And what I have are oyster shells. Lots and lots of oyster shells.
What started off as a couple of shells in my pocket while walking the beach, ended up as 2 sons, 1 nephew and 1 cousin dragging heavy buckets of shells down the beach for me. Gotta love having boys.
As I was picking up each one, I was musing about the post I was going write comparing myself to the lowly oyster shell.
How those exterior shells are formed layer by layer over time. Each layer giving more protection to the inside.
How their real beauty is only revealed as some of those layers are chipped away. 
How over time, the rough and broken edges are softened and smoothed by the waves and the sand. 
But honestly, I'm not a writer. I don't usually have the right words to express my thoughts. Most of the time, I'm just a clown.
So I stuck a bunch of those shells in a glass hurricane. Pretty, no? That's my kind of decorating. Free.
Now, put on your thinking caps. Who has some good ideas for what I can do with 73 lbs of oyster shells?
Don't forget! Tomorrow is DIY Day! Get those project posts ready! Thursday's have quickly become my favorite day of the week because I LOVE seeing all of your projects.
And guess what!!!! This time there's going to be a prize for DIY Day!!! MckLinky will make his appearance at 10:00pm (eastern time) tonight. I think that's fair to east and west coasters, right?
Speaking of giveaways...My dear friend, Sandy from 4 Reluctant Entertainers is hosting a great giveaway from The Hip Hostess. Check it out!
43 comments {Click here to leave a comment}:
Maybe one of those lamps that you an fill the inside would be cool for the oyster shells? It would look great with the hurricane.
Funny, but as much as I love picking up shells, I always leave the oyster shells, not seeing the beauty in them. Everything's pretty in a hurricane, isn't it?
I have seen where people crush them and turn them into a little walkway...perhaps in your garden? Your boys would really have to pick up a lot! Keep 'em busy this summer.
I was skeptical when I saw the first oyster picture, but they really do look lovely in that hurricane. :) I'm excited about the DIY this week. I love reading everyone's ideas...my "file" is growing each week with fun stuff to think about trying. :)
I've noticed those shell covered mirrors keep popping up in magazines & other design spots. Mirrors are cheap all the time, heck I found a free vanity with one on it in the trash this weekend. It might be pretty to do that.
Oh, oh, oh -- just thought of another! I bet they would make a FABULOUS summer wreath. You could use a wreath form or you could probably even find one of those old wicker wreaths at Goodwill and completely cover it. Use a big ribbon to hang it and you would be in "bidness!"
Thanks, Kimba, now you've got me going and I'll be thinking about your shells all day!
Hugs,
Gina
Oh, that is very pretty. I love the soft, subtle colors.
I think they're pretty in the jar. I was going to say a wreath or a walkway of crushed shells.
Well, do you have 73 glass hurricanes? ; ) They are really pretty in that one!
I've never seen oyster shells close up! They are beautiful! They look great in the hurricane! You could use them as place holders at a dinner table. Write names directly on them with a paint pen or use a ribbon to attach a name tag of some sort. Flip them over and place a tea light candle. Soap dish? Glue them together like this seashell deal I found...
http://junkologie.blogspot.com/2009/05/junking-finds-may-4-10-2009.html
I have quite a few of those from the beach, too. Love them. I also have fossil oyster shells! I found them on a trip to a friend's farm that is chock full of fossils.
That looks great!!! I like to have them in a bowl somewhere too,with sea glass or plain old glass baubles..I use them to hold things too...my latest shell is holding paper clips on my desk...they are great votive holders...or arranged on tower of cake pedestals...love those shells!
m ^..^
PhD Shellology
I know what you can do with them! Send some to me! I think they're neat looking. I like that you put them in a hurricane and think it looks fab!
I also think a covered mirror would be nice.
They look fabulous in the hurricane. I love all the pretty shapes and colors they are. I see bloggers covering just about everything with them, so get out the hot glue and glue away. I can't wait to see what you create. Hugs, Marty
I actually love the oyster shells in the glass hurricane! It is really summery! Never even thought about doing this before but thanks for the great tip!
Oh and your words are well spoken...sounds like a great writer to me!
