Happy FAT Tuesday!!!

WOW....the weekend flew by and the parades were a blast. There are more parades today since it's FAT Tuesday but with the weather being overcast and the temp only at 39 (but feels like 34) we are just being couch potatoes today.

Yea....the mister even had the day off and I think he is enjoying just sitting and watching TV (even if it is through closed eyelids at times...hehe) and playing his solitaire game on his phone. The Chazman is still in that horizontal pause mode so that makes the house fairly quiet, which I'm taking full advantage of and working on some jewelry pieces. The first ones I did......earrings!!

 Cockle shells with aquamarine stone beads

 Cockle shells with bronze shell charms

 Moon Shells

 Dyed pearl, polished Jade stones, arc ribbed shells

Same pair as above but with shells turned around. Like having two different pairs in one. 

Once I start working on jewelry pieces I have a VERY hard time stopping. I blame it on my slave driver muse but to be honest....I just love making things. Therapy peoples....therapy!!!  After I finished with the earrings I made some more medallion shell necklaces.

 Three pretty scallop shells all in a row, coquina shell (butterfly), seed & bugle beads, rose quartz beads on a burgundy rope (20 inch) with stainless steel twist closure

 Three pretty scallop shells all in a row, coquina shell (butterfly) seed & bugle beads, glass beads and faerie glitter beads on a small twine brown rope (22 inch) with stainless steel closure.

 Pretty scallop with broken moon shell and two kitten paw shells on a black hemp rope (20 inch) with toggle closure.

 Pretty inverted scallop shell with natural coral and moon shell inside along with one of my wire bone fish on a natural twine rope (24 inch) with toggle closure.

Petrified mermaid tail (broken conch shell really) with two Swarovski crystals on a seed & bugle bead necklace (26 inch) with toggle closure.

As of this posting, these pieces are still available. It seems that I have some awesome friends that have been swooshing by and buying these before I can even get them in my Etsy shop or at Beach Reflections. That's a good thing though. ^_^  If you are interested in any of these please let me know by leaving a comment and your email address so that I can reply back. 

Now........I think since it's starting to sprinkle a bit and the house is so quiet that I'm going to put on a pot of tea and read for a bit. I might even sneak in a horizontal pause. 

Until next time..............HUGS,

Regi

It's FRIDAY!!! ^_^

Happy Happy Friday to you all and I'm happy happy happy that you stopped by too!!!  I'm enjoying this cool weather we're having this morning after a tremendous lighting and thunder storm we had last night. Man oh man were those li'l men ever hitting some strikes one after the other. You do know about the li'l men...... ri iight?? It's something my grandmother use to tell me when we were visiting and the weather would turn a bit nasty. To calm me she told me that every time I heard thunder and then saw lighting that li'l men were bowling and one of them just made a strike. It worked and even to this day that story pops into my mind (and heart) when it does either. Of course, I passed the tale on down to the Chazman too and he still loves it when there's a thunderstorm.

I have been digging through my broken shell stash and found a beautiful broken murex (lace shell) and immediately I knew what I wanted to do with it. It was perfect for a sleeping nook......a sleeping nook for a wee little mermaid.

 WIP shot

 WIP shot of the back. See the blue hues...Mother Nature painted those.

I love how she turned out. The shell attached to the murex is a broken crown conch shell. Her hemp bracelet has a tiny little venus shell. Her crown has what I think is a broken piece of venus shell, two tiny scallop shells and a teeny tiny lucine shell.

She is completely hand sculpted (without the use of molds) and was detailed using fine MICA powders and acrylic paints. Her hair is pulled dyed wool. Her necklace I made using tiny pearl beads from a vintage wedding veil.

Now....let me dig back through that goodie shell basket and see what else I can discover.

Have a wonderful Friday and until next time.............Hugs,
Regi

Monday....Monday!!

It's Monday and for someone like me that stays at home, it's pretty much like every other day, which means I have no problems with Mondays. ^_^

I'm working with my broken shells today and just enjoying the quiet time while the Chazman is at school and the mister is at work.

The mermaid and the seahorse I started a few weeks ago. Had to finish them because I was so tired of them sitting on my desk staring at me....hehe.

I'm working on some oyster shell ring holders and listening to some music. What an awesome Monday for sure.

Until next time.......Hugs,
Regi

It's a Beautiful Sunday!!!

Finally, Mother Nature remember what our weather was suppose to be like this time of year. I have on a short sleeve tshirt and my flip flops..........without........any......socks......Yea me!!!!

I have the windows opened and so enjoying letting a small breeze flow through this old house. Listening to the splish splash of water is so calming (sigh) even if it is from the washing machine...hehe  Yeppers, a beautiful day and I'm stuck inside dueling with that dreaded laundry monster. Oh well....at least I can shut my eyes and pretend the splish, splash is the ocean.

Since I am stuck inside I have been going through my shell stash AGAIN and pulled out some that I think will work with some of my jewelry pieces and small ooaks.

I have even grouped some together to make medallions out of. Hmmmmm, the shot is a tad bit blurry. Perhaps my muse didn't want to really show you just yet. Silly muse!!!

