Meet the man behind a sea glass Christmas tree that's a sight to behold. John Viveiros, an arborist and tree climber by trade and a welder/craftsman by choice and chance, has built a 15-foot-tall Christmas tree out of tens of thousands of pieces of sea glass.
Viveiros' creation is on display at the South Coast Harvest Festival in Westport, Massachusetts, and it's causing quite a stir. "The crowd really goes crazy because it's something they don't expect," Viveiros says. "That height and size with such a small piece of material."
For Viveiros, sea glass hunting is more than just a hobby - it's a way to connect with the past. He started collecting sea glass about 20 years ago, after finding a blue marble on the beach that caught his eye. Since then, he's spent countless hours scouring the coast for rare and beautiful pieces of glass.
The process of creating the tree is meticulous and time-consuming. Viveiros uses a double loop knot to strand together the sea glass, spacing them about four to five inches apart. He also adds a metal steering wheel from a classic 1970s car as the base of the tree, topped with a circular piece for the angel.
Viveiros' creation is more than just a festive decoration - it's a reminder that even in today's fast-paced world, there's beauty to be found in the discarded and forgotten. "This tree is created by junk," he says. "Sometimes, you have to tumble, and go through the storms of life to be polished up for life's challenges."
Viveiros' passion for sea glass and his creative skills have earned him a reputation as one of the leading artists in this niche. His work has been featured in several exhibitions and publications, and he continues to inspire others with his unique vision.
As the holiday season approaches, Viveiros is already thinking about next year's creation - but for now, he's content to enjoy the adoration of his fans and the beauty of his sea glass Christmas tree.
Viveiros' creation is on display at the South Coast Harvest Festival in Westport, Massachusetts, and it's causing quite a stir. "The crowd really goes crazy because it's something they don't expect," Viveiros says. "That height and size with such a small piece of material."
For Viveiros, sea glass hunting is more than just a hobby - it's a way to connect with the past. He started collecting sea glass about 20 years ago, after finding a blue marble on the beach that caught his eye. Since then, he's spent countless hours scouring the coast for rare and beautiful pieces of glass.
The process of creating the tree is meticulous and time-consuming. Viveiros uses a double loop knot to strand together the sea glass, spacing them about four to five inches apart. He also adds a metal steering wheel from a classic 1970s car as the base of the tree, topped with a circular piece for the angel.
Viveiros' creation is more than just a festive decoration - it's a reminder that even in today's fast-paced world, there's beauty to be found in the discarded and forgotten. "This tree is created by junk," he says. "Sometimes, you have to tumble, and go through the storms of life to be polished up for life's challenges."
Viveiros' passion for sea glass and his creative skills have earned him a reputation as one of the leading artists in this niche. His work has been featured in several exhibitions and publications, and he continues to inspire others with his unique vision.
As the holiday season approaches, Viveiros is already thinking about next year's creation - but for now, he's content to enjoy the adoration of his fans and the beauty of his sea glass Christmas tree.