Whatcha doin?

It's a really dreary Tuesday, yes? My heart, thoughts and prayers are going out to all the folks that have been affected by this nasty weather.

Since it is so dreary.....outside....I'm planning on making it shine up in here in my art studio!! Have already been through my shell stash (and I really have got to plan some beach walks and SOON) and my fabric stash. (well....some of my fabric...I have a good bit. HEY, a gal can never, EVER have to much fabric). I plan on making some of my shell necklaces as well as some of my fabric flower pins. (might even combine some shells with the fabric)

Hope you're planning on having a terrific Tuesday. If the sun is shining where you are enjoy and if it's raining.....go out and dance!!!

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. 

Mr. Sandman ummm I mean Mr Bugman....please go away!!!!

OMGOSH....I know you must be thinking that I have completely lost my mind now by changing sandman to bugman but I haven't....honest!! I said sandman because when I was writing my title to begin with I had used "Mr Bugman...please go away" and the Chordettes song Mr Sandman popped into my head...hehe!!! Oh peoples, I so hope that the bugman does NOT come to visit you in any shape, form or fashion. He is a horrible guest.  I spent all of yesterday afternoon at the doctor's office with the Chazman who has been sick for the pass few days. He has that nasty stomach bug that is going around (stomach issues, sore throat, coughing and really, really tired) and of course there is nothing you can do but wait for it to leave on it's own. I'm just praying it doesn't decide to jump to my room and stay even longer. That soooooo won't work!!!

I know that my post Windsday (hehe) lead ya'll to believe that I was going to be doing some sculpting and I had ever intention of doing just that but decided that first I would get my tags put on all the jewelry pieces I will be taking to Beach Reflections this weekend. Good Golly Miss Molly that took all day.....but...at least everything is tagged and ready to go. I even finished a few more shell necklaces and two hermie habitats. Yea me!!

 I think this is my favorite medallion. Little fishie looks like he is swimming and blowing bubbles.

Before anyone says anything....this is not sand from our beaches. This is sand from the Dollar Tree. Not that I went and got sand out of the parking lot but got it from inside the store. Ohhh and not saying that there was sand all over the floors. It was in a bag and I bought it. hehe

I decided that I'm also going to take two of my mermaid ooaks to the shop and see if they might find a new home. 

I still am planning on doing some clay characters using the auger shells....honest I am!! I'm just so excited about being asked to put some of my things in a new shop at the beach that I think is going to do really well. I mean the shop....not so much my pieces BUT I do hope they do good too. Ohhhhhhh, can ya tell I haven't had much sleep? ^_^

I hope that YOU have a wonderful Friday and weekend. Mine will be spent trying to talk the Bugman into leaving this abode and real quick like. Now......let's just sing Mr Sandman so I can get it out of my head and not be humming it all weekend too. Of course, you will probably be humming it now...BAHAHAHA!!!!

Regi

Blustery Tuesday indeed!!!

Goodness....it truly is a blustery day. I have little fingers knocking on my big picture window and arms waving at me from the ancient ones outside.  Not real ones of course but those tiny little fingers (branches) on the Kumquat tree and the long strong branches on the big trees. I love to see the branches swaying back and forth....like they are doing a dance and begging me to come and join in. Yes....yes....my imagination is in full swing today!!!

Yesterday and early this morning, I worked on some shell medallions to make some more necklaces with. I'm so loving going through my shells found on our beach walkabouts. As ya'll already know, I really love the broken ones best. I guess part of it is because with my VERY vivid imagination I see so much more than a little broken shell. I feel so BLESSED to have been given this gift even if to some it makes me seem a bit weird/different/strange but like my son tells me "Mom...you're different with a side of AWEsome".  I can live with that. ^_^

If you look closely on your next beach walk, ya just might find some of the wing oyster shells that Mother Nature washes up on shore. They don't look like much to most but WOW....put them together and you will be amazed at what you will see. Like this little grouping.......

The big shell is a scallop shell. Lovely colors in this one. Those tiny shells (the dark ones and the pearl) are broken wing oyster shells. I did not break any of these and look at how perfectly they fit together and once together....do you see it? A mermaid tail!!!

