Off Center Seashell Necklace

I may be a little late, but I made it! I was waiting for my camera battery to charge. Isn't that the way it goes sometimes? You take one picture, and "battery is exhausted". Oh I hate it when that happens :(

So, I played around with another shell while I was waiting, and did a couple of Etsy listings :)

I have made a few asymmetrical necklaces, but never just an off center necklace, and when this shell spoke to me and said that's what it wanted to be, well, I had to listen.

This is one of mom's shells from Mexico!

The simplistic gal in me came out on this one. No sparkle, no shine (except the beads!) and no bling.

The larger beads are milky white, and the smaller beads are a beautiful Mediterranean blue dyed jade.
The one wood bead acts as an accent to the shell.

To mimic the natural coloration in the shell. The shell is old, worn, and has been tumbled by the surf... making it so smooth.

I carved out the center of the wood bead facing the shell, and added a drop of glue to keep it right there. No twisting and turning. I also left all the little beach pebbles lining the opening of the shell to keep the wire hidden inside.

This was a fun shell to play with, and I learned something. Sometimes it's best to leave nature alone, and just go with it. It sure was the thing to do with this one!

Have you ever worn an off center style necklace?

Be Still, My Heart

I have been playing with those Heart Cockle Shells AGAIN!

This time in 14k gold filled bliss!

A perfect Valentine for someone special!

This is a short necklace, and the heart shell rests at the hollow of the throat. A nice 14 inch choker, including the width of the top of the shell. The shell is 2 inches long by nearly 2 inches wide. Big and pretty!

Is it weird that I wonder what the animals from the shells taste like? Ya know, COOKED.

I've been wondering just how delicate and delicious a heart cockle must taste!

I am a seafood nut after all, and I know that in other countries they EAT all the goodies from the sea....even these!
I sure would like to find out....would you?

New for Me and You!

Hello, and TGIF!

Yesterday I was pretty busy doing listings on Etsy. I think I listed about 11 new items, with the fan pulls being four of them. (I was prompted by Karen to get them done!) Thanks Karen, I needed that push :)

Some of the new listings you have seen, and some you have not.

You have seen these frames....they are now in my shop :)

This cone shell necklace is new and is one of my Belleair Beach finds! Something for him or her ;)

A limpet shell necklace....love the lavender and brown in this.

I love, love, love this little lion's paw with the copper! No bling, just a simple shell necklace.

These yellow snail shell earrings are so bright, they just scream spring and summer to me!

These are all new in my Etsy shop!

I'm totally and completely thinking of spring and summer, after the major drop in our temps. It's in the 30's this morning BRRRRRRR! Way too cold for me!

I sure do hope it warms up nicely tomorrow....I'm participating as a vendor at the Country and Clogging Festival in Waldo, FL! I am super excited about this venue!!! The Waldo Flea & Farmer's Market is a biggy! Hopefully I won't have time to take pictures! LOL!

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

A Rainbow of Color and Shells

Let's pretend that these are really good pictures, ok. I know they are terrible. I have much to learn about my new camera. UGH.

These are some cute little tiny shell filled bottles on colored leather that I made for a 'cheap' item for my show booth. When I get better photos I'll put them in my Etsy.

These are some of the worst product photos I've ever taken...and I used to be a really bad photographer. I can't even pretend these are good lol!

These suck so bad I ordered a refurbished Nikon point & shoot for $50. They were display cameras and some that were ordered new and never picked up, or returned. So, practically brand new. It should be here tomorrow :)

The necklaces are really cute in person. The shells are very very small.

This camera refuses to let me shoot in macro. Boy I need to read that book again, and make my cheat sheet! And read more of my bookmarked pages on photography settings. This camera better rock the parade on Saturday, and the scrimmage on Sunday!

I'll be back when I have some crisp clear pics to share with you....no matter what they are of!

Celebrate! Celebrate!

This is my 300th post!
Let's celebrate with a GIVEAWAY!

Every once in awhile, when I order supplies, I get a freebie. Sometimes it's something I can use, but more often it is not. My most recent freebie was this locket!

You can put 2 photos in this! Perfect if you have 2 kiddos, or 2 grandkids, or maybe even nieces or nephews you adore ;) or maybe even your parents!

I've attached it to a fine link bronze chain, and added an auger that matches it really well. This auger has some neat color to it! I would love to add the birthstones to represent the people in the photos you put in the locket.

It's a decent size, too!

I thought about putting it in my shop....I'm sure this would sell pretty fast. But... the locket was free to me, so I don't feel right in asking money for it. I'm just kinda weird like that :P

So, this is up for grabs!

You must be a blog follower, or BECOME a follower, and leave a comment. The winner can let me know which birthstones they would like added before I ship it to them.

I'll pick the winner next Wednesday, October 17th with the random number generator!

Who would you put in the locket?

A Little Heart Choker

Every once in a while, I like to do something a little out of the norm for me. You know, different. I know I have come up with some pretty bizarre things from time to time, but I think this is pretty cool.

The little white heart shell really stands out against the bronze chain and purple batik jade. The beads dangle on ball tipped head pins. I love ball tipped head pins!

These beads are so pretty! Purple is one of my favorite colors, and I love how these have various shades of purples.

It's a really small heart shell, dainty and adorable.

This is a choker length necklace, and lays beautifully around the neck. Perfect for someone with short hair, or nice with an up do hair do.

