was sea glass. It’s amazing what they can do with it, » Bill Taylor said.

But what attracts collectors? Many say it’s the thrill of the hunt. Others, the peaceful nature of the beach.

For Rodriguez-Moran, this is what the treasures represent.

“Sea glass represents transformation. Something that was once trash and becomes something beautiful,” she said.