Clif Bar Crunch

A couple of weeks or so ago, Kim from Snug Harbor Bay had a giveaway for Clif Bars. I love granola so I entered. I am so glad I did because I was one of the winners! A big THANK YOU to Kim for hosting the giveaway, and to Clif Bar for sponsoring it!

I received the Peanut Butter Clif Bar Crunch, and they are as good as Kim said they were! I have not ever had a better peanut butter crunchy granola bar....EVER! They use real peanut butter, and you can see it as well as taste it. MMMMMMMM! I've always been a peanut butter fan anyway.

I also found some Clif Bars in the convenience store on our way to the beach last weekend (before I received my stash from Clif Bar) and thought I would try Kim's favorite, White Chocolate Macadamia.
OhMyGosh! They are better than I even imagined! This one is a chewy granola bar, and it is wonderful! I can't possibly put enough exclamation points in this post to let you know how excited I am that Kim turned me on to them! Seriously though, I will be taking Clif Bars along in my pack or beach bag whenever I go shelling. This is a perfect snack and will give me enough fuel to keep on shellin'!

Clif also makes other food products, and they use organic ingredients. This is an amazing company, giving to the community, as well as the planet. Go check out their website, and see what I'm talking about!

I will be recommending Clif Bars to everyone!

Thanks Kim, and Thanks Clif Bar! I have a new favorite granola bar!

A Little Beach Trip

I am so glad to be done with January. Seriously. January has winter written all over it. Even though we had an amazing January temperature wise, it's still all brown around here. All it takes is a freeze or two, and the flowers and grass are done for.

A quick cure for the January doldrums is a trip to the beach!

Looking off the balcony of our room at Clearwater Beach, we had quite a new experience this time. Usually we head down to Belleair Beach. It's very quiet and peaceful down there. Clearwater is different, at least it was where we stayed. We had wonderful tropical music coming from a live band down by the tiki bar.

 About 8pm they switched over to an 80's cover band, and it just got better! They did play until 2am, and people lingered and talked until 4am. A few young stragglers were on the beach till the sun came up. I didn't get any sleep, and that's why you haven't heard from me! I've been resting!

On Sunday we drove over to Honeymoon Island, through Dunedin, and took the ferry (a big pontoon) over to Caladesi Island. You can only get to Caladesi by boat, and it's something I had been wanting to do for years.

I really just needed to get my toes in some beach sand.

I found some shells, but my best two were found around the rocks over at Clearwater while we were picking up cans and bottles that had been left, or washed into them. People were looking at us like we were nuts or something. One lady even put her book down to watch. Silly people.

My bags of shells are sitting in the screenroom waiting for me to recuperate enough to clean them. I've pretty much done nothing but sleep since we got home.....oh, and I slept all the way home, too.

We will definitely have to go over to Caladesi again. Next time we are taking backpacks, and walking to the far end of the island.

Valentine's Seashell Jewelry

When I was sorting some shells into matching pairs, I came across 4 that were so close in color! Two that were the same size (for earrings) and 2 in perfect sizes for a necklace, and a bracelet. That, my dear friends, is what I have been working on. Some Valentine Seashell Jewelry!

And it just so happens that these Calico Scallop shells are reddish pink and white! They are the closest I've ever seen calico's to being red. Usually they are pink, purple, burgundy, or even orangey, or yellow.

When I saw they did match so well, and looked great with red beads, I knew I had my Valentine's Day shells for this year.

Valentine Seashell Necklace

I love these cultured freshwater heart shaped pearls! It makes a darling little charm for this sweetheart of a seashell necklace. The sterling silver looks fab with the red. LOVE!

Valentine Seashell Earrings

These sweet little shells are darling little dangles to match the necklace. You know I've hidden something behind those shells! That's why they aren't laying flat ;)

Valentine Seashell Bracelet

I have several of the heart shaped pearls in this bracelet, and it was actually the first piece I made. The clasp is magnetic, and has little hearts engraved/stamped into it.

Now...what to do with all of those leftover silver heart beads???
I better start brainstorming!

White Coral and Black Lava Stone Jewelry Set

I have several pieces of coral...some I found on the beach, and some were given to me, and a few have been bought.

The other day, I was looking at some of these pieces, and that little light went off. You know, the one above my head, shaped like a light bulb?!

Some of my new supplies were these awesome black lava stone beads, and white South Sea shell pearls. I love the texture of the black lava stone beads! I'm also enthralled with the South Sea shell pearls! These are exquisite! Very large, smooth, perfectly round, and oh so white!

 This is a short necklace, it falls into the choker category, but has some hang to it. It is quite dressy, and I thought it would make an amazing set. So I made a matching bracelet and earrings.

I totally and completely adore this Coral, Lava Stone, and South Sea Shell Pearl Jewelry Set!

For Etsy relevancy it is called Coral Choker Necklace Jewelry Set for now. As long as it stays on the first page or two I'll stick with that "name"....but in my mind it is called Kilauea Meets the Sea, or Kilauea's Destiny. I used to name all of my pieces, and I think it makes them just a little more special!

I was thinking of working on my Etsy description in the listing. If I'm not in the right mood, or frame of mind, my descriptions are down right b o r i n g. ZZZZZZZZ. I think I could jazz it up a tad, but I don't want it to lose it's place in the search!

I have a few new listings, and I'll showcase some here, and some on my other blog! I also have a few new pretties in the works. I've been feeling creative, and just letting the juices flow. My crafty space is an utter disaster! I've been working with various metals, and have findings of every kind laying about, and 4 bead boards.

Yesterday I had a case of the dropsies, and didn't get anything done (except a listing and errands). I have also broken 5 shells this past week while drilling :(   Big time sad face, but I'm hoping for a great day with steady hands!

I still have several supplies I haven't even touched, so I'm off to play!

If you could pick a shell to have something made with it, what kind of shell, and what would it be???

:D
Del