Mermaid Seashell Necklace

Today I did a small change up on my coastal style  Mermaid Seashell Necklace. It has such a feminine feel to it, and has received 2 hearts, but I think it needed to be shortened. When I made this one, long necklaces were so the rage. Not so much anymore. I removed the chain, and changed the lobster clasp to a pretty textured toggle. I love how it hangs now! I think that I will make my jewelry the way I like it,  and not let some new fashion fad change my normal designs. I have several necklaces that I want to shorten now.

This pretty scallop shell is accompanied by Aventurine gemstone beads, jade green glass beads, and pink pressed glass roundels. I am very pleased with this one! You can get a more thorough description of this in my Etsy shop.

My photography skills are improving! It will be nice to have everything re-shot, and the shop looking more put together, and appealing to the eye.

Here's a sneak peak at what I'm working on now. These freshwater pearls are deliciously perfect, and the color is vivacious violet! 

The shell looks so pretty and delicate next to the pearls! This will make it's debut soon, so stay tuned.

Del

Seashell Saturday

I thought it would be neat to show some of my favorite shells, new finds, or other things I've made with shells. I contemplated this idea, and decided to call it Seashell Saturday. I'm sure I have more than enough shells, and shell items, to do this for years!

For my first Seashell Saturday, I picked the whelks we found last weekend :)

 

 He found the larger, manly whelk, and I found the small, dainty whelk. When we find shells that are alike, his always seems to be the larger, manly, rugged shell, and mine are the smaller, feminine, dainty shell. I'm so lucky to have found HIM! Actually, he found me :) We are so alike in so many ways, and I'm so happy that he shares my love of the sea, the beach, and shelling.

Have a great weekend!
Del

A Wonderful, Beachy Weekend

I don't think I can quite express how much I enjoyed my weekend. Although it was a bit chilly, and windy, we still had a great time, and did a little shelling. I didn't find all the minis I wanted to, but I'm sure I will next time.

We met up with an old friend in Ft. Myers, went to lunch, and then headed over to Sanibel. We hit Bowman's Beach first, at least I think that was the name of it. This is where we found the most shells. Tons of calico scallops, cockles, other clam shells, hubby found a beautiful 4 inch whelk, and I found a little 1 1/2 inch whelk. It is darling! I have made 2 necklaces with little lightening whelks, so I'm not sure what I'm doing with this lil' cutie yet. I'll post some pics after I clean my shells. I'm still a bit sore from doing the 'Sanibel Stoop' too many times! It has been months since we've gone shelling, and my bod is out of practice. I can't wait to get it whipped back into shape!

Our next stop was Sanibel Lighthouse Beach. We saw a dolphin swimming around, I think it was his dinner time.

you can just see his fin sticking up

Della and David at the Sanibel Lighthouse

Me at Bowmans Beach with my shelling bag

I did stop and take a pic of the beautiful Magnolia tree by She Sells Sea Shells. While I was at it, I also snapped one of the pretty sign.

I love the font on this sign!

Next time we go down, I want to take a look around this shop.

Our last stop was somewhere along the way, where you can pull over, picnic, fish, and hang out. Our friend said this place has the biggest shells he's ever seen. Of course, I had to see what he was talking about! OMG big southern quahogs are what he was talking about. We picked up a few, and most are as big as my hand, and larger! I will probably use the largest one for a soap dish.

Sanibel is a really pretty place. I love how the shops and stores go with the Island theme. Even the 7-11 is pretty! I think I'll have to start looking for places to spend a weekend down there for our anniversary, or our birthdays.

I think tomorrow may be nice enough out to clean my shells, and sort them. I can't wait to play with them!


Del

Seashell Photo Frames for Beachy Home Decor

I'm feeling somewhat better, and I think I'll make it to the beach this weekend! WooHoo! I can't wait to get there. We are leaving Friday morning, and we'll head home Sunday evening. We want to spend as much time there as we can, it's been a while since we've been.

I love the look of seashell photo frames! I tend to prefer the more simple styles. Like something you would see in a beach cottage.

I picked up some plain wood frames at the craft store. I have various colors of non toxic acrylic paints on hand. For the cockle shell frame I chose a tan shade, dry brushed the grain with white, and roughed the edges a bit with sandpaper. I glued on the cockle shells, and sprayed the whole thing with a matte sealer.

For the other shell frame, I painted it white, and glued the shells on, then sprayed it with a matte sealer also. I can't remember what kind of bivalves those are! I just really loved how they were so stark white, with such dark brown markings, and they look as if they were intricately carved.

The photo's in the frames were taken by me! The top photo I took at Daytona, and the bottom photo of the pelicans and gulls, I snapped it at Flagler.

I better start packing! I like to get an early start on things, and seeing our luggage out will prepare my poor dog that I am going away.

Del