Lark On The Sand

Handmade Seashell Art and Home Decor by Rebecca Fitzgibbon [email protected] For Sale on Etsy Facebook !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs'); (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.0"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));

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Waves of abalone keeping time with cowry shells. #larkonthesand #seashells #seashellart

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Tiny Abalones on a Mini Frame

I spent a wonderful afternoon creating a miniature seashell frame with tiny seashells. I kept to cool colors, trying to create an active ocean scene. I included many dyed seashells, as well as some of my favorite natural ones. 

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Restocking some seashell flowers for my etsy shop! A few more pink rose cup flowers and white cup seashell flowers.

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Pink Rose Cup Waves 

A few months ago I made this delicate pink and blue seashell frame. I used a beautiful, wide silver frame as the base, and began with the intention to create a soft seashell design with pinks. My seashell frames have become very colorful and loud lately, and I wanted to push myself to make a more feminine piece. I tried to keep to a softer color pallet, but I couldn’t refrain from including strong blues and yellows, as well as the softer pinks. I tried to showcase rose cup shells, like pink waves breaking over a beach. When I was nearly finished I had some conflicting design ideas. I included pictures showing some of my ideas. My instinct was to add lots of blue, but I really wanted to keep it very feminine, and to do something different than my usual designs. In the end I decided on a little more blue, but balanced with sparkling crushed seashells and tiny apple blossom flowers, as well as another row of rose cup waves. I pushed a little out of my comfort zone, but not too far :)

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Ornaments in the Summer

I'm still enjoying making seashell ornaments! They are festive, bite size sailors valentines. The small size encourages intricacy and allows me to explore colors and designs that I would not want to gamble on in a larger piece. Some turn out to be better gambles than others ;-) Here are a pair in simple white with delicate details.

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The alternate side of a large seashell ornament. An outer square of tiny abalone shells frames Hawaiian rice shells, purple gar scales, green nerites and an inner spotted dove flower on a bed of crushed purple seashells.

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A close up on a large seashell ornament. A wreath of tiny abalone surrounds rings of spotted nassa shells, blue littorinas, and gar scales, dyed soft blue and purple. Framing the circles are waves of pink apple blossoms, enclosed in yellow littorina edges.

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Christmas is over, but I'm still enjoying making seashell ornaments. Here, I'm using some tiny, beautifully dyed shells that I ordered from Florida. I love the bright color palette, and the unexpected color options that the dyed shells allow me to use.

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Playing with different layouts on a square blue mirror. On the inside, rows of yellow littorina, yellow nerites and tiny abalone. In balanced clusters around the frame are candy stripe snail shells, white umbonium shells, and lily cut chula shells.

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DIY Tutorial: Delicate Three Layer Seashell Flower

Here is a diy tutorial for a small, delicate 3 layer seashell flower. I am using apple blossom seashells, but it can also be made with other clam style seashells. The important thing is to have 3 sizes of the same shell. 

The trick to this flower (and to most of the flowers I make) is the glue mat and the 527 glue. The glue peels easily off the mat, so you can make the flowers directly on the mat, then peel them off and they are ready to go. 

Supplies:

9 large apple blossom seashells

6 medium apple blossom seashells

2 tiny apple blossom seashells

1 tiny yellow littorina seashell

527 glue

hot glue gun mat

tweezers

small, sharp scissors

I purchased my supplies from Michael’s. My seashells are either from my great-grandmother, or from Deltona Seashells, which has beautiful seashells and ships from the US. There are also many great seashell supply stores on etsy.

Step 1: The first thing to do is make the middle flower layer of 6 medium-sized petals. It needs to dry a little before it can be picked up, and it needs to be picked up first. Begin by squeezing a small dollop of glue onto the mat.

Step 2: Using the tweezers, place each seashell petal on the glue, over lapping each other, forming a circle. When you reach the end, slide the last petal slightly under the first one, closing the circle.

Step 3: While you let this middle layer dry a little, make the outer layer of the 9 largest petals. Squeeze a second, larger circle of glue on the mat, a little bigger than a dime.

