She Sells Sea Shells...

Around this time two springs ago (yes, I've had this post stored in draft for two years and just found it!), I placed an order for a very special shell heart...





A Mother's Day gift for my mother in law who simply adores the beach...




The heart was actually made by Rhonda, the ultimate beach girl of the blog Shell Belle's Tiki Hut. Some of you may know this, but Rhonda grew up shelling at Malibu and is now shelling along Florida's coasts, both Atlantic and Gulf...




But what you may not know is that Rhonda creates a variety of shell items...




Just take a look at all the intricate details of each heart made up of what Rhonda refers to as "drift shells," a term she coined to describe these shells kissed over and over again by the sea...




What started out as me wanting to take a picture of this creation to show you, ended up with me buying it for myself and buying another for my MIL! But can you blame me? Just look how good it looks with this shell vignette I had on the library table when Rhonda came to visit with the heart in tow...




And while she has other pieces besides hearts, after seeing this one in person, I kept thinking about how well these hearts would work in a summer tablescape...




Or for a special event like an anniversary, birthday, or a summer wedding, particularly one with a coastal motif...




I can even see them being used by the ring bearer...




Or hung on the back of the couple's chairs for the reception, a special keepsake for that special day...




And Rhonda would know how to properly secure these to hang in the middle of a ballroom chair...




How fun this could be!

And if you have special shells of your own, you might even talk to her about incorporating them into the mix...




One thing's for certain, these hearts won't be falling apart in hot and humid or even rainy weather...




No, indeed, because Rhonda knows more about shells than anyone I have ever encountered and has a secret to give them staying power.  After all, she feels her creations are destined to become cherished heirlooms...




And while this one was made to be enjoyed outside, it's going to bring the sea inside and stay right where I can see it and marvel at its complexity. I wish you could see for yourself the dimensional quality of these drift shell pieces...



Photos simply don't do them justice...




Oh, and the good news is, Rhonda can do a custom order if you wish...




So pop on over to the Hut and visit Rhonda and give her a shout...  



But you'll probably have to wait in line behind me because, as you might have noticed, shells are very shiny objects to magpies...



Who have a tendency to, shall we say, hoard them??? ;-)



Right now, I hear the mermaids calling, each to each, and have to run. Hope you enjoyed seeing these shells as much as I do from day to day. The good news? In Florida, shells are a part of our lives all year long.

XO,

Mrs. Magpie (Sheila)


P.S. A few things. I am going to join my friend Claudia at Mockingbird Hill Cottage for "A Favorite Thing" on Saturday. I wish I could link, but I can't do it on this iPAD. So if you'd like to visit her, too, please go over to my sidebar and click the name of her blog, Mockingbird Hill Cottage. Then I am going to join my friend Becky at her blog Timewashed (click on Holiday in the Sun on my sidebar to get there) for her "Blissful White Wednesday". And third, I was not compensated in any way for featuring Rhonda's drift shell pieces other than the pleasure I receive from sharing them with you and from giving Rhonda a pat on the back! :-)