Can you guess?....


It's not a nest. It's a glass float!

These pretty glass balls were first produced in Norway around 1840.

They were not made for our viewing pleasure back then . These colorful cylinders contained air that gave them buoyancy allowing them to float. Floating on the top of the water they held tight to fisherman's nets. Now who would have thought they would now become a well sought after item!

You can find them in almost every color but the three most popular and common colors are blue, green,and clear.

So just where can someone find these wonderful pieces of art history? Many are found by beach lovers looking for washed up treasure. If you don't live near a beach you may just have to be creative in your hunt.

I'm lucky in the fact that I have a world traveler for a Dad. He always seems to bring something back just for me to spark my inner decorating soul. I have had this little jewel for sometime now and it really just didn't have a place.

Well...now that I'm going all Swedish-coastal- everything underthesun...I have taken it out of it's hidden resting place.

Yesterday my sister and I dropped my Dad off at the airport. He is off on an adventure of a lifetime to a very far off place. A place I will only dream about and am almost sure I would never eat their food. He loves different cultures and never shys away from their traditions nor food. As I wait for his "I'm here and safe" call home I will just dream of what treasure he will come home with just for me. I did put a little bug in his ear that I would love to add to my collection of glass floats. I have some awesome ideas that would just fit right in with my soon to be decor....now all I need is a few more!
Bon Voyage Daddy...till we hug again~
Posted by Susie from Bienvenue at 6/02/2009

32 comments:

  1. I LOVE those and have three of them. I think they are beautiful! Hope you are having a great day!♥

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  2. We have those all over here in the little shops along the beach...Love them!

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  3. I love those floats....so whimsical!

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  4. I've never seen those before, but oh the things I could do with them!

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  5. I didn't realize what they were, that is so interesting. I bet your dad will come back with a lot of treasures for you.

    LeAnn:)

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  6. I have never heard of those but they are beautiful!

    I can't wait to see what your Dad brings back for you! Daddy's are good like that. I still have the little "trinkets" that my Daddy brought me back from the Virgin Islands more than 25 years ago.

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  7. Oh i was just eyeing a few of these at an antique store. They are beautiful and have so many ways to display them. Love to see where this one ends up.

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  8. Oh, I love these! How nice of your Dad to bring your pretties! I loved your flag on the mantle too!
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia :)

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  9. ...i love the glass floats, so nautical. i love my daddy too! he bought me my first strand of pearls and the rest is history as they say...xo, mickey

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  10. They are very nice accessories.
    Now that you've posted about them we won't be able to find them anywhere. ;)

    Safe travels to your Dad.

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  11. I love those, and bet they will look so good wherever you put them. It's wonderful that your Dad is so travelled and appreciates other cultures. I wish I could say the same for myself.

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  12. yay!! can't wait to see what other little goodies he'll bring you :)

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  13. I love these and wish that I wasn't landlocked here in TN! Maybe on my next beach trip I will be able to unearth one or two for myself. And how wonderful that your dad is out gallivanting - we need those people in our lives who go out and see what's there so they can tell the rest of us!

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  14. When I was a very little girl, I saw a small pile of these in my friends living room. I asked her mom what they were and I vividly remember her telling me that they were magic balls from the sea that had little fish swimming around in them. If I looked closely enough, I would be able to see them. Every time since then that I've had the opportunity to peer into them, I do, and I look for the fish. :p I don't have any of these, but now that I'm reminded, I'll have to keep my eyes open for them.

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  15. They are so eye catching....love the idea!!

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  16. Susie sweetie.. glass an me don't mix.. now if it was a heavy crystal.. perfect! Broken more pretty glass things over my lifetime to fund the replacement factory.. and put their children thru college too.

    Nice colors, clean and crisp like your new swede colors.

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  17. Good Morning Miz Susie,
    Don't you just love those?!?! I've been on the lookout for some but haven't had any luck. Of course when I lived on an island off the coast of Japan years ago and saw them everywhere in shops I wasn't interested *sigh* The ignorance of youth ...
    Have a wonderfully blessed day!

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  18. Oh I'm loving these. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. I just got back from the Eastern Shore in Maryland. We vacationed there every year when I was younger. Now that we live in the midwest, I miss the beach.
    I was at an outlet store that sold all kinds of decorative coastal/beach accessories and I saw these and wondered what they were...LOL, thanks to your lovely post, I now know what they are.

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  20. They are beautiful and what a great history behind them!! Hope your dad arrived safely! LOVE the flag you made in the previous post. So much hard work, but a beautiful result!!! Enjoy your day!

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  21. I'd love to get my hands on one of those! Unfortunately, they aren't so common in land-locked TN. Just as well. Ginny and the cats would probably take turns shattering them against the baseboards, anyway. :)

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  22. I love floats. I have had and sold many of them over the years. The colors are so pretty and they look great together in a bowl or glass cylinder. Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures on your enchanting blog. xo Joan

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  23. Your glass floater is a real beauty. The color is just so lovely.

    How wonderful that he brings you little mementos from his travels.

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  24. Susie,
    Thank you so much for your very encouraging comments on my little post today. Yes, one day we will get to be who we are and not what others want us to be....or what we think they want us to be. Or what we think they'd like. Blogging itself comes with it's on issues in trying to be what others will like, what others want to read, and I think some end up losing themselves in all that. Blogging can be like highschool with the "in crowd" and the "outcast". I love you because you made your way into the "in crowd" but have not forgotten who you are or where you came from. Also, you still check on the little "outcasts" like me :) You are genuine through and through. {Love and Hugs} :)

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  25. Oh Kat if you are in the outcasts that's just where I would like to be. Remember bigger blogs dont mean better. I no longer look at numbers or stats I just focus on relationships. That's what Im in it for....Im so thankful that I can say I have made some great friends through this blog and you my dear are at the top of my list!

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  26. I've never seen these beauties before but now I instantly want one! They are so pretty! I hope your Dad has a wonderful time and has safe travels!

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  27. Oh - those are so neat. Hope your daddy finds some more for you. :)

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  28. Those are just too too fun!!! Love them!
    sandy toe

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  29. Oh, I love these! I have been wanting to find some to use in my son's bathroom. When we head to the beach this summer, I will be searching for some at flea markets and antique stores!

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  30. Loooove the nauticla glass floats. So incredibly charming.

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  31. Susie~
    It must be going around (Coastal fever that is)! In my new diggs that's the plan...Coastal Vintage! I've started to pick things up here and there BUT never thought about the fab glass floats! Can't wait to see the Coastal Norwegian transformation!
    Janae

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Thanks for stopping by. It's always so nice to hear from you.

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