Something New!

This little project has been a long time in coming. After several tries, and several errors....or complete fails actually, I finally found the right components to make it work.

I've wanted to do a men's line for a long, long time!

Now I have some men's seashell and leather bracelets!

This triple strand is my favorite. The olive shells I used are like the olive for the bolo tie, just smaller.
Naturally tossed and tumbled by the sea to knock the tip off, leaving it hollow inside and perfect for stringing onto a piece of leather.

I made a couple of single strand bracelets, too. One in black....

and one in brown.

I am really lovin' these, and can't wait to get them in my Etsy shop!

I know I have another big, hollow Olive Shell around here somewhere, and I aim to find it.

Of course, I'll always be on the lookout for them while I am roaming the beaches looking for shells.

I do have a couple that are ancient looking, and totally bleached out color wise. I want to use them next!

So, this is one of the things I've been keeping a secret....

stay tuned for more secret unveilings!

Edited to add my links! I keep forgetting to do that!

New projects

I finally got around to crossing some things off my ideas board! It feels so good to have completed a few of my projects.

One of them, a vintage Mother of Pearl Leaf Brooch has been on my board for close to a year. I bought it when my friend DeEtte was here last April. I had an idea of what I wanted to do with it, but it was difficult to decide what kind of shell to use. I came across a lightly colored, and still naturally shiny olive shell that was the perfect size. I happened to have some charms laying out at the same time recently, and it just came together.

This would look so awesome on a scarf, lapel, jacket pocket, vest, a blouse... and I can see it on a denim jacket too. So Cool! Yep, you know I love it! If I didn't, you wouldn't be seeing it, right?! It IS a keeper, but it's here in my Etsy shop.

The theme is Olive Shells apparently :D

I've been wanting to do this forever!

This is my Seashell Bolo Tie!

What a cool old Olive Shell!
Broken, tossed, and tumbled smooth through the waves and across the ocean floor for who knows how many years. My grandpa wore bolo ties when he dressed up :D

I think they give an air of sophistication. Anyone can wear a regular neck tie, but a man who wears a bolo has a real sense of self. My papaw knew he was a handsome devil, and he dressed to the nines! I think he would have loved my Bolo Tie, and would have looked so good in it....or ...it would have looked so good on him.

I do have another big Olive like this for another one, but I want less decorative ends for the next one. I also have some smaller olives with the top broken out, and smoothed by the surf and sand. One is already being used in something, but it isn't finished. I'm waiting for supplies. Again. Sigh.

I do have a bunch of new supplies to work with still, while I'm waiting for this one in particular. A pile of shells is waiting to be drilled, my work area is pretty tidy, so it's time to mess it up again!

I crossed something else off of my board, and it's something any mermaid would delight in.....

but that is another post!

Loads of Buttercups

I finally got around to sorting those shells, and what a massive pile it was.

I figured I had at least 100 Buttercups. I was waaaaaaaaaaay off!

How about over 100 off....

Like, um.....287 Buttercups. I counted twice! That doesn't include the really bad broken ones that I tossed in a flower pot, either.

I also have a bunch of  different types of Tellins, including Atlantic Tellins. They are a really cool shell. Really thin, and it looks bent. I didn't get any pics of them....so you will see them in something I've made one of these days. One of the Atlantic Tellins is a bit thicker than normal, or normal from what I've seen, and will make a nice necklace.

You may remember seeing the exoskeleton of a horseshoe crab a couple of posts ago. Hubby found the lil guy on Caladesi, and the birds had picked him clean. A bunch of sand and junk had washed up into his cavity, and started coming out while I was washing him.

 .....along with this little cutie!

 Isn't it darling?!

I'm just glad to have the first 3 cleanings finished!

My awesome piece of coral!

These Olive shells are HUGE!

Love these little Whelks and this small Banded Tulip!

I've been watching too much American Pickers....I started calling my mini shells my "smalls". Hahaa!

 The really tiny shells totally fascinate me!

Coastal towns use shells and shell crush in place of mulch. I caught this olive out of the corner of my eye walking through the parking lot after dinner one night.

It's a little beat up, but still has some shine to it.

I have been working on some of those projects I have been wanting to finish. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment to be checking them off my list.

I had a custom order recently to create a necklace. It was fun, and I love doing custom orders!

I also had my first International order!!!! I've sent to Canada before, but that's still in North America. I've sent to Hawaii a few times also, but that is part of the United States regardless of the fact that it's across the Pacific. This time I sent something to SPAIN!!!! Del's Shells goes global! WooHoo!

Now, back to those projects!

Seashell Saturday

Hello! Welcome to Seashell Saturday!

I hope you all had a wonderful week, are enjoying the summer, and have been able to keep cool!

Today I'd like to share an easy peasy way to make earrings.

What you will need:
shells (coquinas are awesome for this, or any shells that match, came attached, same size/color)

2 part epoxy, cardboard, toothpicks

earring studs/posts (I use surgical steel and hypoallergenic)

 Have your shells ready, and slide the earring back onto the stud.

Mix a small amount of 2 part epoxy, squeeze out about a pencil eraser sized amount from each. It dries fast, so less is best. Waste not, want not. I use a piece of thick paper or cardboard to mix it on, and a toothpick to stir and mix it with. When epoxy dries IT DOES NOT COME OFF! Eye protection, etc, etc... is recommended. Mix according to directions. Mine is ready to use after 1 minute of mixing.

Dip the flat side, or base of the stud into the epoxy, and attach it to where you want on the shell. Hold for a moment until set, and then set aside to dry and cure.

That's it! You can also do this with ring bases! If your local craft store doesn't carry the studs/ring bases, you can order them from one of the many supply sellers on Etsy.com :)

 I also made a pair from small Sunray Venus shells. They are sooooo pretty!

and small Olive shells

Last but not least...RINGS!

Other items you can use for earrings and rings:
pebbles
flat back crystals
undrilled pearls
anything goes! if you want to wear it, make it!

What are you making today?

Have a wonderful weekend!

See you tomorrow for Seashore Sunday!

Love,
Del