Scallop shells come in a variety of colors....from light to dark. I thought this dark one would make a great background for more wing oyster shells. Stacked on top of one another they almost look like a pretty flower. The bead is a moonstone but to me, I think it looks like a shiny untouched pearl that would surely be hidden in a mermaid's treasure box.

This lil broken beauty is what's left of a moon shell. Ohhh the stories it could tell us if only we could hear. The tiny shell poking out like a hankie in a pocket is called a kitten's paw.

Can ya tell I really like the scallop shells? HeHe  Ya have to admit that they do make for a pretty background piece. This one is not really as dark as in the photo. It is more of a light grey. The broken piece in the middle I believe is part of a murex shell. The Chazman thought it looked like an old fashioned key of some sort. Perhaps the key to a mermaid's treasure box? Indeed!!

Now I don't always use just broken shells. The whole ones we find are lovely too and I found some that were just the right size for a necklace or two.

Two scallop shells in the same color hues....perfect!! The bigger one had a few tiny holes so adding the smaller one was....well.....just what it needed, yes?  The pretty butterfly that has landed on top are actually two coquina shells. Now here is one of the times folks will think I'm a bit looney. Yes, yes I know you already think that....but at least it's with a side of awesome, ri iight??  I know you have seen these little shells, the ones that come in on the waves and immediately try and bury themselves. I would took seeing how they are apparently a favorite snack for the little sandpipers in the spring and summer and the plovers in the winter. Now the reason I said that some will think I'm a bit looney is that I will NOT take any of these pretty shells unless they are open and empty. I figure once they are open that they have served their purpose that Mother Nature had intended and are ready for a new adventure.....as jewelry!!!

This beauty is a fighting conch shell. It measures about 2 1/2 inches. For some reason I saw pearls with this one and as you can tell that's what I used. These are the last of my vintage pearls from a 60+ year old wedding veil I had.

Now...I bet ya can guess just what I will be doing the rest of the morning. Turning these pretties into necklaces. After that I will be making another necklace holder because my first one has filled up fast!!

Thank you soooo much for stopping by to visit. I do hope that you will come again and often. Bring some friends next time....the more the merrier, yes?

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

Regi

Oh to be above the waves....

Broken shells are something that the ocean pushes up on shore...as a gift to us humans. Most of us just walk pass them, thinking since they are broken that we don't really have a use for them. We like the complete, whole shells and all their beauty. Notice I said "most" of us because "some" of us do love the broken shells and all the beauty they offer. Each one does truly have it's own story to tell....if you just look closely and listen.

The ocean floor is filled with shells of all types. The broken ones before they are tossed onto the shore serve a purpose for those creatures that live beneath the waves. They are used as homes, hiding places, game pieces and anchors. Yes...I said anchors. Anchors for perhaps the most beautiful creature that dwells beneath the waves....the mermaid. One such mermaid has her very own broken shell and one she plans on keeping for a very long time. Her name is Mariroe and she longs to know what's above those waves she sees wisping underneath into her world. Her shell fits her perfectly...she slides into it and it becomes her way of sitting in one place...looking up at the waves and dreaming of what lays above.

Mariroe sits just at 5 inches (that's with her beautiful platinum blonde hair). She has a strong wire armature underneath a fully hand sculpted clay body. Her tail was detailed using fine MICA powders as well as golden glitter in spots. Her face was detailed using acrylic paints and MICA powders. Her eyes are bone beads that were hand painted using brown and gold acrylic paints. Her hair is pulled wool yarn. She has a vintage pearl necklace as well as having a vintage pearl in her hair. She is attached to her base by her broken shell that has a wire running inside and that is curled and attached to the clay base. Surrounding the base are natural shells, coral and a sand dollar.

Mariroe will be available in my Etsy shop. I hope that you will take the time and stop in to visit it sometimes when you need that special, unique, one of a kind gift. (or just want something special for yourself)

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

Can't catch MEEEE!!!

Way beneath the ocean waves, there is a game waiting to be played on the ocean floor below. Broken shells have been lined up in a row and then some scattered to and froe. A red crab is sitting on a large, flat rock and with a clitter and a clack of  his great big claw....sounds the whistle...it's time to start !!

This game is fun and is one that teaches. Teaches mermaids how to dart and dash in between the broken shells to learn to squish and squeeze their fish like tails...to keep out of reach of danger. Of course, there is no danger today as they are just playing their game of broken shells.