This will be in my shop next week, and I hope it sells fast cause I really like it. I would love to wear this! I guess I could make one similar for myself. Not exactly like it of course, I only bought 20 of those beads. I don't have many left :(

My wire wrap bracelet did turn out ok, and I do plan on doing a tutorial...as soon as I find the time!


But for now, this mermaid needs to soak up some salt water! It's time for a swim in the ocean. My gills are drying out, and my scales are flaking off. We can only stay away from the sea for short periods, ya know!
It's time for a little R & R.
Recuperation and Rejuvenation!

And while I'm recuperating, I'll be working on a custom order :D
And of course I'll do some shelling ;)

I'll see you all on Monday!

Have a great weekend!

A Dark Seashell Necklace Just for HIM

I can't believe it's really Friday. This week seemed to go by rather slow for me...or maybe I'm just moving slower and doing less after last weekend???? Or maybe what I've done the last few weeks has finally caught up with me?! Oh well, I sure have had fun!

This new necklace was made for men, but maybe some women would like it as well.

This is a Bat Volute Shell. They come in a wide range of colors and patterns from very light, to very dark like this one.

It was the color of this shell that drew me to it. It's a manly looking shell, plain and simple.

The aperture of this shell has a little hint of orange at the end!

This dark beauty hangs from black leather, between silver tube beads, and is finished with solid cord ends and a lobster clasp.

This just may be my favorite guy necklace so far!

On another note....doesn't that scrapbook paper really look like wood? I could almost swear there was a crevice between the boards, and with the flaking paint raising up? WOW! There's some great detail in that paper!

I have been working on my transportation of jewelry....can't wait to show you what I've done!
Have a great weekend, and I'll see ya back here on Monday!

Abalone Seashell Necklace

A couple of years ago I made a double layer glass pearl necklace, before my Etsy shop was just shells. It received many favorites, but never sold. It's one of the few things I didn't take apart, but I didn't add it to my personal collection either. It has just sat in a plastic zip close jewelry bag in a drawer in my craft room. 

I just happened to come across some beautiful abalone shells with this exact shade of green in them. In my mind I saw this necklace remade.

Until I started playing around with abalone shells, I had no idea they came in such a wide variety of shapes and colors.

I am very happy with this necklace, and I made earrings to match the dangle I added to the shell.

Dainty little earrings!

I'm going to love having this in my shop...for however long it takes it to sell.

I think I like the new look better than the old!

What do you think?

Tropical Seashell Necklace

We're going all tropical today with a tropical color beaded seashell necklace!

My beads are freshwater button pearls, and orange bamboo coral. My shell is one that I bought, and is a
Mitra Mitra, also known as the Episcopal Mitre, from the Mitridae family of shells, of which there are many species. The Mitra Mitra is orange and white, and has a tropical look to it. They are widespread from the Indo-Pacific region, to east Africa including Madagascar, the Red Sea, eastern Polynesia, southern Japan, Wake Island, Hawaii, and Austrailia.

I knew I had to make something with these shells! I bought a few in various sizes.

I love the color, and the pattern of this shell. These shells are thick, and heavy for their size, giving this necklace a nice weight to it.

Nice sized shell, huh? Can you see how big and plump those button pearls are??? They are just gorgeous!

I finished it off with Japanese Miyuki seed beads. They are the most uniform of the seed beads, and renowned for their craftsmanship. A loop and hook clasp completes this tropical seashell necklace.

This necklace would compliment many outfits, from casual jeans and a tshirt, to a pretty sun dress, a cute shorts outfit, or even something a bit more dressy.

It's always summer somewhere, but I would even wear this in the dead of winter. Talk about chasing those winter blahs away....this bright orange would surly do it!

I have a couple of more beaded necklaces, and some shells on chains to show you. And some new earrings, and bracelets.

See you soon!

Seashell Statement Necklaces

Some time ago, someone asked me to make an aqua statement necklace. After searching for the components for this necklace, I actually ended up making two necklaces. One in aqua, and one in a gorgeous blue hue that I cannot even name a color for it. Maybe "ocean blue"???? Since the ocean does have so many variances in color depending on which part of the world you are in, which ocean it is, or even the time of day and cloud cover can change the color. So many colors of blue could be called ocean blue.

Let's look at the aqua necklace first!

This abalone shell has been polished to reveal all of the pretty colors in it, and they are AQUA!

I actually Googled "statement necklace" for the definition: jewelry that makes a statement or stands out;
a necklace that grabs your attention; a piece that makes a statement to the wearer, and reflects their personality.

It doesn't have to be big and bold to make a statement, but this one sure is! I am fascinated by the pearls in this necklace, which is why I chose them. They have such a uniqueness about them with all of their weird shapes, and they are so loaded with nacre that they glisten and shine. Simple amazonite  gemstone rondelles, and aqua button pearls carry the color of the shell into the rest of the necklace. Oh yeah, and I used sterling silver on this baby!

I love it! I do, I do, I do!!!!

Now to talk myself into selling it. Hmmmmm.

The next one... I call it "A Net of Treasure".

 

 The 'net' is wire mesh....and also makes up the cording for the necklace. Don't worry, it's soft to the touch! Not at all wire-y.

A pretty pearled abalone shell is the centerpiece of this unique statement necklace. Aren't those little 'treasures' in the 'net' just darling???!!!!

There's even a wentletrap in there!

Big hole pearls, chunky angelite gemstone beads, and some light blue seaglass make up the rest of my statement necklace.

I think BOTH of these necklaces perfectly reflect my seashell  & ocean lovin' personality! I'd love to keep them both!

Do you think I've made a statement?