~PURPLE HAZE
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
