I just returned from our annual Spring Break trip to the Panhandle of Florida. I’ve told you in past posts about how I love to incorporate nature into my work. And as usual, I found something new to inspire me. One of my favorite things to do is walk the white sand beach looking for seashells. Since we’ve been going for quite awhile I’ve become quite picky about what I pick up and actually keep.
Every year is different, one year there were very few whole shells to be found so I started collecting broken pieces which I brought home and used in my Seashells by the Seashore Pendants.
Another year, one of my kids found this shell and I promptly came home and incorporated it into one of my favorite necklaces to date. I have yet to find another shell with that much texture going on. But this spirally shell helped inspire another one of my favorite beach necklaces…
This year was a GREAT shell year. There were more shells on the beach than any of us could remember. So needless to say, I brought quite a few home. They’ve really inspired me! I can’t wait to head out to the studio and come up with new beads to integrate with my new found treasures. Hopefully, I’ll be back soon with some of the results!
Nancy Sells Puffer is a lampwork bead/jewelry artist from Grand Rapids, MI. She blogs from time to time and has a website as well…
Erin Prais-Hintz says:
How cool is that? To go on a relaxing vacation to a tropical locale and be INSPIRED at the same time?! It doesn’t get any better than this! Can’t wait to see what you come up with…and if you need any encouragement, the gals at Art Bead Scene have Botticelli’s Birth of Venus as their master art inspiration…the shells would fit right in! Enjoy the day!
Erin
April 15th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Nancy says:
Thanks Erin! I’ll have to head over to ABS and check it out.
April 16th, 2009 at 10:31 am