Jingle Shell Rock

Okay.....you HAD to know! You had to!

How could I NOT put jingle bells in jingle shells???

Jingle Shell, Jingle Shell, Jingle Shell Rock.....jingle around the block!

I bought several sizes of jingle bells in silver, and gold....

Aren't those pretty button pearls?!

The silver bell jingles have dark, dark cherry button pearls...and they are tiny!
The gold bell jingles have dark magenta button pearls, and they are a little bigger.
Perfect colors for Christmas, too!

All of you shellers out there know I took my nail file to these shells. They needed a little help being closer to the same shape! They didn't need much help...just a smidge here and there!

I'm still playing....or rather, I'm BACK to playing! or will be as soon as my tree is finished... I will be back in my crafty space! I have more jingle ideas floating around!

Yesterday was a total wash....well not totally...I did have a sale! WooHoo!
I didn't work on my tree yesterday, I went grocery shopping. UGH! NOT my favorite thing to do!
When I got home, I checked Etsy, and had to wrap up a package and head to the post office :D

 It is a hot cocoa kind of day today. I may even have to turn on the heat! I am freezing! I'm going to go make another cup of cocoa, and try to warm up! I know it's not THAT cold, but it's cold to ME! I'm an orange juice drinking Florida wussie!

Is it cold or snowy where you are?

Stay warm!

Del 

Goodbye Fall

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and enjoyed the long weekend! It took the entire weekend for me to recuperate...how about you? And I didn't even go shopping for all those crazy Black Friday sales, either!

I wish I had taken the time to snap a few pics, but I failed to do so :(
Over the next month, my camera will be firmly attached to my hands!

The only pics I took were before the feast of gluttony....I mean Thanks....

I continued my fall leaf and seashell theme....and wrapped the silverware in cream color napkins with a leaf and shell tied around them...with everyone's name written in Gold Paint Sharpie....and put them in this basket. I really like simple decor!

So now I am on to the next holiday! My tree is up, and almost finished....just a few sea urchins (okay, A LOT) of sea urchins to go...and a few more shells....and I still have not found my missing shells!

I'm seriously thinking about leaving my Christmas village in the box this year, and decorating around my regular oceany theme. SERIOUSLY! The older I get, the less I want to drag out....

So today I am working on Christmas decorations, and taking pics of my jingle shells!
I also have several new items for my Etsy shop, but that will have to wait for another day this week!

Are you getting Christmas decorations out and up yet?

Have a Wonderful Day!

Del

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving preparations are in full swing,
I'm running around doing all kinds of things!

Dishes and decorations are falling into place,
Pretty things and smells are filling the space!

Organizing and planning down to the last detail,
There isn't even time to sit for a spell!

Turkey and stuffing, cakes and pies,
A feast for the mouth, as well as the eyes!

A time to give thanks for all we hold dear,
I have a lot to be thankful for all year!

Sharing our bounty with family and friends,
I hope you enjoy this four day weekend!

Hello! I am hoping to squeeze in one more post before Thanksgiving...
I'd like to show you around my place, cause everything really is falling into place!
But in case I can't, I'll leave you with this.....
just know I'm thinking of you, and I surely wish.....
that you all have a Happy Thanksgiving,
and enjoy your favorite dish!

I'll be back, you can bet,
you haven't seen anything yet!
I'll have more crafty seashell style,
and I'll be back in a little while!

I didn't forget about the jingle shells,
I'm gazing upon them right now!
I really can't wait to share them with you,
I'll get a chance in a day or two!

If I don't see you before then....
Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend!

Del

Stuff Laci Made For Her Momma

Happy Friday Everyone! I'm so glad you stopped by today!

My post today has NOTHING to do with shells...SURPRISE!

At the beginning of the week I said I'd show you something Laci made for me, and today I finally remembered to do that.
Laci is very crafty, and is always making something for someone....and I am usually one of the someone's! She has made me so many thoughtful, and useful things....like a little pillow for my elbows to rest on...they get cranky sometimes.

 She has crocheted covers for my Swiffer, and made a scarf in tropical colors for me, too.

 She always has a crochet hook in her hand and a skein of yarn by her side...and several in her craft bag when she comes to visit. Yesterday she made a hat for herself, Shae, and me! They are darling...with a flower on the side! It's the only hat I've ever looked good in!

One of the very cool and useful things she made me are tropical clips with magnets on them. I can clip coupons, or a menu, and anything else (paper) to the fridge.

 And they also make great chip clips!

You cannot leave a chip bag open for any amount of time in the south. The chips (and crackers) absorb the moisture right out of the air. YUK! They go stale fast if not closed up securely. These cute clips, made with clothes pins, are a fun way to prevent that!
Aren't they adorable?!
To see more of Laci's oh so cool crocheted things you can visit her blog!

I have something really cute, and cool that I made with Jingle shells to show you all next week, as well as other jewelry I've been working on!

Have a beachy weekend!
Del

My First Guest Post

Kim from Snug Harbor Bay asked me to do a guest post on her blog!
Today is the day!
Please check out my post on Kim's blog, and then stick around and check her out!
Kim is an awesome blogger, and shares her experiences in geocaching, hiking, shelling, hunting, fishing, and all kinds of fun outdoor things. Once she even went zip lining! I really enjoy Kim's blog, and I think you will, too!

So come on over to Snug Harbor Bay!

See you there!

