A Sanibel Summer

I have been playing with those Paper Fig shells that The Shell Lady sent to me last month. If you missed it, you can see that post here. I made a tropical necklace with one of them to commemorate where she found them. I still thank her in my mind each time I see, hold, or use one of her shells! Thank you Cheri!

This Paper Fig is just as pretty!

I sanded the edge nice and smooth, and hit it with a coat of clear gloss.

The bail is gold plated, and it hangs on a bright brass chain.

I made the little flower with flower part beads, a leaf bead, and a tiny pearl. A nice little feminine touch.

This shell makes a nice size pendant, and just whispers summer to me.

I really enjoyed playing around with this shell, and making this necklace!

Simple, summery, and feminine! Some of my favorite things :)

I have a few more ideas for Paper Fig Shells, and I can't wait to complete and share them.

Thanks again Cheri! These Paper Figs really made my summer!

Heart Cockles for You Giveaway

Hello!

This is it!

Because I "heart" you all so much, my giveaway will have 2 lucky winners!!!

Yep, that's right. I made 2 heart cockle necklaces :D

It's also fitting to have 2 because Diane is a two time follower. In this case, a two timer is a good thing :)
Diane was my 100th follower, and sealed the deal for this giveaway! (clicking Diane's name will take you to her blog, and her shop blog!)

Thanks again, Diane ;)

The criteria for this giveaway is that you

1. Be a blog follower

2. Leave a comment

3. Have a way for me to reply to you if you win!

One of you will WIN

this heart cockle on a copper coated brass chain, very fine link, with a teal freshwater pearl and crystal ab finish drop. This shell is very close to white.

One of you will WIN this heart cockle on a fine brass chain with brass balls about every inch or so. A pretty white freshwater pearl with blue zircon crystal drop dangles just above a brass ball. This shell has some yellowing to it, which seems to make it a perfect fit for the brass.

I will announce the winners on Friday May 18th!

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!!!!

Have a great Mother's Day weekend! 

Golden Yellow Seashell Charm Bracelet

I love love love to make charm bracelets....I must because I've made several of them!
Even though they are  a LOT of work, I love to see them completed. From start to finish, this charm bracelet took me 2 days to complete. They are tedious, they are time consuming. And I love the results! This is my Seashell Charm Bracelet in Golden Yellow.

This beauty matches my Summer Seashell Earrings!

but it doesn't have to be summer to enjoy them! I'm staying beachy year round ;)

I'm also loving these beautiful golden yellow orbs of stunning perfection in these plump, freshwater pearls! These pearls are utterly gorgeous! I could gaze at these pretties all day long :D

This charm bracelet is definitely one of my favorites!

Thanks for hanging out with me today :D

Love,
Del

Olive Shell, Pearl, and Abalone Necklace

You may remember a while back I posted a pic of some champagne colored stick pearls, some abalone beads, and an Olive shell...

After gathering additional supplies, I have been working on it...and it is finished!!!

I added some Swarovski Crystal bicones in Sand, some South Sea Shell Pearls, and a few copper beads. 

It lays so nicely around the neck...MY neck :D
I'm sure it would lay just as beautifully around any shell lovers neck!

 Now I need to take some pics of it on my bust. NOOOO not MY bust....my necklace display bust! HAHA!
Had you wondering, didn't I???  This pretty Olive Shell Necklace doesn't hang down THAT far! It rest perfectly on the.. ahem...upper chest ;)
I've been liking shorter necklaces like this lately. Do you?



Love,
Del

Going Tropical

With our temps climbing into the upper 90's here lately, the glorious sun, and blue skies have had me feeling a bit tropical.

A pretty orange-y hued shell, some perfectly plump peach pearls, and orange bamboo coral came together and my tropical dreams are coming true!

 Can't you just feel the sunshine pouring out of this fun, flirty, tropical seashell bracelet?

This is one of the shells I found on Sanibel. I love the calico scallops, but I've found a few orange scallops, some orange calico scallops even, and I love love love them. But, this very light orange scallop shell has my heart right now. I've had this shell sitting aside since February....just waiting for the right components to come along.

This bracelet brings out the summer lovin' Leo in me :D All of that orange and peach has this Leo purring like a kitty.

I can see myself wearing this on the beach, or on a tropical island.
I'm having second thoughts about listing it, now. This does happen. I fall so in love with one of my pieces that I can't bear to list it.

