The Art Of Seashell Hunting

Seashell collecting is a popular pastime for all ages. I have wonderful childhood memories of collecting shells with my grandparents every summer. It was always an adventure when I was on the hunt for the most interesting shells I could find. Now that I'm older I want to share that experience with my family.  But what many people don't realize is there is much more to seashells that just simply collecting. Here are a few tips when starting out with seashell collecting.

First and foremost check out the rules concerning shell collecting in the areas that you are interested in. Some places don't allow collecting or allow it only during certain times of year. Some require permits. The last thing you want to do is start out your adventure with a sour note!

Beachcombing is the most common method of collecting seashells, look for bubbling holes in the wet sand. The best time to find them is low tide. One important tip when collecting seashells is to find a quiet beach with few crowds. Walking along the beach after a storm is a great time to collect seashells.

Depending on the location of your beach, you will most likely find some form of a scallop shell. They come in a variety of colors and sizes. Sand dollars are personal favorite of mine, however they aren't as common as the scallop. Conch shells are also popular. It is often said that if you put the shell to your ear you can hear the roar of the ocean. Some of the most beautiful conchs are found in the Bahamas. Pretty much at any beach you will find a clam shell of some sort. Like most shells they too come in a variety of sizes and colors. One thing is true: no two seashells are alike!

Once you've obtained a good size collection, you can use your new treasures for all sorts of things! Seashells can be the starting point for a great craft project for children. Make a sea shell wind chime, use a piece of driftwood as the base, string the seashells and cut them at different lengths while hanging them on the driftwood. Afterwards hang on your porch or somewhere outside where everyone can see. It will be a great reminder of the summer you had at the beach.

There are other ways to use your seashells are great beach decor. Glue shells onto a old picture frame, and bring it back to life. Use the shells to make a wooden sign, suck as "Tiki Hut"? or "On Beach Time" or even your child's name and have them hang it on their bedroom door. You can also decorate candles or make a collage. Get into the holiday spirit and make ornaments. You can make a different one for each family member. The possibilities are endless for what you can do with your newly found treasures!

Share some of your findings with us. Send pictures or comment on other craft ideas as well.

Coastal Candle Displays

If you love the beach and the beauty of the sea, you'll take to decorating with coastal theme candle displays like a fish takes to water. Collections of shells, stones and sea treasures collected from days spent combing your favorite beaches will be brought into play in these decorative displays. Accent your mementos from favorite beach vacations with craft store items such as artificial starfish, sand dollars, coral and sea horses.

Driftwood, Coral and Hurricanes

Accent a favorite piece of driftwood with this dramatic display. Start with a platter or charger large enough to accommodate your driftwood. Add a layer of plain or colored sand and arrange your driftwood on top. Surround it with seashells, sand dollars, pieces of coral, polished beach glass and stones. Add a few votive candles in cut glass or frosted glass holders for sparkle; or purchase candles in the shape of large seashells. This makes a great display for a table top. A piece of coral could be used in place of the driftwood.

Many variations on this theme are possible. For example, you could place a pillar candle and a hurricane on the center of the platter instead of the driftwood, surrounding it with shells, starfish, glass and stone pieces and a few tea light candles. Or take a glass cylinder, layer sand, pebbles and glass and push a pillar candle into the sand. Surround the candle with coastal accents like shells, sand dollars, and glass beads.

Coastal Layers and Moods

Beautiful candle holders in coastal theme can be incorporated with your natural accents to create striking displays.

• Arrange sand, tea light candles, beach glass, stones, shells and starfish on a white porcelain or clear glass platter around a finger clam shell candleholder. Beautiful candleholders in the shapes of sand dollars, starfish, sea urchins, egrets or sandpipers give you unlimited options in creating a unique display. A flat basket or wooden tray can also be used as a stand for your display. Consider battery operated candles in lieu of real candles; they're safer and look as appealing as the real thing.
• Make whimsical candle displays with novelty candles shaped like beach balls and votive candles in small buckets. Arrange the beach ball candles on a tray layered with craft sand; add your beach balls and mini-bucket candles for a beach party on a platter! This is a fun arrangement for a cookout or patio party. Bring one as a hostess gift for any summer party or barbeque.
• Beautiful candles shaped like shells, sea birds, sand dollars, coral, sea urchins or sea horses, clams, lobsters, fish, crabs and more can be arranged on any platter or tray and embellished with additional shells, pieces of driftwood or coral, stones, or polished glass.

• Make a sea inspired table wreath. Start with a flat backed Styrofoam wreath foam. Spray on craft glue and sprinkle with craft sand; let dry and shake off excess. Use hot glue to affix sea shells, stones and glass. Mix in a few larger items like sand dollars or starfish. Set your wreath on a round tray large enough to accommodate it and place a pillar candle and hurricane in the center of your wreath. If the tray is much larger than the wreath, add a border of sand and accent it with colored beach glass or faux pearls.

A Boatload of New Products at OceanStyles.com

I just got back from a crazy buying spree looking for fantastic new products to feature on OceanStyles.com.  See below for some of the best of the best. And keep your eyes peeled as I'm not finished yet.  Still lots more to come!

