Seashells In The Studio...

Fabrics For Brynwood Cork and Seashells Grab & Go Crossbody Clutch

 

I'm shipping out orders this morning, and then I'll be making this Grab & Go Crossbody Clutch for a client. She selected the seashell fabric on the left for the exterior - along with natural cork. I'll use my gray starfish for the interior. 

 

I'm looking forward to making this one, and I'm already working on plans for a few others. It's wonderful to be back in the studio. I have so many ideas swirling around that I'll have to start writing them down! 

What are you working on today?

I'll Be There...

Brynwood Needleworks - Masterbedroom Shell Tablescape

The strawberry I'm working on will be finished this morning, and I expect to finish my machine embroidery commission as soon as I get the final approval from my client. In the meantime, I'm working on my second pair of handknit socks for Christmas gifts and continuing to pack boxes.

 

I'm currently tackling the bookshelves in our library, boxing books and cleaning off shelves. I'd love to say that I'm sorting through all our various tomes in an effort to minimize the sheer number of boxes, but I find that part of the task nearly impossible. I can't seem to bring myself to get rid of a single page. I love adore hoard have a passion for books. I don't think that a home is actually a home without books...and so I'll keep packing...all of them.

 

Rather than share pictures of boxes and half-empty shelves, I thought you'd rather see a seashell and vase that sit on one of the side tables in our bedroom. Trust me. It's a much more restful image.

 

If anyone is looking for me, now you know where I'll be. 

Silent Friday...

Seashells and Hydrangeas...

Twenty years ago, we used to receive shell-encrusted gifts from Handsome's Florida aunt, Eula. I really liked getting those shell gifts, but we always used to giggle about them. "Silly Aunt Eula sent something seashell again!"

After we moved here, I saw the appeal of those pieces, but I also thought it might be fun to create my own. So I went hunting for the perfect basket for my transformation and found this one already in one of our other rooms.
It had a slightly domed, large lid which I determined would withstand the weight of all those shells. Of course, I'd require seashells, too. I found the types and sizes I was going to need and then sorted them.
I had assembled an assortment of shell types and then separated them according to size and type. It didn't take all day to make this, either. I actually completed in a few hours.
I secured them to the basket with Golden matte gel medium and it worked really well. I began in the center and worked my way out, just gluing as a went. The final pieces were the center shell and starfish. I'm really happy with the way it turned out!

The hydrangeas have a special beauty that reminds me of Nantucket. These are artificial, but hey! I can just spray them and they sorta smell like real flowers! Both of these creations sit on shelves in our living room, so I can see them whenever I walk to or through the room. They make me very happy.

What makes you happy? Have fun leaving - and then reading - other people's color issue.

November Blissfull Swap...

My November swap partner in the Blissfull ATC Swap Group is Laura Q of Fun With This and That blog. We could choose our own theme this month. Laura was really busy creating, not only my ATC, but extra gifts to add to my package!

Her ATC card is a real work of art. She affixed a transfer image of one of her own watercolor paintings to the front of her felted wool card. Then she added hand stitching, beads, a teapot and cup and saucer charms.
The back of her card is equally beautiful. She stitched a bow to secure a paper tag with a sweet image of a child. Could this be her as a babe? I don't know for sure, but I love her personal touch!As if that weren't enough, Laura also included this array of Christmas gift tags. Aren't they wonderful?...and notecards created from her own paintings! Really, Laura. I'm nearly speechless at your generosity. (Alright. If you know me, you know I'm never speechless, but you get the idea.)

I was a little late in getting my card out to her, but I'm hoping it arrives in her mailbox today. You all know how crazy it's been here of late, but I'm sorry to have fallen behind on this obligation. I'll share what I made to send to her, knowing she'll have it in her hands soon.My card is called "By The Sea". I also used a transfer image from a photo I took of a seashell bowl that I keep in our front entry. (You can click here to see the image from my Seashell Sunday post.) Then I added machine stitching, real seashells and a silver sea horse.

I, too, added a few trinkets, which included silver charms, seashells and a tiny vial of sand from Siesta Key Beach to her gift package. I hope this brings a little Florida sunshine to her North Dakota home. Of course, you know I'd share a photo if I'd remembered to take one. (sheesh!) I'm hoping that Laura will post a photo of all the goodies I sent her way once they arrive.

Seashell Sunday...

Come walk with me

Along the sea
Where dusk sits on the land
And search with me
For shells are free,
And treasures hide in sand.
- author unknown

PS. My dear friend, Theresa McNaughton of Faerie Moon Creations included me in a beautiful Treasury she created on Etsy. (You can click here to see.) I am honored to be included among such beautiful and wonderful items. Please be sure to visit her fanciful, creative blog. You'll love what you see! Thank you, Theresa for such a thoughtful gift to me today. xoxo

Silver Sunday At Brynwood...

Can you believe it's time for another Silver Sunday already?

You may remember the Nantucket basket napkin rings and bowl I shared

recently, but I neglected to share the matching stir sticks for the set.
Those Nantucket basket motif items really seemed to be a hit
last time I showed them on my blog, so knew I had to show these to you!
They're silver, too...but I'm not much of a polisher. Sorry.
I think this is the last of my silver "basketry", although I do have a
tiny gold Nantucket basket necklace that Handsome
gave me on a past visit to see his brother.
It even has a teeny, tiny penny inside
just like the trademark woven handbags.

When you live in Florida - even if it's not right on the water - seashells
seem to be a recurring theme. So, interspersed with all my acorns, you'll
find the occasional seashell - or twenty. I have this little silver container
that holds my silver seashell-topped hors d'oeuvre forks.
Just a little shimmer to add to a banquet, buffet or brunch for two!

Finally today, I'd like to share one of my oldest and most cherished
silver necklaces. This was a high school graduation gift to me from
dear family friends about...ahem...35 years ago (close enough!).
It's Danish and features a chickory plant with blossoms.

I lived in rural Wisconsin before moving to Florida.
There, you find chickory growing everywhere -
from fields to farm roads - a riot of soft blue blossoms
reminding you of the beauty of summer in the Midwest.
I miss seeing them.
Isn't it wonderful how something personal like this can
also instantly bring back fond memories?
Thank you, Beth, for hosting another Silver Sunday, and the opportunity
to "bring and brag" on some of our shiny, tarnished and prized silver.

Please be sure to visit Beth at Gypsy Fish Journal
to see what the rest of the gang is showing off today!

Sharing My Favorite Things...

I thought I'd share some of my favorite things with you today...buttons and seashells. I love making collage hearts! The two styles I like the best are created with old buttons or with seashells. I also insert additional trinkets in them when I find the perfect element.

I started making them a couple of years ago, and love searching through my collections for just the right elements. In the seashell collage, I also made the charm to add to the piece. I features an image of The Birth of Venus.

Because of my choice of materials, no two are exactly the same which is just another aspect that I love about them.

In the coming weeks and months, I'll be adding items like this to my Etsy store (as well as my hand created jewelry pieces). I hope you'll go window shopping from time to time to see if there's something in my store you just can't live without!