Coastal to Tropical The Finale

Hello! I can't believe I'm doing this post! I have to pinch myself :O

Back in September I decided to change my surroundings a little. You may remember Part 1 and Part 2.

A month or so ago hubby and I were out running some errands, and he asked if I wanted to go look at some furniture. Well, OF COURSE I WOULD! I found my dream furniture. And I really thought I would HAVE to be dreaming to see THAT in my home. A couple of weeks ago, we were out running errands on that side of town again, and he asked if I wanted to take another look at THAT furniture. "Sure honey, I'll just drool and dream a little bit more".

I think I have the best hubby in the world!

My pics don't do it justice. Really. It's beautiful aqua leather!

Please excuse hubby's Reese's wrapper under the couch....I just noticed it....and he has an addiction.

I have never had more comfortable furniture in my life! And I love how it POPS with my walls!

I hung the grandkids pics here in the frames I made by my antique dolly.

We also have a new door....it was a freebie!

These pics are washed out from the flash I guess. I never said I was a great photographer LOL!

My coconuts and starfish at each side of the window....

and my shadow boxes are above the window.

My seashell lamps (and one of my custom made coasters from Karen!)

I made this platter....the class was a Mother's Day gift from Shae in 2005 from a place called Do Art!

I may will probably move my plates to over the aquarium, and my ocean painting back to the dining room.

A better picture of my FREE door. Thanks Josh!

 My best buddy!

He prefers to be at least this close to me at all times! I couldn't leave his cute face out!

And this..... this is hubby's weekly stash of goodies, and doesn't include what he buys while away from the house each day while working!!!! I told you he had an addiction. Now you see why there was a wrapper under my couch I didn't notice!!!!!

Okay, back to the subject.

Nearly everything in my home is handmade, a gift, or a handmade gift. I actually have very few decor items that I purchased myself. I really am a simple gal, but I sure do like some pretty things.

And I do love my new FURniture! Thanks honey!

Oh Sanibel!

My sweet shellin' sista Shell Lady sent me a whole bunch of shells! I couldn't resist playing with them, and here are the results....

Those dark magenta and orange scallops, the big ones were just too neat to not play with.

These were perfect for hair barrettes! I have a secret method to deduce what a shell will be used for.

This perfect little paper fig wanted to be a necklace.

I gave this shell a nice gloss coat, and oh so carefully drilled a tiny hole.

This necklace reminds me of the beautiful Gulf Coast.

The pristine blue of the water

Do you see that BIG thing swimming? WHAT is it?

that gorgeous coral-y color the sky turns at sunset

 and there is even a lavender hue on the shell.... and sometimes the sky turns this color, too.

The lavender hue is from the color inside the shell, and no, it's not purple inside.

It's a caramel color in there, but through the other side of the shell looks to be lavender.

See what I mean. All the colors of the Gulf.

I wish you all could see this in person!

I haven't decided what to do with it yet.....

it does match most of MY summer wardrobe :)

I still have a thing for teal, aqua, coral, and pink grapefruit going on, and most likely will for the rest of my life. I love these colors!

I'll show you just how much I love these colors tomorrow!

Thanks Cheri! I really enjoy playing with the shells!

Swirly Shell Jewelry

Yesterday I mentioned that I had another bracelet that I made using those gold curved twist tube beads. (Say that fast 10 times!) I didn't use seaglass, and I didn't use local shells.

I used umbonium shells!

Such cute little shells....

How could I resist?

And with earring to match.

And tiny freshwater pearls.

It's lightweight, too. You'll barely know it's there. Delicate and dainty. The earrings are a nice length to sway back and forth.

While I was playing around, I made some more simple earrings.

I know, they look just like the cuff links I made! But trust me, they are surgical steel earrings.

Sundial shells are really cool, and shaped the same way as the umbonium shells.

I haven't found out what these shells are yet, but they are cool, too.

These are hard to take pics of. I deleted all of them but this one. I need to take some more.

They are easier to photograph on a barrette!

Another swirl type shell. It's really cool! This is a large size hair barrette....

and I made a couple of medium size barrettes with a couple of the shells Cheri aka ShellLady sent me. And a necklace, too! After I send some pics to her, I will share them with you. She really should be the first to see those, don't ya think?!

My fingers are crossed that I will be back tomorrow to show you what else I've been up to, and maybe it will be some Sanibel shell jewelry!

Or maybe what else I've done with pearl abalone shells????

See you soon!

Seashells and Seaglass Jewelry

As you know, I love all things pertaining to the sea. Some more than others...
shells, seaglass, and dolphins so very much, sharks and things that bite not so much. Haha!

Putting things that come from the sea together, I do love. Like shells and pearls! Or Shells and Seaglass!

This is a new favorite. A spiny oyster aka jewel box shell, with aqua seaglass, crystals, and sterling silver.

This is so dainty! Such a pretty bracelet.

And since I was on a seashell and seaglass kick last week, I made this one as well.

A little white seashell, cobalt blue seaglass, with gold plated twist tube beads.

This one has matching earrings, too.

You know I had to make a necklace....

I used some of my silk cord to match the aqua seaglass and weaved it through the chain.

Lucina shells are one of my favorites!

I am on an aqua kick, too! I'll tell you more about it this week!

I also made another bracelet and earring set with those gold twist tube beads, but that will have to be another post :D

Red White and Blue

This one...
this is THE one I have been planning for a couple of months.

I planned on using one of those duck clam shells, which are a type of tellin I believe. I also planned on using sterling silver.

But, like all really good plans, things can change. Sometimes for the better!

This pearl abalone shell really made this necklace!

Such a pretty, pretty shell!

Now that you've seen all angles of the shell, how about the rest of the necklace?

Red coral sticks and beads, blue pearls, and white stick pearls made this red white and blue so very patriotic.

I would wear this the entire month of July, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Flag Day, too!

Can you dig on some Red, White, and Blue?