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

Seashell Necklaces Beaded with Pearls

Hellooooo and Happy Friday!

I sure did have a busy Thursday, whewww.
I worked on my custom order, went shopping for some things for my booth and some needed jewelry findings, made 8 new necklaces, started on the 9th....had 2 Etsy orders!!! and now I'm revamping my custom order. I'll explain that in another post. For now, let's get to those pearl necklaces!

This is a volute shell, the Voluta Laponica also known as a Harpulina shell. I didn't find much info on this shell, but they are from Sri Lanka.

They are really pretty shells, and the color and patterns vary a little from shell to shell.

I used glass pearls, GASP! because they looked the best with this shell. I wanted some color that went well with the mocha colored pearls, so I chose a dark amethyst. I'm a big fan of brown and purple together! I'm not a big fan of faux pearls, but they do come in some pretty colors. I have another glass pearl beaded creation coming soon...when I get some copper chain I ordered. I hope it's soon!

This necklace lays nicely, and would compliment many fall and winter sweaters. I do really love the brown and purple! I used to have a blog with a brown and purple theme :)

Out of these two, this next one is my favorite.

White on White!!! Love it! This Strombus Vittatus shell has been polished to reveal all white. It's a type of conch shell, and is from the Philippines.

White freshwater dancing (top drilled) button pearls, opal crystals, sterling chain, spacers, bail, and findings make this a lovely wedding necklace. It lays very nicely on a woman's chest....but not so well flat, or on a jewelry bust.

I tried taking this one on the black bust, too, but it just makes a glare You can't even make out what it looks like. I will be using it at the show to highlight this necklace, or another white/light necklace.

I would love to wear this!

Yesterday my hubby went by the printers.......

and picked up my custom made BANNER!!!!

It's nearly a replica of my business cards, but the bottom info is laid out a bit differently.
I can't wait to see it hanging!

Maybe I should have turned off the flash??? You will see this hanging for sure, In the daylight...I plan to get plenty of pics!

And ummmm the beach pail and flip flops....you will just have to wait and see....I have plans for the flips flops, and am working on a way to use the beach pail. You can't be beachy and not have a beach pail! Ohhhhh I think I have it! It just came to me heeehehehheee :D

I'm still not sure WHAT we are doing this weekend. Going SOME where, or working on my stuff????

I'll see you on Monday!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

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!!!!

A Sanibel Summer

I have been playing with those Paper Fig shells that The Shell Lady sent to me last month. If you missed it, you can see that post here. I made a tropical necklace with one of them to commemorate where she found them. I still thank her in my mind each time I see, hold, or use one of her shells! Thank you Cheri!

This Paper Fig is just as pretty!

I sanded the edge nice and smooth, and hit it with a coat of clear gloss.

The bail is gold plated, and it hangs on a bright brass chain.

I made the little flower with flower part beads, a leaf bead, and a tiny pearl. A nice little feminine touch.

This shell makes a nice size pendant, and just whispers summer to me.

I really enjoyed playing around with this shell, and making this necklace!

Simple, summery, and feminine! Some of my favorite things :)

I have a few more ideas for Paper Fig Shells, and I can't wait to complete and share them.

Thanks again Cheri! These Paper Figs really made my summer!

The Sun and The Moon

The Sun fuels me with it's fiery orb high in the sky.

Glowing and sending heat into my soul.

Forever my warmth and strength.

Burning and making me whole.

The Moon guides me with it's bright glow.

Lighting my path.

Keeping me in step.

With nature and myself.

Sun and Moon shells gave me inspiration this past weekend. I smoothed the sharp edges, and added a few coats of gloss.
The inside of the shells are very cool.

I especially like the inside of the moon shell. As white as the newly fallen snow.
This necklace is reversible, too.

These will be in my Etsy shop soon!

I'm heading out for a road trip today! There are some things I must find, and they aren't in my town... I've already checked. I'm hoping to participate in the Great Glitzy Hack Off over at Life in Rehab. No, not THAT kind of rehab! Hop on over to Sunny's blog and see what I'm talking about ;) Maybe you'll want to make something too!

I have a cute paper fig shell to show you!

See you tomorrow!

Heart Cockles for You Giveaway

Hello!

This is it!

Because I "heart" you all so much, my giveaway will have 2 lucky winners!!!

Yep, that's right. I made 2 heart cockle necklaces :D

It's also fitting to have 2 because Diane is a two time follower. In this case, a two timer is a good thing :)
Diane was my 100th follower, and sealed the deal for this giveaway! (clicking Diane's name will take you to her blog, and her shop blog!)

Thanks again, Diane ;)

The criteria for this giveaway is that you

1. Be a blog follower

2. Leave a comment

3. Have a way for me to reply to you if you win!

One of you will WIN

this heart cockle on a copper coated brass chain, very fine link, with a teal freshwater pearl and crystal ab finish drop. This shell is very close to white.

One of you will WIN this heart cockle on a fine brass chain with brass balls about every inch or so. A pretty white freshwater pearl with blue zircon crystal drop dangles just above a brass ball. This shell has some yellowing to it, which seems to make it a perfect fit for the brass.

I will announce the winners on Friday May 18th!

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!!!!

Have a great Mother's Day weekend! 

Sunshine & Seashells

Before we get into necklaces, I want to show you what's going on in the pond we put in last year!
Remember when it looked like this?

and then this?

and then the volunteer ferns popped up between the rocks?

Well those ferns have grown so much! and my Louisiana Iris is blooming this year!

So Pretty!

I am having a battle with algae right now, but it should be clear in a few more days at the most. I Hope.
But, check out those ferns! How cool is that?!?! I am so happy with my pond! These pics are unedited. Check out the sunshine!

I also have some volunteer berries growing!

I have been pulling what looks like blackberry starts for several years. They just keep popping up in the north flower bed. Last year I decided to leave one and see what happened. This year I have berries, and several new starts.

See all of the little stick like starts around the poinsettia? I'm leaving them. I want to see just what they are going to do over the next few years, and if they get to be too much, then I will yank them. It would be awesome to make my own jam from these freebie berries though.

Thank you to the birds that pooped these seeds in my flower bed (and around it)!

Nature is wonderful!

Okay, how to segway into jewelry after that? Hmmmm.

Nature is wonderful in producing things we can create with!
Like this Heart Cockle Necklace!

I used all sterling components with this pretty shell :)

Right down to the heart shaped bail I attached to the back.

That pearl really is that dark purple! Very nice dye job on these!

I sure need to get a better close up of the bead cap on the pearl. It's a really pretty and delicate filigree.

I've been wanting to do a Periwinkle Shell necklace, too. It almost matches the earrings I made a little while ago.

They look so good with gunmetal.

The gunmetal brings out the blue gray in the shell! I used a dark metal blue peacock pearl and black diamond crystal for the drop.

I also added one to the back :D

The earrings have greige crystals.

 You can find the earrings here in my Etsy shop!

The necklaces will be listed soon!

Elegant seashell necklaces coming up next!

Now, about that pond.....

Have a great Friday!