Don't worry, I'll talk myself into it eventually! Give me a few days to gaze at it, and then maybe I'll want to see it in the shop ;)

Love,
Del

Seashell Saturday

It's Seashell Saturday! Everyday is a seashell day for me. Not a single day goes by without me touching a shell, or two...or twenty! I'm always playing with something.

Today I would like to share my shelling bags with you. A little tutorial, or DIY, on how to make your own.

I collected mesh bags from cherry tomatoes, spiral cut hams, and turkeys. Wash the bags before you begin.

Fold the top over about half an inch.

Then weave the plastic lacing through the mesh.

Continue until it meets where you started.

Using craft wire, (it comes in many colors) attach a shell to the bottom of the bag to give it some weight. This will make it hang nicely, instead of blowing around, until you find some shells to put in your bag.

I drilled this shell to wrap the wire around the shell.

I do have some that didn't need to be drilled. The shape of the shell made it easy to wrap and keep in place, or they already had natural holes in them.

I love my shelling bags! They are a shellers best friend!

My favorite shelling bag is the red one from the cherry tomatoes. It is a fine mesh bag, and perfect for collecting mini's!

This is so easy, and you are keeping something out of the landfill. Great for the planet, and great for us shellers!

Before your next trip to the beach, make some shelling bags to take with you! I keep mine in my beach bag so I always know where they are, and they are sure to make it to the beach with us.

Enjoy your Saturday! Make some shelling bags!


Del

Seashell Jewelry Set Bracelet and Earrings in Vivacious Violet and Sterling Silver

This seashell jewelry bracelet and earring set is the essence of spring in Florida. This beautiful soft pink shell is complimented by luscious vivacious violet freshwater pearls, and accented with sterling silver. Sparkly Swarovski crystals in a nice, big, 10mm bicone of Light Violet, add to the brilliant femininity of this lovely one of a kind bracelet. The earrings are a perfect accent to the bracelet, with matching pearls, crystals, and sterling silver.

This is The Ultra Feminine in beachy seashell jewelry. Aren't those lovely ear wires?!?! I, personally, ADORE this set. The pearls are exquisite!

I thought I would share this with you first. I haven't listed it yet, but I'm hoping to get it listed today.
It will be in the Del's Sea Shell Jewelry section of the shop.

We are having perfect beach weather in Florida! Our temps have been in the mid 80's, and it is beautiful! This is when I like to go shelling, when it's nice and warm. If our temps hold, I'll have to plan a beach trip real soon!

Have a beautiful, sunny day!

Del

Seashell Saturday

I thought it would be neat to show some of my favorite shells, new finds, or other things I've made with shells. I contemplated this idea, and decided to call it Seashell Saturday. I'm sure I have more than enough shells, and shell items, to do this for years!

For my first Seashell Saturday, I picked the whelks we found last weekend :)

 

 He found the larger, manly whelk, and I found the small, dainty whelk. When we find shells that are alike, his always seems to be the larger, manly, rugged shell, and mine are the smaller, feminine, dainty shell. I'm so lucky to have found HIM! Actually, he found me :) We are so alike in so many ways, and I'm so happy that he shares my love of the sea, the beach, and shelling.

Have a great weekend!
Del

Seashell Photo Frames for Beachy Home Decor

I'm feeling somewhat better, and I think I'll make it to the beach this weekend! WooHoo! I can't wait to get there. We are leaving Friday morning, and we'll head home Sunday evening. We want to spend as much time there as we can, it's been a while since we've been.

I love the look of seashell photo frames! I tend to prefer the more simple styles. Like something you would see in a beach cottage.

I picked up some plain wood frames at the craft store. I have various colors of non toxic acrylic paints on hand. For the cockle shell frame I chose a tan shade, dry brushed the grain with white, and roughed the edges a bit with sandpaper. I glued on the cockle shells, and sprayed the whole thing with a matte sealer.

For the other shell frame, I painted it white, and glued the shells on, then sprayed it with a matte sealer also. I can't remember what kind of bivalves those are! I just really loved how they were so stark white, with such dark brown markings, and they look as if they were intricately carved.

The photo's in the frames were taken by me! The top photo I took at Daytona, and the bottom photo of the pelicans and gulls, I snapped it at Flagler.

I better start packing! I like to get an early start on things, and seeing our luggage out will prepare my poor dog that I am going away.