One little mermaid by the name of Char has darted and dashed and done quite well. That is until she darted into one that was a tight little fit. She squiggled (that's wiggled, giggled  and squealed all in one) until she was halfway out and then started laughing and calling for HELP!!

Char is one of my hand sculpted clay ooaks (one of a kind sculpts). No molds are ever used!! She has a strong wire armature underneath her clay body. Her tail and face scales were dusted in fine MICA powders to give her that shiny, watery look. Her face was detailed using acrylic paints and her eyes hand painted on tiny bone beads. Natural tiny shells cover her tata's (yes...she is quiet shy) and she is sitting inside of a natural   fighting conch shell. Yes...it's a broken one. Remember..she was playing the game!! Her hair is dyed wool and is embellished with tiny glass beads and real pearls. Char and her game piece (that's the shell..hehe) sit at 6 1/2 inches and are supported by a strong wire base.

I have so many broken shells from our beach walks that are just calling out to be used for more mermaid habitats. I do believe I'm going to be sorting through all my collection and see just how many I do have. I'm going to have to take a flour sifter on my next walk so that I can get some of the tiny little shells. No no..I don't use it for flour anymore...just sand!!

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

Happy Tuesday!! pssst..it is Tuesday, ri iight??

Happy Tuesday...the sun is shining...no wait...it's behind a cloud...ooohhhh there it is...it's shining. Nope...it's gone again..hehe  Seems Mother Nature can not make up her mind today. One of our "AWESOME" local photographers, Steve Jones, caught Mother Nature having one of her "I just can't decide" moments on his daily beach walk this morning. Steve has captured some amazing photos of our beautiful area and I think you would love to take a peek at them. Just visit HERE to see more of his work.

So you can see I'm not just making up this peek a boo game with the sun at the moment. Would I kid ya about something like that? Oh nooooo...not muah!!! Stop pointing that finger at me...ya know I wouldn't...well...not often anyways. HA!! Thank goodness the sun shone brightly this weekend for us but I have to admit it was a bit chilly. We didn't let that stop us from going on a beach walk though. HEY...that's what hoodies are made for and sweatpants and thermals and thick socks. Yes, yes..I told ya it was chilly!!! Our beach has been undergoing a sand restoration and if you take the time to sift through the sand they blew up on the shore then you can find some wonderful treasures the ocean gave up. The Chazman and I definitely took the time to sift through and here's some of the beautiful shells we found.

These are called Olives and I bet ya can guess why..hehe!! Do you see the sewing pin? I put that there in some of the photos to give you something to judge the size of some of the shells. Tiny little shell there and just think that most folks just walk over them or on them. It's the perfect little size to put inside one of my glass vials, don't ya think?

 These are called Whelks. You don't find the big ones complete very often but even the broken ones are so pretty and can be used to add to your beach decor. There's another tiny one!!!

These little beauties are in the Nautilus family. I would so love to find a BIG one of these. Wouldn't have to be as big as the one Dr Doolittle rode in (although that would be AWESOME) but a nice size one would be great.

This is a Canarium shell and probably the biggest one we found (The Chazman found this one while digging a hole in the sand..hehe) It's three inches long and the photo does not do the colors running through it any justice.

These are Moon shells and I love these. I see dragon snails coming out. How about you? We found one that was perfectly flat...you could see the spiral on top but I think that it just couldn't form itself into a shell. My camera wouldn't pick it up but it is a pretty little thing.

These are Auger shells and I have no clue as to why the photo came out a bit fuzzy. I know that my faerie muse said that these were not shells at all but (looking around) unicorn horns. Perhaps she was trying to keep anyone from seeing them. ^_^  She has given me some inspiration though...hmmmmm!!

These are wing oyster shells. I have been collecting these for a good while now. These in the photo we found this weekend though. Of course since my faerie muse jumped in about the auger shells my mermaid muse had to put her inspiration on these. They are really mermaid scales!! See where this might lead?

Of course no beach walk would be complete without finding some of these scalloped lovelies. Yes..these are called scallop shells or as the Chazman calls them 'FAN" shells.

Now all of the above are just a few of the shells we found. We love to find the broken ones that show all the beautiful twist and curves that are inside some. I found this one right when we were leaving and I'm so happy that I looked down.

