No one sees them, but dozens of Float Fairies roam this seven-mile stretch of the Oregon coast. Several mornings a year these anonymous volunteers stroll the shores of Lincoln City, carefully placing glass treasures among driftwood and seagrass. Soon, the Float Fairies blend in with us mere mortals who have come in search of these treasures.

Finders Keepers, a popular treasure hunt for handcrafted glass floats, originated in Lincoln City. Now in its 19th year and inspiring imitators, the event grew out of a cultural tradition.

Today, visitors come from all over, seeking their own brilliantly-colored, signed, and numbered glass floats.

Treasure Hunting

I, too, have come in search of treasure: treasured time with sisters. Having three sisters in Oregon, I’ve made my way from high-desert Bend to seaside Newport, then up the rugged coast to Lincoln City, where Carolyn lives.

A photographer of sea, sky, and stone, Carolyn charts the course of our glass float treasure hunt.

First stop, North Lincoln County Historical Museum. There the Watson-Simpson Collection awaits us, resplendent as crown jewels.

At first, fishermen crafted their floats from whatever glass was available to them—usually, recycled beverage bottles. Something about the sea stirs a terrible thirst, it seems.

Then, glass-making companies sprang up in Japan, Norway, Russia, and the U.S. Thousands of glassblowers found jobs making floats by hand. Circa 1890s-1930s, these floats are among the most ornate and coveted collectibles.

A Fragile Industry

Later, companies switched to using industrial molds and machinery to mass-produce “improved” floats—cheaper, more uniform, less colorful. Eventually, companies phased out glass altogether.

Over time, the world’s fishing vessels began using plastic, aluminum, even Styrofoam floats. For generations of beachcombers, coveted glass floats became all the rarer—except in Lincoln City.

That’s where artist Jennifer Sears had a brilliant idea for celebrating the Millennium: commission local artists to create glass floats, each distinctive, then place them in the open for anyone to find.

Playing with Fire

Soon we’ll play Finders Keepers. But first, says Carolyn, let’s see how glassblowing happens. We make our way to Lincoln City Glass Center.

There we watch as artisans gather molten glass, scooping it like honey from crucibles heated to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit.

They roll the glowing mass across a marver, a special metal table, to distribute heat evenly. Then, as if adding sprinkles to ice cream, they dip the molten lump in crushed glass to add layers of color. At various points, the glass is returned to the crucible to keep it hot and malleable.

As for the glassblowing, the artisans carry this out as nonchalantly as if they were chewing bubblegum, not working with bone-searing liquid fire.

Sailing, Sailing

All week, Carolyn and I tailor our adventures to the changeable coastal weather. On bright days, we look at tide pools, fishing boats, and bright pebbles.

On blustery days, we head for Captain OverKeel Cabin and batten down the hatches. Its interior resembles an ancient sailing ship. There’s no cable TV, no wifi, just the magic of forgetting what century this is.

Up and at ‘em

Nobody sleeps in on Finders Keepers days. By Saturday, the Float Fairies have placed 300 treasures all over the beach. Locals and visitors will soon be out in droves.

To help us on our quest, we seek out local expert Eric Johnson. As public relations coordinator for Lincoln City, Eric is first to see the glass floats as they arrive from artists’ studios all over Lincoln County.

The secret, says Johnson, is not to look too hard. You’re more likely to discover a float the less fixated you are. And stay safe. Floats are never placed in risky-to-access areas. Just get out there and enjoy the day.

Oh, I see: Instead of treasure-hunting to the point of frustration, simply notice the beauty all around you. Good life advice, too.

Finding Bliss

After combing the beach, antiquing in town, and sipping coffee by the fire, the prospect of a Lincoln City sunset draws Carolyn and me outdoors again.

It’s in the hands of Todd Terrell, who marvels over its beauty with partner Rose Bliss. Their delight is what caught our attention.

For one companionable moment, we share in the joy, happy as nine-year-old kids. That’s all it is—a moment, created by years of cultural tradition on the Oregon coast.

A lovely moment to share with your sis. If that isn’t finding treasure, what is?

Comment on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here.

$\"A$

Several times a year glass floats like these are hidden along Lincoln City’s shoreline.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n