Step 4: Using the largest of the petals, place them one at a time in a circle, slightly overlapping, as you did with the middle layer. The circle will be larger, as there are more petals, and they are larger. When you reach the last petal, slip it slightly under the first petal, closing the circle.

Step 5: When the outer layer is complete, check to see if the 6 petal middle layer is dry enough to move. It needs to be flexible so that it can fold into the larger layer, but it needs to be dry enough to not fall apart when it's moved. Carefully peal up the medium-sized 6 petal flower. Using the tweezers, pull up a little at one side of the flower, (ideally holding onto dry glue, not seashell). Let go, then pull up a little on the opposite side, then move around the circle pulling the sides up gently. If the petals don't stay together, wait a few more minutes, then try again. While you want the flower to stay together, you don't want the glue very dry. If the glue is too dry, this layer won't fold into the outer layer.

Step 6: Once the middle layer is off the mat, grab your small, sharp scissors. The glue will be gummy, but do your best to cut off any excess glue around the sides.

Step 7: Place a dollop of glue in the middle of the 9 petal outer layer of petals.

Step 8: Place the 6 petal flower directly onto the 9 petal flower, then, suing the tweezers, press the middle flower down in the middle. The flower should fold together, and the petals curve upward.

Step 9: Using your fingers, pinch the outer flower layer a little. This will bring the whole flower together.

Step 10: The final pieces to add are the middle 2 petals and the tiny yellow littorina center. Put a dab of glue in the middle of the flower.

Step 11: Place each tiny petal inside. They should stand up right, off to each side, so that the littorina can fit into the center. I find this to be the hardest step. The shells are small, and easily slide under each other. It might take a few tries, but eventually you want to see the littorina in the middle, with a tiny petal on each side.

Step 12: The flower is now just about finished. Wait at least 30 minutes, until the glue is dry and the flower fairly solid. Then pull the flower up, off of the mat, tugging on different sides until the flower comes up. It the petals wiggle as you pull on them, let it sit another 10 minutes, then try again. When it is off the mat, trim the excess glue with your small, sharp scissors.

The flower is now finished! The glue will continue to strengthen over the next 24 hours. It's ready to be used in a seashell bouquet, sailor's valentine, jewelry or other project, or simply as a lovely little flower!

If you like this flower, but don't want to be bothered to make it yourself, I sell them at Lark on the Sand on Esty . I also make and sell many other seashell flowers.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments! Happy shelling!

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My Past in Seashell Mosaics 

I was clearing out some storage and I found some pieces that I made years ago, when I was just beginning to make my own seashell crafts. When I first started, I liked creating eclectic mosaics. Each shell was carefully placed, trying to balance color and texture, and to not leave any empty space. Generally, I liked a bit of asymmetry, but not too much. I wanted the shells to look like they had naturally found their way together. It’s an aesthetic that I still enjoy, though many other pieces show the potential of this style much better.  These early pieces are rather clumsy.

I’m usually excited to see my older work. I feel so good when I’m creating, and I love remembering how the feeling has so often been part of my life. It’s also very neat to see my improvement. Some of my first pieces were rather dreadful. While I like looking at my older work, I often cringe looking at the beautiful shells that I used. My earliest work was almost exclusively my great-grandmother Ann’s shells. She and my great-grandfather traveled the world collecting them, and she made her own seashell art. I am very blessed to have inherited a great number of these shells, and even now I still incorporate them into most of my pieces. When I first began, I used them almost exclusively.

Now, when I look at many of my early pieces, I see so many beautiful, special and often expensive seashells in such clumsy frames. Many of the shells are no longer available, and I will never be able to replace. It seems a waste. I know that I had a great time making the pieces and that I could not have improved without going through all of my old pieces, but I would love to still have the shells, and to be able to make much better pieces with them. 

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My first finished Christmas ornament of the year! As a crafter, Christmas begins in August (but let's not start the carols yet).

