Small Serendipities

I wanted to share a link to a blog called Small Serendipities. This lady is a shell collector and maker of miniatures. She has made a roombox with lots of tiny little shells, that you just have to see! It's awesome! Talk about treasures, this is truly one of them.

She also has a most interesting story about Florida's Hidden House of Shells, you may want to check that out too.

You will see two of my favorite things here. The first one is a really neat flower pot given to me by my friend Christine. It is one she actually made herself, from Sanibel seashells she collected. If you would like to make one for yourself, she has kindly put all the instruction you need, on her blog. There are also instructions for other neat crafty items, as well. Two of my Grand Daughters are here for the summer and they want to make a flower pot for their Mothers. So, we've been copying the directions and collecting shells. Thanks Chris! :-)


My other favorite thing in the photo is the Lowell Herrero print of Judy & Marge. I love those ladies!

More Shells

Shells found today. Most are very small.

Jingle Shells In My Pocket

When I'm walking on the beach, I can't help but notice the shining jingle shells. So, when I see one that I think is a pretty color or different, I pick it up and put it in my pocket. There's hardly a time that I go home from the beach without jingles.

The thin, translucent clamshell halves make a jingling sound when they are shaken together. Their surface is shiny like frosted nail polish. These bivalves (two-part shells) attach themselves to hard objects in the water and often other shells, by means of threads that extend from a hole in the lower valve. Their shape is often influenced by the shape of the object they're attached to. The upper valve is concave, and the lower valve is flatter. They vary in size, up to a couple of inches wide; most that I see are no more than an inch wide.

Sometimes they are used to make jewelry, wind chimes, strung together to make wind chime curtains, or many other craft items. Just recently, I saw them thrown at a beach wedding instead of rice. The colors vary from shades of white, yellow, and black.

Other names for the Jingle Shells are 'Mermaid's Toenails', and 'Saddle Oyster'.

Kitten Paws

Even though they seem to be everywhere on the beach, these little shells always get my attention. I find myself picking up a few, every now and then, just because. After looking around at the other shells I have in containers and such, I realize that I've failed to display any kitten's paws. So....I remedied that today. I placed each little kitten paw, one by one, into a glass sugar bowl. Now they have their own special place.