Sailors' Valentines

SHELL CROSSES

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:40:42 +0000

I named this Cross the “Left Handed Cross” because I broke my right hand recently and could not use it for over 6 weeks as it was in a cast. I had a previous commission for this Cross from a local woman and her husband that contacted me after they saw some of my shell work that was exhibited at several RBC Banks in this region of Florida. Shortly after we met and decided on the choice of colors for the Cross and other details, I broke my right hand. Not wanting to disappoint them by declining their request, I undertook the seemingly simple, yet awkwardly difficult task of learning to use tweezers with my left hand. It took me almost the full 6 weeks that I was in a cast to finish the Cross but I think that it came out quite nice! I am so righthanded!

Wedding Day

admin — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:10:10 +0000

I created this small 8″ Valentine aptly named “WEDDING DAY” to commemorate a 32 year engagement between my neighbor and her now husband. Although, everyone was instructed to not bring a gift, I felt that after that long of a period of time that they deserved something to mark this special event. WEDDING DAY is housed in an Aromatic Cedar case. It has polished white rice shells, squilla claws, fish scale flowers, small white ark shells, white pearlized snail shells, pearlized baby abalone, baby cup shells and Spirula.

Wedding Day

FEEL THE LOVE

admin — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:40:54 +0000

This 8″ Valentine “Feel The Love” is housed in an aromatic cedar case. It was a commission piece for a local Flagler Beach restaurateur for his wife’s birthday. He mentioned to me that he would like something unique and laughingly joked that he should probably just get her some flowers instead. I decided to take his comment to a whole new level and a free form Valentine was the evolution of those very words from him. I chose an acid free colored linen paper for the base then overlaid it with a sea fan that my husband had found washed up on a beach in the Bahamas after a storm. Then came the flowers in all different colors, sizes, shapes and types. I had a lot of fun making FEEL THE LOVE. The 2 heart and seahorses represent the two of them and their love for each other.

FEEL THE LOVE

ALPHA - My Very First Valentine

admin — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 05:15:16 +0000

Boy, have I come a long way! ALPHA is a 10″ Valentine set in an oak case that my husband Daniel made for me. I had expressed a longing to make a Sailors’ Valentine so for a surprise; Dan made me the case for my birthday one year. It has a wooden lid which he had an artist friend paint a ladybug on the cover to represent the nickname that my father gave me as a small child. It sat empty for about 3 years and then slowly I began to gather shells to make a Valentine. I will always keep this Valentine as it was my first and one must begin somewhere. I learned from ALPHA everything that one should not do when making a Sailors’ Valentine! This should give anyone contemplating this art form the impetus to move forward. No one taught me how to make them. I just looked at a few and went for it. You can too!!

ALPHA - My First SV

CORAL BASKET

admin — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:10:11 +0000

Most of the coral and small orange Sea Whips contained inside of this “basket” was found by my husband while he was on a trip with his boat in the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas. The razor clams which form the base of the basket were found on the beach at Jekyll Island, GA. Look closely in the upper left section of the basket and note the little bi-valve Jewel Box clam shell with a pearl inside! The basket is a sliced and polished Chambered Nautilus shell, the background of the Valentine consists of small Ark shells with tiny pink Apple Blossoms as fillers. The perimeter band on the inside of the cherry case is made with Strawberry Top Shells and they are so beautifully vibrant. The twin Purple Ray Clam shells center the top and bottom of the caseThere are Emerald Nerite snails, sliced Purple Analus, Spirula, colorful Coquina shells for the flower and butterfly and last there is even a whole Pink Chiton Scale and smooth White Tusk shells. It is a very colorful piece and this 10″ Valentine was recently sold into a private collection on the west coast of Florida.

1st Place Winner

PURPLE HAZE

admin — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 02:50:57 +0000

PURPLE HAZE is one of my favorite Valentine creations. It is a combination of delicate shells and sea life combined with color and lots of pizzazz! My husband named it after Jimmy Hendrix because he said that it looked like a psychedelic kaleidoscope. The raised centerpiece is actually an antique vintage porcelain brooch atop a clear blown glass circle. Under the glass are lots of white Rice shells intricately placed, making for a 3-D effect that is difficult to detect in a 1 dimensional photograph. The purple shells are sliced Cebu Beauty Coral Snail shells. The arcs between them are formed by large Barnacle claws while local Flagler Beach ivory colored Coquina shells make for nice little flowers, enhanced with tiny lavendar Sea Urchin spine centers. A ring of Spirula add a delicate look and Emerald and Yellow Nerites add colorful contrast, not to mention the deep aqua of the Blue-Green Limpet shells. Tiny white Sand Dollars and more Coquina flowers border the 8″ Maple case.

At any rate, it was a lot of fun to make and I just love it! Sometimes, it would be nice for me to know in advance what my Valentines will look like, but then half the fun of making them is seeing how they turn out! Purple Haze took a 2nd Place Ribbon at the 2008 Jacksonville Shell Show. It is presently located at Showcase Shells in Sanibel Island, FL for sale.