Remember the seahorse I was working on? Well, I found some other shells to go with it....not actually shells but a beautiful piece of coral and a small cluster of barnacles that I found some time back while walking near the pier. I hope to get him detailed and completed by tomorrow.

After sorting out the shells that just seemed to pull themselves together, I realized that I need to go shell hunting. I'm almost out of shells. OK well.....not really, I have TONS of shells but not ones that I can use to make my designs with. They are lovely sitting around here and there and in glass containers though. LOVE my shells..ALL OF THEM! Matter of fact, ya'll are lucky I even share them. I understand the call of the seagull soaring over the beach when it sees us humans walking along. They are screaming "MINE MINE". ^_^

Now I'm not one of those artist that can draw with perfection. I so wish I was because I have so many whimsical  images inside that are yelling to get out. I do however.....love to doodle. Since I can't leave my ocean washing machine when it's on spin because it apparently loves to dance across the floor when unsupervised...I have been doodling. Three so far and two might just become ooaks.

 Little mermaid saying "Come play with me"

 Mermaids love their seahorses

Mermaid watching her human sail away

So that's all my time for today's visit. It seems the washing machine is doing my dance...hehe!! Have a wonderful afternoon and I hope it's a beautiful day for you too.

Until next time.................HUGS,

Regi

Muse needs input to convince me...YOU can help!!!

Good Morning!! I hope today is a great one for you and if it's starting out a bit wacky just remember, it's NOT Monday..hehe  Thank you so much for stopping by to visit too. I do so love my visitors!!!

I'm in design mode today and have something I wanted some input on...please. Ya'll know that my art is now at a wonderful local shop and since we do live at the beach then most everything I make for it will be beach related. Well DUHHHH Regi...I can just hear YOU saying that. ^_^   My art has always been a bit on the whimsical side and well....thats...just....me so of course I want my beach theme items to reflect that too. Now, what I wanted some input on is.....what do you think about some pincushions being made out of  some of the broken shells? I love unique pincushions and I think there are others out there too that would like them. Soooo, tell me what you think because I really want to know. Well....yet another DUHHHH. Ya know that or I wouldn't have asked the question, ri iight??

Ohhhhh and just to make it worth your time to give your opinion and for me to say Thank YOU.....if you are the 10th person to make a comment about the pincushions within the next 24  hours then you are going to receive one of my memory wire bracelets. OHHHHH and only one comment per person please. It won't help to make several to try and be the 10th. Good thought though!! Make sure to leave me an email to get back in touch with you if you are #10. Good luck all!!!!!

Update: Dear me....no 10 comments this time but perhaps next time. 

I'm HUMAN again...hehe

OK well.....as human as a human can feel that actually feels as though she should be dancing in a garden with dragonfly wings or perhaps stomping in the Highlands and trying not to sneeze any fireballs out or or perhaps swimming under the blue/green sea and peeking my head out and then diving down deep letting my mermaid tail unfurl to push me faster as I swim with the narwhals. Yeppers.....my imagination is back to it's whimsical self so that means I am feeling so so soooooo much better!!! The Chazman is too and that I am really thankful for. No more nasty visitors for us (looking around)

I hope that you had a wonderful weekend. Ours was a restful, quiet one with the exception of going to take my jewelry and ooaks to Diane and Fonda at Beach Reflections, which by the way is going to be opening their doors for business this Thursday. The shop looks fantastic and is so unique and different from any down here. It's going to be THE place to go for our tourist and locals. ^_^

While we were there Diane had a surprise for me....some oyster shells and a basket filled with so many pretty broken shells. She knows how much I luv em!!!

As soon as we got home I sat down at the table and started going through them. Man on man...my muse started dancing and singing and tugging on my ear. HEHE

Some shells I'm already thinking of using. See the ones on the right? Mermaid tails!! 

 These lil beauties and I do mean LITTLE came from inside some of the bigger shells. See the auger shell and the tiny one next to it. That's not a broken one but a small whole one. ^_^

This is a whole shell too and one that I love to find and am so happy that Diane had it in the stash she gave me. It's called a "Baby's ear". 

Here's a photo with some WIP ooaks. I showed ya'll the lil mermaid stuck in the shell the other day. The seahorse unicorn is cured but I have to finish detailing him and add another shell to it's base. The three shells sitting in front are from the stash and ones I'm going to be using next. Oh yes....my muse will have me busy from some time..hehe

This is a broken Murex shell and one that I'm so hoping that one day I will find intact. They are so lovely. If you remember I had a smaller broken one that I used in one of my medallions I made and I called it a mermaid key.

These shells look like something that would sit on a Victorian woman's dressing table. The whole ones have a look of lace being on them.

One day I WILL find one of these whole!!!!

Now that I have plenty to keep me busy I best be getting to it. I hope that you have an awesome Monday and thank you for dropping by for a visit. I think I might just be giving away one of my jewelry pieces this week so come back to visit. Yea....yea....that's a bribe...hehe

Until next time...............keep a shell in your pocket and some sand between your toes,

Regi

Happy Thursdays!! (it is Thursday, ri iight??)

