Lake Glass

You've heard of "sea glass," right? Those opaque, random-shaped pieces of glass that people find washed up on the seashore. The glass has been buffeted, rounded, and glazed by the ocean waves. Jewelers and other artists love to use them in their creations.

Well, today I discovered the freshwater equivalent of sea glass: I call it "lake glass," and I think it's every bit as beautiful. I found these pieces on a shale beach along the shores of Keuka Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in upstate New York. Now, I just have to figure out what to do with them....

These pieces, above, could make earrings -- best for someone who loves Keuka Lake. And the pieces below could make a pendant, maybe. This was the only piece of blue glass I found all afternoon -- you might call it semi-precious glass?