Wood Cabinet With 5 Basket Drawers

Wood Bench With 3 Basket Drawers

I absolutely adore these two new storage furniture items. Whitewashed beadboard with rattan storage drawers add a ton of useful storage space in a super stylish way.

Blue Shutter Mirror

I used to carry this mirror in white and black, but it was discontinued.  Now we've brought it back, this time in a lightly distressed seafoam blue! Absolutely gorgeous.

Seashell Frame & Candle Holder Set

Seashell Votive Holder Set

Both of these make wonderful gifts or subtle additions to your beach decor.

Mermaid Perpetual Calendar

I just fell in love with this the minute I saw it. Mermaids are so popular right now and this rustic, beachy calendar would be perfect sitting on my desk or end table.

Sea Treasures Garland

Sealites Seashell String Lights

How about using those Sealites strung up on the inside of your patio market umbrella for a little al fresco atmosphere?

These three wonderful pieces are raised art printed on a wooden plaque. Each one measures 10.5" x 10.5" and have the cutest sayings. They are sold separately - you don't have to get all 3.

Free Your Feet Flip Flop Canvas

Entering Flip Flop Zone Sign

If you love your flip flops as much as I do, then these two wall art pieces are perfect for you. Free Your Feet is a 14" x 14" canvas art print and the Flip Flop Zone sign is a 16" x 10" distressed metal sign, suitable for indoors or out. Let them know the dress code in your home before they step foot inside!

Handmade Sea Glass and Sea Shell Home Decor

Shari Curtiss, owner and artist of Beach Grass Cottage.Com is a self-proclaimed beach girl with a really cool site for beach and shore lovers! Beach Grass Cottage.Com is an online specialty retailer featuring artisan designed seashell mirrors, shell frames, coastal wreaths, and beachy home decor items. Shari is the sole artist, beach girl, and entrepreneur extraordinaire!

Shari grew up near the shores living on a lake near the shores of Lake Michigan. As a tween, her parents bought a condo on Anna Maria Island in Florida and there Shari fully realized her passion for the sea. She began yearning to visit to the sunny shores of Anna maria Island, and became an avid beachcomber. Crossing those bridges was like coming home to her; still is today.

Shari and her mom fell into the crazy habit of getting up in the early am, before the sunrise, and getting to the beach to "get the big ones" before the other beachcombers arose. Her family just shook their heads. Often, their diligence was rewarded, and they brought home a bounty of gorgeous shells, sea glass, and prizes washed in to the shore. Every day was fueled by the thrill of the hunt! Shari was hooked on seashells and the sea forever! She now creates gorgeous one-of-a-kind seashell and beach glass creations that you can use to add coastal flair to your home.

Shari's passion has always been the water--lakes, seas, whatever--and considers it to be such a blessing to be able to use her gifts creating beautiful things from the bounty of the ocean! Her sea glass frames are her signature product, outselling all others on her website. They are painstakingly made by hand from individual pieces of sea glass, sometimes taking hours to complete. The finished product is available in many beach glass colors, highlighted with white seashells, and tiny elegant pearl accents.

While the sea glass frames are Shari's bread-and-butter, her fabulous and distinctive seashell mirrors are her signature. Her Naples Starfish Mirror is layered with dozens of pristine white finger starfish, and the elegant Longboat Key Mirror is totally covered in hundreds of all white seashells, starfish, sand dollars, and pretty pearl accents. New additions to her Etsy.Com shop include a very cool barnacle mirror and sea glass mirrors in all kinds of watercolor shades. Recently Shari has added lines of sea glass vases, beach wedding hair accessories, seashell wreaths, and some very unique home decor items too.

Beach Grass Cottage is located in Michigan, near the pristine beaches and resort communities of Lake Michigan, home of devoted beach dwellers, killer sand dunes, casual lakeshore living and the most gorgeous sunsets on the planet! Shari's creations are available on her own website at http://beachgrasscottage.com , her Etsy shop at http://beachgrasscottage.etsy.com, and drop shipped from several large online retailers. She also welcomes wholesale orders and inquires.

Seashell Shadowboxes Are A Quick And Inexpensive Way To Add A Little Bit Of Beach Life To Your Home.

Nearly everyone has a handful of sea shells collected from a special beach vacation, whether it was last summer or many years ago. Chances are they are in a shoe box full of souvenirs, where they are never seen or appreciated. Why not display them, and relive the experiences and memories of the beach every day?

A shadowbox is the ideal way to do this. With a trip to your local hobby store, you will find an incredible selection of shadowboxes in every possible size, material and finish. Simply choose the one that best suits your own decorating style.

If you are the handy type, you can make your own shadowbox with a minimal amount of time and trouble. A quick search on the internet will provide you will plans for building one.

Now that you have your shadowbox, what do you do now? Experiment with your shells and other beach souvenirs to come up with the most attractive arrangement. Make sure you try a number of layouts to be sure you have something you will be really happy with. Do this before you start gluing, or you may be stuck with something before you have made up your mind.

Once you are sure you’re ready, grab a hot glue gun and fasten everything into place. Give the glue a few minutes to dry, and it’s time to decorate! Select a location where you will see your seashell shadowbox regularly. How about a place near a chair where you can relax with a cold drink, and spend a few minutes daydreaming about the beach?

Visit us at OceanStyles.com for more great beach theme decorating ideas.