Goodness...I had to recheck my calendar to make sure it really is Thursday already. I would be sooo lost without my calendar. I would be even more lost if I didn't mark off each day on that calendar. Yes, Yes..I'm getting a tad bit forgetful...just ahhhhh...what were we talking about it? HeHe

I have been trying to recoup from walking on the beach this past Sunday. Now I LOVE to walk on the beach but I have to make sure that I don't take a 3 hour trek without resting in between again. Me old bones are letting me know that I seriously abused them AND now they are abusing me right back.

We did find some beautiful shells on that walk. Not any big ones but several small ones and lots of broken ones but ya'll know just how much I love the broken ones too.

Nice little lot Mother Nature gave, yes? There were several that had the natural holes in them and those make perfect earrings, IF I have matches to go with them in this bunch. I do believe I have one or two. Some great twisted broken ones that will look amazing in a glass jar or in the hermies (clay hermit crabs) habitats. You remember the lil hermies, ri iight? Well, here's a photo for those that haven't seen them or have forgotten. Geez!!! hehe

Now some of the shells that we found Sunday and some of the ones that most seem to walk on past are actually my favorite ones to find. The big broken ones that look like wings.....angel wings. I know that everyone can look at something and see something completely different but if you take a close look then I'm sure you will see the broken wing too. I helped a little bit so that you would see it.

I want to make a few of these and put them inside a shadow box frame. Two shells, one looking at the front side and the other painted on the inside with a few pretty white feathers. NO no, no angels or faeries were hurt in obtaining the feathers...they were a gift. I have a poem that I wrote that I will place in between the shells.

Tis short my stay

on this warm, sun soaked day.

To hear Mother Ocean's roar

and know that soon I must soar.

Soar up into the sky 

so calm and blue

but I'll leave

behind something

just for you.

You that gets to walk 

on the warm, white sand

A broken shell to be

placed in your hand.

Look closely 

and you will see

An angel wing tis

what it be.

Until next time..........Hugs,

Regi

Arrrggg..me hearties, tis anuther shipwreck!!!

What a great weekend....two walks on the beach. I'm so happy happy, oh yes I am!!! Of course, I'm paying for it dearly today too as my knee is so swollen I can hardly bend it. Dang it all.....hate to be getting old..hehe

Yesterday we went down to Fort Morgan. We love to go there because it's part of the Bon Secour National wildlife reserve. I love the name Bon Secour....just rolls off your tongue.....the reason I really like it is because in French it means "safe harbor" and that's exactly what it is. It's an ecosystem which serves as a refuge for endangered and threatened plant, fish and other wildlife species. It's also a hot spot habitat for our migratory birds ranging from our ospreys, herons and seven species of hummingbirds. One of our endangered species that lives among the sand dunes and sea oats is a cute lil fella called the Alabama beach mouse. They are small and very, very FAST. I have seen them but have never been able to get a picture of one because as soon as I get my camera up and ready.....it's gone!! Another endangered species that loves the shoreline along the reserve are the green, loggerhead and Kemp's Ridley sea turtles. So much wildlife living in one area that we are so blessed to be able to glimpse into.

Would ya just look at those big bird feet tracks? 

HEHE...there's the big bird they belong to too. Wonder if this is Hank?

I'm sure you're asking how in the world can we even get close enough to glimpse into it....well....the area that we can not walk in is posted and as far as I know....everyone abides by just the signs. We are allowed to walk on the beach and oh my, what a stretch of beautiful almost uninhabited beach it is. (most of the time)

One of our local photojournalist, Michelle Carroll Stancil was at Fort Morgan about 21 hours ago and captured some amazing shots of a new shipwreck that Mother Nature has uncovered after so many lost years. The Islander one of our local papers (online version) did an article on it which includes Michelle's photos and just what this mystery ship may be. If history and shipwrecks interest you, please take the time to read.

I posted the above so that if you did go and read (YOU did, didn't you? hehe) that you will see just how fast Mother Nature can reclaim a treasure. These are some of the shots I took yesterday on our visit there. No where near as good as Michelle's but I try with my lil camera. ^_^

Amazing what a day can do at the beach, eh? It was a beautiful day even if it wasn't a full sunny day. The sun was peeping out here and there and it reminded me of something my grandmother use to say, "The angels were sweeping and the gates were open".

I was hoping to find a whole bunch of shells too since not many folks wonder up and down this beach. I found a few of the big broken shells that look like angel wings to me and I'm thinking about painting a few with what I see.

We walked for about an hour and then drove over to where the ferry picks up folks to take them over to  Dauphin Island. The ferry was closed but we love to sit and watch the pelicans and sometimes the dolphins playing in the bay. No dolphins yesterday but there were some pelicans sitting on the pier post apparently doing the same thing we were.....just relaxing and enjoying the view.

We sat for about 30 minutes (hoping to see the dolphins) and on our way back up the short trail we discovered a cute little creature eating his dinner. Oh yes, we kept our distance!!!

It was a great afternoon spent together doing something we all love. I hope that you had a wonderful weekend and I would love to hear all about it.

Until next time............Hugs,
Regi