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It's August, but I'm thinking of Christmas. Beginning to make a series of sailors valentine style ornaments.

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You can now find seashell decor by Lark on the Sand in Half Moon Bay, California! Seascapes Gifts of the Sea sells Lark on the Sand as well as so many other beautiful seashells and gifts. I feel honored to have my work in such a beautiful store!

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An Evolving Opinion on Dyed Shells

I have been loving the teal-dyed littorina shells that I ordered recently. They are the first dyed seashells that I’ve bought. I was very hesitant to use dyed shells, as I felt as thought they were dishonest. Natural shells are so perfect. Nature did such a magnificent job, what could we do to improve them? But then I saw the deep color of these shells. I loved the color. A deep, saturated teal, a little dappled, reminding me if ocean waves.

I gave into my craving and ordered them. When they arrived, I thought that they were just stunning! The deep teal was exactly what I needed for my work. I often have trouble when I make a lot of seashell pieces. So many feminine pinks and whites. I love seashells, and love making art and decor with them. My home is filled with shells. The problem is that seashells are so darn sweet. I love them, but I don't love a house full of delicate pinks. If only they had a bit more of an edge. These teal shells have the effect of balancing the femininity of the other shells. I can have all the shells I want, and not be awash in a sea of pinks.

I realized that there is a time for sticking with natural shells, but doing it exclusively is limiting. Rarely can we improve on nature, but I don't want to limit myself. If shells are beautiful, and if I like them, then I will use them. So long as the shells are not endangered, or obtained in a harmful way, I will try to be open-minded. 

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DIY Tutorial: Tiny Apple Blossom Seashell Flower

Here is a DIY tutorial for a simple six petal apple blossom seashell flower. Many other seashells can be used following these same instructions, with more or fewer petals, to make an infinite number of lovely seashell flowers of all sizes. 

The trick to this flower (and to most of the flowers I make) is the glue mat and the 527 glue. The glue peels easily off the mat, so you can make the flowers directly on the mat, then peel them off and they are ready to go. 

Supplies:

6 apple blossom seashells (all the same size)

1 tiny yellow littorina seashell

527 glue

hot glue gun mat

tweezers

small, sharp scissors

I purchased my supplies from Michael’s Arts and Crafts. My seashells are either from my great-grandmother, or from Deltona Seashells, which has beautiful seashells and ships from the US. There are also many great seashell supply stores on etsy. 

Step 1: Sort through your apple blossom seashells, finding 6 that are the same size and color.

Step 2: Place a small dollop of 527 glue on the glue gun mat.

Step 3: One at a time, place the seashells onto the glue. Angle them a bit upward, on the edge of the glue. Place the second one touching the first, overlapping slightly. Place the rest of the shells, overlapping, so that they curve around. When all six seashells are in place, they will create a small circle. 

Step 4: When you get to the last flower, place it to close the small circle. Slide the last flower slightly under the first flower, so that they all overlap slightly all the way around the circle. You might need to adjust the petals a bit, to get them in the precise desired position. When the glue dries, the flower will be solid, so make sure it looks as you want it to.

Step 5: To add the yellow center, place a small dot of glue in the middle of the flower.

Step 6: Using your tweezers, place the tiny yellow littorina in the middle of  the flower, press it gently into position. 

Step 7: Wait at least 30 minutes for the glue to dry. When you think it’s ready, use the tweezers or your fingers to tug one side of the flower up a little off the mat. If it seems solid, and the petals don’t wiggle, then pull it off all the way. If they do wiggle, let it sit another 10 minutes, then try again.

Step 8: Flip the flower over. Using the small, sharp scissors, trim off any excess glue. 

Voila! One tiny, pink seashell flower :-)

If you like this flower, but don’t want to be bothered to make it yourself, I sell them at Lark on the Sand on Esty I also make and sell many other seashell flowers.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments! Happy shelling!

Lark on the Sand on tumblr

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Adding Mexican olive shells to a dark wooden frame. But where to put them?