Isn't this beautiful?  The twist inside....the perfect spots on the outside. I see a mermaid tail curled up and I'm hoping what I have envisioned....I can sculpt.

WOW....I'm writing a novel today aren't I and I'm not finished just yet either..hehe!!  I promised to show some photos of this month's Holiday tree. If you haven't been following me long, let me explain, in short version. The Chazman and I wanted to keep our Christmas tree up and decorate it for each Holiday during the year. Was that short enough? HAHA  Here's this month's....St Patrick's and Easter!!

Simple but pretty I think and the Chazman loves it. That's really what counts...making my little man happy. How do you like the Mardi Gras beads we twisted and used. Purple, blue and pink for Easter and green and gold for St Patrick's. Each year we will add more to our monthly trees but for now we will enjoy what we have.

I also worked on some cute clay charms to put on some hair twist for little girls. I have them sculpted out and am going to get them bakes and painted today. Wait....I think perhaps a little kittie got hold of the bear...his nose looks a little smushed. Ohh I need to resculpt him and hopefully, I will have them listed in my Etsy shop by tomorrow.

 I'm listing this cute little rabbit too. Come and shop...please and send friends...lots and lots of friends...hehe

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

Mermaid Inspiration

SHOCK....another sunny day here today!!  It's so nice to see that brilliant orange orb in the sky smiling down on us. Ahhhhhh.....taking a moment to shut my eyes and let the warmth of the sun coming through the window fill my soul. OK...enough of that...let's talk MERMAIDS!!

I finished the two bracelets that I made the clay mermaid head charms for. They turned out MARVELOUS darlins....simply marvelous!!

This one has a center rope of olive green and the tie pieces are yarn....green with flecks of blue. I love using yarn in my macrame pieces...adds so much charm and makes them a bit unique and whimsical. This one has glass beads going around the twists and the side dangle pieces have attached natural shells, dyed pearls, glass beads, clay mermaid head and a sterling silver star fish charm.

This little beauty has a center rope of natural hemp and I used the mohair yarn for the tie pieces. Glass beads run around the twist on the bracelet and there is a small dangle off centered of a polished aquamarine stone with three glass beads. The side dangles have a clay mermaid head charm, a tiny glass vial filled with sand from our beach and tiny sea glass pieces inside as well. Dyed pearls and a sterling silver star fish charm finish this piece.

I'm enjoying making these so much. I think I'm going to make a few kiddos bracelets as well. Any suggestions perhaps? Just leave me some love (that's comments people..hehe) and share some ideas with me.

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

Teacher's got a different bag ^_^

Good Morning!!! It seems that our walks to school in the mornings are "OUR" time to talk about things and our time sitting at the table in the afternoons playing Farkle. (yes yes we are hooked BIG TIME)  Chaz said he was really liking the goodie bags but really didn't think Mr. H (his teacher) and Mr. S (student teacher) would like the friendship bracelets. He was so cute once it came out of his mouth because he looked at me with the strangest look and started back peddling really fast. "Ohh no momma...they WOULD like them but I don't think they would wear them." He was so afraid he had hurt my feelings. Such a sweetheart...I'm telling you and any girlfriend in the future had better thank me for doing such a good job raising this southern gentlemen..hehe!!  Although, hmmmm...he has made a point and given me something to ponder on.

I thought about making them a bracelet out of twine or hemp but then thought that perhaps they might not be that kinda guy. NOT saying that in a negative way at all.....I dig seeing a man wearing a hemp bracelet but the look isn't for everyone. Now what can a man use everyday that I could make and still make it using my twine? AHHH HAAAA....a keychain!!

Another simple but AWESOME project. (if I must say so myself..hehe) Using the same macrame twisted square knot I tied making the friendship bracelets...I made these key chains.  I didn't want to put glass beads on these so I used one of my sterling silver starfish charms and one of our natural shells found on one of our beach walks. I do believe they will be surprised when they open up their monster bags. Of course, the heart POP ring and sweet tart hearts could surprise them too but then again....even us adults like candy!!!

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

Regi


I had an Ahhh Haaa moment a little while ago and realized that Chaz is changing classrooms and has another teacher he needs to remember plus his sweet speech teacher. So here's what will be in their Valentine's goodie bags.