When you think of beaches, do you imagine sandy shores? Or do you conjure up images of a coastline piled with gazillions of smooth stones and pebbles? Or maybe you picture tide pools? I like all three, but I'm a rock hound at heart, so my recent trip to California's northern coast had to include a stop at Agate Beach in Patrick's Point state park. This strip along the Pacific coast is stunning; with its super-sized ferns, beautiful redwoods, and banks of fog that roll in and out like the tides, it's downright enchanted.
As much as I enjoyed the beach for its sunshine and refreshing breeze, I was most excited about spending time looking for agates. Which seems to be about patience, luck, and perhaps a little concentration. Here's a snapshot of my favorite finds:
I also collected other smooth, flat-ish stones similar to the ones in the photo below, that I intend to drill and make into pendants. You can download Addie's tutorial on how to drill through glass and use her same technique to drill through stone. Just be sure to inspect your stones to avoid drilling through cracks or fissures.
And then of course, I wouldn't have considered my trip completely successful unless I also made a banana slug siting. Yes, there is such a creature. Check out this beauty. My friend's son spied this guy during one of our hikes. Special shout-out to Sam and Ben :)
I hope your summer has been a good one. And that you've had some time to make jewelry, visit family and friends, and enjoy moments of rest and relaxation. Cheers! Jill