2nd Place Ribbon Winner

SWEET MAGNOLIA

admin — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:59:48 +0000

Summertime in north Florida is a delightful time. The air is laden with the wonderful scent of Grand Magnolia Blossoms. As I drove through the country roads with few buildings save old farmhouses, the beauty of this gorgeous bloom inspired me to create the 8″ Valentine appropriately named SWEET MAGNOLIA. It is encased under glass in an double grooved routered oak case and is presently available for sell at Showcase Shells on Sanibel Island on the west coast of sunny Florida. The centerpiece Magnolia is made with white Cup shells and dyed green Gar scales were used for the leaves. Surrounding the Magnolia are sliced Strawberry Strombus shells with alternating Squilla Claws from the Manta Shrimp for accent. Several rows of creamsicle Clam shells and Emerald Nerite Snails complete the circle. The border of the circel and the 4 pointed star is made of honey colored Rice shells. The star itself is ivory colored fish scales with the background in champagne colored dyed tiny Gar scales, brown striped micro Clam shells topped with bold orange Cat Eye Operculumand trimmed with white Rice shells.

A PERFECT MATCH

admin — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:41:22 +0000

My newest Sailors’ Valentine “A PERFECT MATCH” has a bittersweet ending to it. Most Valentines tell a story, that is why they are so personal for the Giver and the Recipient. This one is no exception. I finally finished this large 18″ Sailorsʼ Valentine that I worked on for 4 months. It was a real struggle for me to complete due to unforeseen circumstances. My cherished and loyal client of 17 years who commissioned me to create this piece for his wife passed away before it could be completed for their 49th Wedding Anniversary on November 7th, 2008. Since I know them personally, it hit me like a ton of bricks and I had to put it aside for a period of time as I just did not have the heart to work on it further. The title is derived from what everyone who knew them always referred to the 2 of them as a couple. I could not resist using it! Neither of them knew what the Valentine theme was to be and I chose it long before he passed away. I am sure that it will have great meaning to her, especially now that he is gone.

I shipped it off to live in Michigan as it will be the last gift that her husband gave to her, even after he was gone from this earth. It is the gift that truly keeps on living and giving! I had a special plaque made for it and have enclosed a picture of it below. I know that it will become a family heirloom that she will pass down to her children one day and they to their children if it is still intact. There are many antique ones that have survived the test of time from the Victorian period. I have never had to let go of a Valentine as quickly as this one but since it took so long to make it and at least 10,000- 12,000 shells (??? - I cannot even guess), I have had enough of it to last me for a good long while. There are 24 different species of shells in “A Perfect Match” and I must say that it was the biggest challenge to date to create. There are Creamsicle Clam shells, Vintage Venetian Pearls, Melissa (Pheasant), Green Tusk shells, Lilac, Cardium Cardissa, Orange Tahiti Snail, Emerald Nerites, Coquina, large and small Squilla Claws, White Baby’s Ears, Red Mongo Snails, Yellow Cup Shells, Blue-Green Limpets, Pink Apple Blossoms, Tessalatta Spotted Olive, White Barnacle Sails, Ivory Gar Scales, Knobby Green Sea Urchin Spines, Pearlized Donkey Abalone Ears, Strawberry Top shells, tiny Brown Button shells, White Rice shells and pale tiny Aqua Operculum. The handmade 18″ case is made of Mahogany with Maple wood inlays and trim.

The 2 smaller Cardium Cardissa reddish Heart shells in ʽA Perfect Matchʼ signify him (Peter) while the larger yellow centerpiece Heart represents her (Gay). “Although, in the outer ring Peter appears distant……………….. he will never be far away because he will always be in Gay’s heart forever”.

Fancy Shell Paperweights

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:30:00 +0000

Recently I launched a new limited series of shell art paperweights. They are absolutely delightful to give as a business or hostess gift or for anyone who just appreciates small intricate shellart. The interiors have colorful and detailed patterns, some uniform and some free form. They are laid on an acid free linen paper base and housed under domed glass which also magnifies the shell art designs. They are 3.5″ in circumference and have felt bottoms to prevent chipping or marring of the rounded glass edges. “Canape” took a 1st Place Ribbon at the Jacksonville Shell Show in the Miniature Class. Two others of noteworthy 1st Place Ribbon recognition are “Aqua Vita” and “Neuturally Natural”. They are all unique AND one-of-a-kind.

Aqua Vita

: Canape

: Seahorse Haven

Naturally Neutral

Broward Shell Show Awards Jan 30 - Feb 1, 2009

admin — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:21:34 +0000

In January 2009, I participated in the Broward Shell Show held annually in Pompano Beach, FL. In additiona to exhibiting 2 of my Sailor’s Valentines, I also had other shell art such as my new collection of miniature shell paperweights, a sea life picture and a Happy Hearts Day Valentine that I made for my husband from a red velvet candy box. I was not disappointed in the final results after the judging was over as I took home three 1st Place Ribbons and two 3rd Place Ribbons. You can read more under the Awards Tab on the left side of the home page.