A Cultural Tradition on the Oregon Coast<\/strong><\/h2>\n
No one sees them, but dozens of Float Fairies roam this seven-mile stretch of the Oregon coast. Several mornings a year these anonymous volunteers stroll the shores of Lincoln City, carefully placing glass treasures among driftwood and seagrass. Soon, the Float Fairies blend in with us mere mortals who have come in search of these treasures.<\/p>\n
Finders Keepers, a popular treasure hunt for handcrafted glass floats, originated in Lincoln City. Now in its 19th year and inspiring imitators, the event grew out of a cultural tradition.<\/p>\n
$\"A$
Finders Keepers runs from mid-October to Memorial Day.
Treasures may include glass sand dollars, shells, and sea stars.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Today, visitors come from all over, seeking their own brilliantly-colored, signed, and numbered glass floats.<\/p>\n
Treasure Hunting<\/strong><\/h4>\n
I, too, have come in search of treasure: treasured time with sisters. Having three sisters in Oregon, I\u2019ve made my way from high-desert Bend to seaside Newport, then up the rugged coast to Lincoln City, where Carolyn lives.<\/p>\n
$\"Artist$
“I love the coast life,” says Carolyn McGreevy at Lincoln City Public Library.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
A photographer of sea, sky, and stone, Carolyn charts the course of our glass float treasure hunt.<\/p>\n
$\"An$
The world my sister sees. (Sunset at Lincoln City, Oregon)
\u00a9 Carolyn McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
First stop, North Lincoln County Historical Museum. There the Watson-Simpson Collection awaits us, resplendent as crown jewels.<\/p>\n
$\"Glass$
The variety of sizes, colors, and provenance of glass floats is stunning.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
At first, fishermen crafted their floats from whatever glass was available to them\u2014usually, recycled beverage bottles. Something about the sea stirs a terrible thirst, it seems.<\/p>\n
Then, glass-making companies sprang up in Japan, Norway, Russia, and the U.S. Thousands of glassblowers found jobs making floats by hand. Circa 1890s-1930s, these floats are among the most ornate and coveted collectibles.<\/p>\n
$\"An$
Patented in 1877, this is among the rarest of glass floats.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
A Fragile Industry<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Later, companies switched to using industrial molds and machinery to mass-produce \u201cimproved\u201d floats\u2014cheaper, more uniform, less colorful.\u00a0Eventually, companies phased out glass altogether.<\/p>\n
Over time, the world\u2019s fishing vessels began using plastic, aluminum, even Styrofoam floats. For generations of beachcombers, coveted glass floats became all the rarer\u2014except in Lincoln City.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where artist Jennifer Sears had a brilliant idea for celebrating the Millennium: commission local artists to create glass floats, each distinctive, then place them in the open for anyone to find.<\/p>\n
$\"People$
Finders keepers, yes<\/em>\u2014losers weepers, no!<\/em> Not with miles of Oregon coast to enjoy.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Playing with Fire<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Soon we’ll play Finders Keepers. But first, says Carolyn, let’s see how glassblowing happens. We make our way to Lincoln City Glass Center.<\/p>\n
There we watch as artisans gather molten glass, scooping it like honey from crucibles heated to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>\n
$\"Glassblowers$
Daniel Hogan and Steve Hagan face the heat. Wearing thick mitts, Jolene Boyce deftly flips a glass bowl.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
They roll the glowing mass across a marver, a special metal table, to distribute heat evenly. Then, as if adding sprinkles to ice cream, they dip the molten lump in crushed glass to add layers of color. At various points, the glass is returned to the crucible to keep it hot and malleable.<\/p>\n
$\"Glass$
From crucible to kiln, glassmakers use an array of skills and\u00a0tools<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to craft glass floats.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
As for the glassblowing, the artisans carry this out as nonchalantly as if they were chewing bubblegum, not working with bone-searing liquid fire.<\/p>\n
$\"A$
Fire-born, sea-inspired, a glass mobile inspires visitors to Lincoln City Glass Center.\u00a0
\u00a9 Carolyn McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Sailing, Sailing<\/strong><\/h4>\n
All week, Carolyn and I tailor our adventures to the changeable coastal weather. On \u00a0bright days, we look at tide pools, fishing boats, and bright pebbles.<\/p>\n
$\"Agates$
Agates and other colorful stones cover Oregon beaches.
\u00a9 Carolyn McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
On blustery days, we head for Captain OverKeel Cabin and batten down the hatches. Its interior resembles an ancient sailing ship. There\u2019s no cable TV, no wifi, just the magic of forgetting what century this is.<\/p>\n
$\"Captain$
On a \u201cdark and stormy night,\u201d this snug vessel drifts safely toward dreamland.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Up and at \u2018em<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Nobody sleeps in on Finders Keepers days. By Saturday, the Float Fairies have placed 300 treasures all over the beach. Locals and visitors will soon be out in droves.<\/p>\n
To help us on our quest, we seek out local expert Eric Johnson. As public relations coordinator for Lincoln City, Eric is first to see the glass floats as they arrive from artists\u2019 studios all over Lincoln County.<\/p>\n
$\"PR$
Raised in Astoria, working in Cannon Beach and now Lincoln City,
Eric Johnson is truly a coastal citizen . \u00a0
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Does he have tips for spotting glass floats in the wild?<\/p>\n
The secret, says Johnson, is not to look too hard. You\u2019re more likely to discover a float the less fixated you are. And stay safe. Floats are never placed in risky-to-access areas. Just get out there and enjoy the day.<\/p>\n
Oh, I see<\/strong>:\u00a0 Instead of treasure-hunting to the point of frustration, simply notice the beauty all around you.\u00a0Good life advice, too.<\/p>\n
Can you spot a glass float on this stretch of coastline?
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
$\"A$
Eureka!
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
Finding Bliss<\/strong><\/h4>\n
After combing the beach, antiquing in town, and sipping coffee by the fire, the prospect of a Lincoln City sunset draws Carolyn and me outdoors again.<\/p>\n
And just like that, we find it\u2014a gorgeous glass float!<\/p>\n
$\"A$
Finders register their glass floats and post photos to Lincoln City’s Instagram<\/a>.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
It\u2019s in the hands of Todd Terrell, who marvels over its beauty with partner Rose Bliss. Their delight is what caught our attention.<\/p>\n
$\"Amber$
Oregonians Rose Bliss and Todd Terrell celebrate Finders Keepers.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
For one companionable moment, we share in the joy, happy as nine-year-old kids. That\u2019s all it is\u2014a moment, created by years of cultural tradition on the Oregon coast.<\/p>\n
A lovely moment to share with your sis. If that isn\u2019t finding treasure, what is?<\/p>\n
$\"Glass$
Glass art graces sidewalks in Lincoln City.
\u00a9 Joyce McGreevy<\/p><\/div>\n
When will Lincoln City drop more glass floats? Find out here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
Comment<\/em><\/a>\u00a0on this post below, or inspire insight with your own OIC Moment here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":30607,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[108,99,225,199],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ideas-creative","category-heritage-culture","category-nature-travel","category-usa-mappoints"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30579"}],"version-history":[{"count":48,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40940,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30579\/revisions\/40940"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}