Fishing Floats made of glass??!!

I have to tell you that one of my all time favorite things EVER are Japanese Glass Fishing floats. If you've ever been to one of those old timey, kitschy, seafood restaurants, you've surely seen them either hanging from the walls or decorating some lonely corner. 
My best friend Kathys dad was a boat captain (like my dad), but their house was always decorated with everything nautical, and I loved it!

They were once used by fishermen in many parts of the world to
keep their fishing nets, as well as longlines or droplines afloat. Large groups of fishnets were strung together, sometimes up to 50 miles long, and were set adrift in the ocean and supported near the surface by hollow glass balls or cylinders containing air to give them buoyancy. These glass floats are no longer used by fishermen, but many of them are still afloat in the world's oceans, primarily the Pacific. They have become a popular collectors' item for beachcombers and decorators.


Surprisingly it was a Norwegian, Christopher Faye, that was credited for the invention in 1840. The Japanese started using them around 1910. Today, most of the remaining glass floats originated in Japan because it had a large deep sea fishing industry which made extensive use of the floats. 
Today most are replicas that are used in nautical or coastal
interiors, however, if you are lucky, you can still find one on a pacific beach!

Fishing Float Earrings

You can always pick up a pair at Handmade Jewelry Haven to dangle from your earlobes!
I make these using the glass ball found inside Japanese soda bottles, also known as a Codd Neck bottle!

source: Wikipedia

Feeling adventurous? I have a free download on how you can make your own Japanese Fishing Float!

Click Here For Your Free Tutorial!

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Flashback Friday - A Bead So Beautiful!

Flashback Friday takes place on the last Friday of the month The idea is to republish an old post of yours that maybe didn't get enough attention, or that you really liked, or that you think others will really like..

As I started this blog in 2010, and then took a few years off to raise my little ones (only getting back into it this past November), I know there are a LOT of you out there that did not see some of my earlier posts.

You can see the original post HERE.

A Bead So Beautiful...You Could Just Eat It!

Original Picture

Current Picture

It was in Murano that lampwork beads first became widely produced in the 19th century. To this day, the most famous style of lampwork bead is the 'Venetian' or wedding cake bead. the secret of the glass making process was jealously guarded. Many countries tried to lure glass makers away from Italy. While some succeeded in producing lampwork beads, they did not typically put up a challenge to the Murano lampwork beads. In the mid 19th century, a few Bohemian (now Czech Republic) citizens traveled to Italy to work in the glass works and learn the secrets. They returned five years later, frustrated by the wall of secrecy they had encountered. However, they did learn something and glass bead making was started in the Czech Republic.

The Czech also became masters at making lampwork beads and rivaled Italy on the national market. In time, the Czech and Italians taught the Indians how to make lampwork beads. Today the majority of lampwork beads come from India. The Czech and the Italians still make beautiful lampwork beads in much more limited production.

Handmade Jewelry Haven's beautiful 'Swirl' necklace, and matching earrings are made with lovely amethyst colored Italian Wedding Cake beads, and is set off by a gorgeous blown glass pendant in soothing colors of purples golds and silvers.
Find them all at Handmade Jewelry Haven's Etsy Shop Here.

source; The Beading Times

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