I never tire of gazing at the ocean, and our recent visit to Cape Cod gave a chance to see things in a different light...literally!

For many years, and always always in September, Zack and I have made an annual pilgrimage to Race Point Beach in Provincetown, MA. The kids were back in school, frantic summer crowds dwindled, and the weather was still conducive to hours at the water's edge. Our visits proved therapeutic after our own hectic summers in the gallery. Our mouthes water, in anticipation of the Cape cuisine...smoked bluefish pate' from Mac's Seafood, Wellfleet oysters, or wonderful baked cod dishes at Cafe' Edwige or Ross's Restaurant.

This year, Zack will display some of his paintings at Hutson Gallery on Commercial Street in Provincetown for the duration of the summer season. We delivered a number of paintings earlier this month, and on our way over the Bourne Bridge, the first thing both of us noticed was the quality of the light - crisp, clean and fresh - and certainly different than what we remember as 'bronzed, end of the summer' light. I thought I was nuts, frankly, but conversations with Mary at Hutson Gallery, and a number of other artists we met there assured us that the differences we noticed are real, and they likened it to the difference between beach-goers' skin pre- and post- season.

As always, once at the beach, I set off to forage for stones. Of course, I already have a stash to last a lifetime, but the compulsion won't quit, and I think I found some perfect pieces for a new Race Point design. This visit inspired me to work with pale, sun-kissed colors and translucent quartz stones. I chose an earthy ivory glass that interacts with the pale aqua, revealing thin lines of definition between the colors. These beads have been acid etched to echo the sand washed texture of the stones. A sprinkling of transparent, watery turquoise glass discs contrasts with along with Hill Tribe fine silver accents and a few raw aquamarine.

#958a Race Point Ivory and Aqua Bracelet — #958a Race Point Ivory and Aqua Bracelet

My friend and teacher, Lynn Strolin gave me a number of glass bead tools when she dissolved her studio, and I spent some time working with her lentil-shaped press tool to make these flat beads. This bracelet sits nicely on the wrist, as both the silver and glass profiles are thinner than the more traditional round beads. These, too, are made with the acid etched ivory base, lending an antique quality to the coloring. Tiny Czech glass seed beads in my favorite watery color separate the glass and silver. Hill Tribe fine silver toggle clasps and a signature tag finish the design.