The Elegant Murex

I made something cool and fun yesterday, but it requires a pedicure for me to do a post on it. Since that is not happening at the moment (maybe later today) I thought I would dig out a couple of necklaces that I made  a little while ago, and still haven't put them in my shop ....cuz I didn't have pics yet.

An elegant and so pretty Murex shell dangles from a copper bail, on a solid copper chain, with a peach pearl drop.

This chain is very fine looking, delicate, and dainty, but every little link is soldered closed.

The Murex has a dainty and delicate look about it, too... but make no mistake, this is a sturdy shell. I sure wouldn't want to step on one.

A simple lobster clasp completes this necklace.

Not everyone likes copper the way I do, and most people actually like silver the most.

This lovely Murex is on a silver plated chain, and has a pretty pinkish purplish freshwater pearl drop.

The Murex is like the Beauty Queen of the sea :)

Her details are stunning, and so very elegant!

Also finished with a simple lobster clasp, this necklace is ready to wear!

As soon as I get them listed in my shop, hehehehee!

I know I am still being a slow poke about listings right now, but I do have my reasons :P

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?

Capiz Shell and Pearl Jingle Belt

This is something I have had on my brain since before last Christmas. I originally wanted to do it with jingle shells, but they just aren't quite as tough and strong as capiz shells. I don't think I will ever look at one of my FULL charm bracelets as time consuming again. They are easy compared to making this belt!

Even though it is completely loaded with capiz shells, freshwater pearls, and some jingle bells.... Every other capiz shell has a pearl drop, and about every 3-4 inches there is a bell. I still feel as if something is missing. It's pretty, it's fun, it makes some nice sounds...but I think it could be better. So, technically it may not be finished. I'm thinking about adding some pretty seashells to it, but really don't want to over do it.

This 'jingle belt' measures 36 inches, and can be worn around the waist, or just riding the hips. A slim gal could have some shells and pearls hanging at the end. It has a big lobster clasp, which can be worn in the front, or at the side....and I would demonstrate for you, but I am no longer a slim gal.

I am so glad it's finished....or NEARLY finished! I think I'm going to let it sit for a couple of days and then decide.

What do you think? Finished? or NOT finished?

Seashells on Chains

Hey there!

I do have more earrings to show you, but thought I'd do some necklaces today.

I also want to apologize for sleeping in this morning, and delivering a late post. I did get some much needed sleep, and woke up to having to edit/crop/scale to size a bunch of pics. It takes forever when there are so many. I did take more pics of the Dentalium Earrings...I'll show ya a couple of them at the end of the post!

I made this necklace about 2 weeks ago I think. I know it has been quite a while, maybe even 3 weeks ago. I am such a bad blogger! Too much to do and not enough hours in the day...and not enough hands either :P

This is such a cute necklace! Most of my pics of this came out really bad, so I need to take more :(
I like this one a LOT! I found these shells in a Daytona shop, and then found more of them at my new favorite seashell shop. I've heard that Rose Tellins can be found in Sanibel. Maybe one of these days I'll get down there again and find some on the beach!

This white shell came from a white shell mix I bought for wedding items. Someone had inquired about an all white shell hair barrette. Some of the shells are just too perfect not to use in jewelry, and some were so large that I sent them to my daughter in Utah. She is adding some seashells into her decor. I also sent her some of my Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island shells :D

Anyway.....

Several of these pics turned out really well!

I still have a few of those heart shaped pearls, and just had to use one with this on the heart chain.

The crystals are Light Emerald, and I think they really pop next to the white. Pretty!

This next seashell necklace on a chain is reversible!

It's an abalone shell that hasn't been polished down to the mother of pearl. I really like the natural look of it.

Flip it over to reveal the mother of pearl, and a cool little nautilus shaped shell with a pearl drop. This necklace is looooong! The chain measures about 32 inches, and the shell with the bail measures 3 1/2 inches. I know some ladies like longer necklaces, and this one is made for them!

Coming up next, I have a new charm bracelet, and those other earrings, too. Oh, and a new hair barrette I made with a cats eye shell (operculum of a sea snail) and some cute little nearly black auger type shells.

I also have beaded necklaces that I haven't taken pics of yet, so I'm hoping to get to that soon.

Meanwhile, I am trying to get velcro stitched onto the sheets for my tables. I would really like to get that out of the way, so I can do a full mock up of my arrangement for the show.

So now some retakes of those Dentalium Shell Earrings!

I have never had such a hard time choosing the pics I was going to use for a listing. So many of these came out well...that last one is a little blurred close in, but I do love the angle of it.

I think my faves are on the "wood". It's scrapbook paper! When I get enough pics of it to use in my shop, this "wood" will be a new beachy addition.

Today I plan to drill some of my Belleair Beach shells! And sew some velcro!

See you tomorrow!!!!

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!

Blue Limpet Seashell Earrings in Sterling Silver

A couple of months ago, I bought 100 blue limpet shells with the intention of encrusting a frame with them.
I've been itching to make a pair of seashell earrings with them ever since! They are such pretty shells!

 

 These little lovelies are perfect for an excursion to the beach. 

White baby pearls dangle inside the shells.

All sterling silver components sparkle like the sun glinting off the waves in the sea.

These are the very first pieces of seashell jewelry that I have made using bought shells. Of course, half the fun of making seashell earrings is finding the shells, and I prefer to do some beachcombing, but I haven't ever found blue limpet shells. This type of limpet shell isn't native to the Florida coastline. I have found a keyhole limpet, and I made a bracelet out of it. 

 You can find both of these in my Etsy shop!

I'm heading back to my sea of craft supplies! I'll be back soon with a new beachy creation for you!

Love,

Del