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?

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!

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!

Olive Shell Necklace 'Iced Mocha'

I didn't get a chance to blog about this one, and I do love it sooooooo much!




This Olive Shell is naturally shiny! They come out of the ocean just like this. I have found several nice Olive Shells! I have also found some that have been tossed around in the surf, and are really rough, missing the spherical tip, and matte instead of shiny.

I felt that this shell was begging to be paired with browns. I had some beads that felt like suede, or a very supple, soft leather. They were actually a rubberized lucite bead. I also had some mocha colored glass pearls, and these all needed an earthy metal to go with them. I love antiqued copper, and it was the natural choice. I wish I could find a picture of the entire necklace on the display stand, but I can't!

This is the best photo I have of the entire necklace.

I sold this necklace last month. I actually got a little teary when packaging it up to ship it off to it's new home. It was like saying goodbye to a special friend. I sure wouldn't mind feeling that way again, though!

I'll make sure that my next post is on something available, if it's a jewelry post. I just had to share this lovely Olive with you.

Del

Spiral Auger Shell Necklace

I have been sooooo busy creating, and daily life in general, that I'm just now getting around to getting down to the business of taking my pics! I managed to get a few in today, before I exhausted my battery. Every time this happens I swear I'm gonna buy a back up battery for my camera, and before ya know it, I've already forgotten about it...until the next time! GGRRRR!

Without further ado, meet the star of this post~


I love this spiral shell! I really love it when something just goes together like this. The neutral colors of the shell match perfectly with the MOP coin shell beads, the white coral, and the tan and white opalescent shell beads. The little swarovski sand opal crystal is such a sweet little accent, wire wrapped and dangling above the shell. I had so much fun with this one!

The guys are planning on a fishing trip this weekend. That means the gals will be crafting ;) I already have my project sketched, and just need to do some careful drilling before I lay it out. I'm going to finish up my pics Friday and Saturday so I have all day Sunday for my next endeavor! I'm so excited for my next piece!

Del

Pretty Shell Necklaces

I have new pieces to list and blog about! I thought I would start with the last two shell~y pieces I made. The first is a gorgeous fuchsia number with pearls, swarovski crystals, and a calico scallop.


The shell piece beads have been dyed this beautiful fuchsia color, and I just knew they would be a perfect match for this unusual shell coloring. I am loving this one! As soon as I get the description written, and name her, I will post it on the Orange Blossom Boutique blog at orangeblossomcrafts.com.

My next pretty is a wire wrapped auger shell. There are several kinds of auger shells. This auger has been wrapped in a copper coated wire, and hangs between pearls, peach coral, and these cool shell-ish looking glass tube beads in pretty aqua.



I finished this with a toggle that I made out of a scallop shell, and another type of auger shell.

There is another swarovski crystal hidden inside the scallop. Very different, fun, and pretty! I just love this toggle! Both necklaces are great for summer up do's, they are pretty all the way around. I've really been getting into this style of finishing my pieces lately. Maybe because I've been wearing my hair UP so much... this heat and humidity are sweltering! I will let you know when these get listed. I'm sure it won't be long! I'm really excited about my new items, and want to get them listed ASAP!

I have a few more, but don't want to drag my post out too long... but maybe just a little peek at one I made awhile ago, and just hadn't gotten the pics done. They're taken now, so this is another that will be listed shortly!

Beach in a Bottle Necklace~

I have a few of these bottles with sand from different Florida beaches! I can't wait to make more of these! Work comes before play, and listing and posting will have to come first.

Until next time,
Della