AmericanMudlark

AmericanMudlark Grace Barrett here! I'm a mudlark/explorer in Virginia. I find old treasures & give them a 2nd life.

Perspective is a powerful thing. Here’s one of the pictures of earth taken by the Artemis II. I saw a random comment tha...
04/11/2026

Perspective is a powerful thing.
Here’s one of the pictures of earth taken by the Artemis II. I saw a random comment that referenced this photo as a “family picture.”
I’ve not been able to stop thinking about that perspective. To be honest, I shed some tears at the thought. We’re all in this together, whether with like it or not.
“Family picture.”
It’s a heavy thing. Beautiful, sad.
And achingly hopeful.

And cheers to the crew, such brave curious people.
Welcome home, it’s a mess. But it’s ours and it’s beautiful. It’s the only home we’ve got in the wide expanse of space. You’ve reminded me to cherish it.

🌎 🚀 🌕 🚀 🌎

04/02/2026

Even the best books must end.
And now comes the end of my time at ABC 13 - WSET. After 13 years in news, 11+ of those years have been at this station and tomorrow is my last day.
It’s hard to summarize what it’s like to work in a newsroom. It is an experience all its own.
The rush.
The creativity.
The collaboration.
The chance to start fresh every single day.
Working as a journalist, as a news producer, it’s a unique thing. To be able to choose what stories someone might talk about over breakfast, to keep people informed on issues that impact very real lives.
The importance and necessity or local news has never been lost on me. And I have felt a great sense of purpose every step of the way.

It takes an incredible team to put on a show 5 days a week from 5AM to 7AM. It takes dynamic personalities. It takes grit and patience.
And I have been so blessed to work with the best.
My team has helped me grow so much and I’ll never forget the many eye watering belly laughs that come with making live TV. I’m endlessly thankful to this team. They are entirely brilliant and deserve every good thing and then some, especially for putting up with me for so long.

I do not know what is ahead for me.
But I do know that I am equipped.
I know that the possibilities are endless.
And I know this because my time as one of the minds leading Good Morning Virginia has made me who I am today. Journalism, telling stories, I suppose it’s part of my DNA at this point.

I am the luckiest. Thank you.
Thank you so very very much.

Follow me here AmericanMudlark as the adventures continue!

💙

01/23/2026

Happy Friday! Hope you all stay safe and who a weekend.
I’ve been thinking back to my first year mudlarking and the moment I crossed a major find off my bucket list. The moment I found a Frozen Charlotte and got it all on camera. Such a crazy lucky find here in Cental Virginia!

By the way Frozen Charlottes were mass produced and wildly popular tiny little dolls from the mid to late 1800s, on into the 1910s. They were very cheap to make and buy which lended to their popularity. They made them all over the place. Mostly found in England, they can still be found in the U.S. as people immigrated and people made them here as well. The “Frozen Charlotte” name comes from their stiff white form, just a little co**se like. But they are also called “pudding” or “penny dolls.”

Sadly, mine is broken. She’s missing her bottom half.
So now I have to amend my goal to “Finding a whole Frozen Charlottes.” I can’t wait to get back out on the river as soon as it warms up a little!



Hello fellow curious folk! It’s been a while hasn’t it? Well that’s because there have been a lot of plans being put int...
01/20/2026

Hello fellow curious folk!

It’s been a while hasn’t it? Well that’s because there have been a lot of plans being put into motion.
Truly wonderful things are coming and a whole new phase of AmericanMudlark is getting ready to launch.
I’ll be explaining more over the next couple of months.

But let’s just say, the fun “petri dish” riverglass display pictured below is just the wee tip of the iceberg.

Stick with me and stay curious!

💙AmericanMudlark

P.S. like and follow now to stay in the loop!

———————————————

10/01/2025

I really don’t have words for how much I love little moments like this.
When little turtles find little puddle ponds in the safety of our space.
Makes me feel like there must be something good in me…
If such good little moments of sunshine and rain happen every single day.
Moment like this, make me feel like I am enough.
Because a turtle in a puddle is certainly enough for me.

09/29/2025

Wait for it….and you’ll get a great look at an adult Virginia River Otter. This area just gives and gives and gives. So full of life! 🦦🦪💙

The Sorting of Baggage~thoughts from a mudlark~It’s been a long week. The kind of week that feels like its had too many ...
09/12/2025

The Sorting of Baggage
~thoughts from a mudlark~

It’s been a long week.
The kind of week that feels like its had too many days squished Into hours where they dont fit.
My brain, heart, and spirit is heavy.
So on days like this, when I have enough mental strength left over…I sort.

I sort river glass, porcelain stoneware, artifacts.
I unpack and repack. Every time, a little neater.
Emotional baggage can be looked at the same way.

I have found that the heavy things we carry never truly go away.
But we do learn how to carry them different.
For me, it comes down to the sorting.

I unpack and repack, better each time.
Faster each time.
And somehow, life begins to feel a little bit lighter.

On this beautiful Friday, I hope that if you are carrying heavy things, that perhaps a bit of sorting will help to lighten your burden.

💙 AmericanMudlark

08/12/2025

One of my favorite Antiques Roadshow moments. EVER. Incredible example of unique and whimsical American art. Just take a look! 👀

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