Del

New Seashell Jewelry

Good Saturday morning to you all! I hope everyone is staying warm. It sure has been cold lately, even here in sunny Florida! I for one have been freezing my butt off, and not even wanting to go outside my door. We have kept the heat on for sure! I hear it's supposed to be in the 70's next week. YEAH! I'm looking forward to that!

Welcome to my new followers! Thank you for following! This should be a fun year. I have a few designs in my head, and plenty of shells for inspiration! I did a post in August about up and coming designs. Unfortunately, I was very ill, and was hospitalized shortly after that. Twice! I'm hoping to get to those soon, and one in particular. I have kept it alive in my mind, let's just hope it works!

I finished this seashell jewelry a few days ago. This was a fun set to do! I love playing with my shells. Playing with shells almost always leads to playing with pearls. OHHHHHHHHHH! I just bought some beautiful and I mean GORGEOUS purple freshwater pearls recently. So recently that I just got them in the mail yesterday! Fast shipping from Etsy sellers! I have ordered something on a Friday, and had it show up on Monday! We like to get our orders out fast, too! Anyway, the pearls...they aren't purple purple. They aren't quite lavender, either. An amazing, beautiful color. Really high quality. Nice! These pearls are absolutely drool quality. I'm serious. I've ordered from this Etsy seller  before, they have beautiful beads. I haven't ever been disappointed. I've been more like, Wow! These are awesome!
Now, to find the shells that match them :)

The inspiration for this set was the yellow cockle shells themselves. Most of my pieces start with the shell. I have a bead box that I filled with primo shells. My husband and I found them all, on our many trips to the Gulf. Once in a while we would have a weekend of not so good shelling, but usually we come home with bunches of pretty shells, sponges, all kinds of treasures. It's about time to do that again. Not because I need the shells, because I need the ocean. I need to smell the salty sea. There's just something about it, I've never been able to stay away, it draws me to it. Maybe I'm a mermaid, hahahaa!

This pretty, elegant, very feminine shell jewelry set consists of cockle shells, pearls, mother of pearl shell beads, round golden yellow shell beads, and gold plated findings, and bead caps. The clasp is a squeeze style box clasp, and really finishes the necklace completely.

I really love this one! (I know, I always say that :) Like I said, sooooooooo feminine. I love the summery feel of the yellow shells. Doesn't that just scream sunshine & beaches to ya? I had so much fun making this set :) I will get this listed soon. I have many things to list!

Today I'm going to take off with my hubby, David, and go do lunch somewhere. I also need to shop for a curtain rod/pole. Kandi and Jake gave us an Amazon gift card for Christmas, and I finally picked out these cool bamboo "curtains". Kind of like hippie beads for doorways. I got them for the sliding glass door. It's going to look awesome. They are a beautiful red/brown color. Like cherry wood. I'm wanting a matching wooden rod to put them on. I should also Google bead shops in Gainesville! He doesn't mind going bead shopping with me, he's such a sweetheart!

It's supposed to be sunny today.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Del

Seashore Sunday

Shark Teeth and Kitten Paws

When my grandkids visited in August, we went to Casperson Beach to try our luck at finding sharks teeth.
We did find quite a few, and the kids (and adults) had fun finding teeth and shells.
I wire wrapped sharks teeth to make necklaces for Gwyn and Brady, and just finished putting them on necklaces Tuesday.Brady's is very boyish on leather cording, wire wrapped with black wire. Gwyn's is very girly and feminine, wire wrapped with purple wire and hanging from a purple ribbon with a sterling silver toggle.

Gwyn absolutely fell in love with kitten paw shells! Who can blame her? They come in a variety of sizes, from white to the darkest rust color, thick and thin. I made the kids necklaces out of them, too!
I chose a big, thick shell for Brady's, and Gwyn set this tiny one in resin herself! She also chose several kitten paws for a bracelet, but grandma got sick and didn't get it finished before they had to go home. So, the other day I finished it for her!
I used sterling silver jump rings, and a tiny sterling silver adjustable toggle. Gwyn has metal allergies, so her jewelry has to be hypoallergenic, or sterling. I also sealed the shells with a high gloss sealer, to give them some sparkle and shine. I can't wait for her to get this in the mail! I love how it turned out, so pretty!

Creating things for my grandkids has to be my all time favorite past time! Shelling and making jewelry are next on my list of favorites.

What are your favorite things to do with shells?