Del

A Fall Seashell Garland

I have been wanting to make a banner, or a garland, for a looooong time. I see them everywhere, and they are usually made of fabric, or paper. My daughter Laci crocheted some banners! Well, I finally got around to making my own, and it was inspired by the lovely fall weather.


It was really easy, and I'm sure you are wondering what this has to do with seashells. Let me show you!

I started with this ball of hemp, and measured a length of it to my front window. I added 4 more lengths of hemp to the first measured strand. Take the 5 strands, and get them even. Tie a knot in the center, and then tie a knot every 6-8 inches, or where ever you'd like your pretties to be.

I bought 2 packages of plain fall leaves from Walmart for $1 each, one with glitter, and one without. I hot glued the top center of two leaves together, with the leaves slightly off center from each other, added a little hemp bow, and glued a periwinkle shell on top of the bow. I repeated this many times...with the glittered leaves, and attached them to the knots with hot glue.

It is exactly what I was dreaming of, and I love it! I did measure it for the front window, but haven't finished my window treatments YET.

Now for the leaves without glitter.... take one leaf, glue a hemp bow on, and a seashell. Hot glue this to a few pieces of hemp long enough to tie around a cloth napkin....see where I'm going with this?!

So simple, so pretty....and so ME! I think it's perfect for a Florida Thanksgiving!

I'm working on one for Christmas next!

Are you doing handmade crafts for the holidays?

Have fun, and have a beachy day!

Del

Beaded Pillows

TGIM! Yes, Thank God it's MONDAY, because I have been wanting to do this post for days!

I'd like you to meet Karen, from The Beaded Pillow...Etsy shop, and blog! I've been following Karen's blog ever since I found her on one of my Etsy Teams (probably the Etsy blog team)

Karen does fabulous work doing beaded pillows! A couple of weeks ago she had a contest to name her newest pillow, and a name came to me....and she chose the name I came up with for her pillow!!!

This is Paradise Wild!

This gorgeous, and colorful hand beaded pillow is in Karen's Etsy shop, The Beaded Pillow! and I chose the name!

There is so much detail in her pillows, and so very many hours go into each one! Her handiwork is amazing, and I'm just in awe over her ability!

For naming this beauty, I received a set of beaded snowman coasters from her, and they are darling!

I almost don't want to use them...but maybe to set a cup of coffee or cocoa on...for a few minutes...and only for the holiday season, and then these lovelies will be wrapped in tissue paper and lovingly stored with the rest of the Christmas decorations.

Karen sold my favorite pillow a while ago, but I have to show it to you anyway.

I love this Orange Octopus pillow! I love the colors, and the print....and her work! You can check out Karen's beaded creations in her Etsy shop...The Beaded Pillow!

Thank you for the coasters Karen! I will cherish them forever, and I will always remember Paradise Wild!

My daughter Laci made something for me, and I will be sharing them this week, too!

See you soon!

Have a beachy day! (it's going to be 82 degrees here today!)
Del

Fancy Seashell Hair Pins

I have been playing again, and just in time for summer beach weddings on the other side of the world!

These pretty seashell, pearl, and crystal hair pins would look oh so pretty in summer up do's! When hubby and I get around to renewing our vows on the beach, I'll make a set for myself.

The shell has been wire wrapped in sterling silver over copper wire, and dangles in the center of the fancy hair pin. Lovely little freshwater pearls are accented with tiny 3mm Swarovski Crystal Elements with shimmery aurora borealis finish. Pretty loops at the top of the hair pins make these extra feminine and oh so enchanting!

Can't you just imagine these sticking in the top of one of those fancy and feminine braids I rave about?!

 

They dangle beautifully placed upside down as well! Who wants to wait for a summer beach wedding? I want a pair of these now! I'd love to wear them for the Christmas season! The Florida version of icicles! Hahaa! I LOVE THEM!

Do you have special hair accessories that you wear for the holidays? I do now! Or will as as soon as I get back to my little studio to create a pair of these for myself!

Have a beachy day!
Del

Matching Seashells for Earrings

Good morning!

I'm playing around with some shells this morning, and it occurred to me that everyone doesn't know how difficult it is to match shells for earrings. They need to be as close to the same size and shape as possible. They also need to be very similar in color...of course.

Take this pile of limpet shells for example....

They all look pretty similar don't they?

Now spread them out, and try to find two that are so nearly identical that they appear to be the same shell (except limpets are not bivalves). If they are even 1/16 of an inch different in size...they won't make a pair of earrings. One is deeper than the other...not good candidates. Some are more blue, and some are more green, and some barely have any color at all. Some have chipped edges, so are automatically out. It's just not as easy as it looks!

I'm trying to make a pair of limpet earrings in 14k gold just like the sterling silver pair I made. Wish me luck!

Have a beachy day!
Del

New Seashell Bookmarks

A little something for all of the bookworms out there, I've made more seashell bookmarks!

Remember this?

I wasn't too very thrilled with it...it was okay, but it just needed a little something else.

I really like the additional shells!

So, I got busy, and made a few more seashell bookmarks!

All of them have freshwater pearls, and some Swarovski Crystal Elements bling! Pretty and feminine seashell bookmarks....for the beachy bookworm :D

So grab a good book, and head to the beach, or just grab a good book about the beach, and save your page with a feminine seashell bookmark!

Which one would you pick?

XO
Del