Oh wow, 73lbs. of oyster shells. I think oyster shells are the ugly duckling of shells. We always pass them by because they don't awe us like other beautiful shells do. But you changed that with your post. You took some great picks of the oyster shells and showed their true beauty.
I think a galvanized rectangle tray filled with sand and topped with the oysters and three small hurricanes filled with sand and tea lights would be beautiful for a dining table.
A vase filled with them and some white long stemmed flowers would be beautiful. Of course the vase would have to be glass so you could appreciate the oyster shells.
These are all great ideas! I've made shells into little candles - beautiful for a summer dinner party. Did anyone mention drilling holes through and stringing them for a beach garland? Make an outdoor mosaic tabletop? Mulch? Can't wait to see what you come up with!!
Hm... oyster shell giveaway for those of us who don't live by the beach? ;-)
Well, now you've gone and made regret not allowing my four year old bring his entire collection of finds from our recent trip to a beach house in North Carolina! ;)
Lucky for me, my mom is going back with her girlfriends at the end of the month so I can sweet talk her into doing some shell seeking for me. Looks great and I have WAY too many clear decorative vases like that to choose from. Thanks!
when i first started reading this post, i totally thought you were going to be making this, which i LOVE: http://www.wisteria.com/Oyster-Mirror/productinfo/W2790/
they also have these, which would be super easy: http://www.wisteria.com/Oyster-Shell-Candleholder/productinfo/W2950/
i love your blog! so inspiring to me as my new husband and i decorate our first home :)
So pretty in the glass. I have a friend here in town that uses hers as mulch in a small little bed of ferns and azaelas at the side of her house. It is unexpected and very cute!
The hurricane is nice. I think I would deck out a mirror or frame. Of course it would go into my mental project pile and never get done, but I would think about it.
That's a beautiful shell collection! (You should try hot gluing the other 73 lbs of shells onto a wreath form. It would be heavy....but oh so lovely.)
I always love the way shells look in the garden. Maybe you could use them as a decorative edging/border.
I am currently covering a yard sale lamp base with oyster shells that is looking great. I also do cheap picture frames and have a large mirror that I did a few years ago.
We are redoing our bedroom maybe next week I will have some pictures up on the blog of it finished with theses projects in place.
hugs, Cherry
Love your blog!
I haven't decided if I am more impressed with your projects or your photography; as you seem to excel at both! The shells are absolutely glorious! How come all of the ones I pick up are ugly or shattered to bits? I bow to your talent! ~Nards
I love all the subdoed subdewed sub-dude? colors of the shells! They look great! Thursday is my favorite day, too! Can't wait to go through everything!
Hot glue them to a wreath?
My mom makes shell wreaths (shells, hot glue & straw wreath base) from all her beautiful shells that she finds when vacationing at the beach. She had all her 'ugly' shells left over so she made an 'ugly' shell wreath and it's beautiful! They catch the light and all their pretty colors glow.
Great way to display your collection. I'll have to check back in for the DIY day.
Hello Kimba - I love those oyster shells. They are so pretty and each have their own unique shape and color! I like how you've displayed some of them in the hurricane.
Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com
Others have suggested ways to use them as candles - here's another (similar) idea from Martha Stewart:
http://www.marthastewart.com/good-things/shell-candles
how about hot glueing them to tablemats as a sort of charger
I love oyster shells, we are heading to the beach soon and I'm sure gonna pick some up now
I picked up a bunch of oyster shells at one of our last beach walks, washed them carefully and put them in a hurricane jar.
Until our house started to STINK to the high heavens. Finally realized where the stench was coming from.
You guessed it, oyster shells.
Now they stay outside and I occasionally catch a whiff of the sea, and then I remember I am smelling the shells on my deck! :-)
Not sure I would be brave enough to use them in the house again, unless I could figure out a way to permanently erase their stink!
Check out Cindy at myromantichome.blogspot.com She made a wreath out of shells about 2 weeks ago and a link to a tutorial about 1 year ago.
Here I am living at the beach and I have never thought of putting oyster shells in a hurricane! What a fabulous look! *smiles*
I have my post ready...I just have to add the little DIY button!
Kimba - you just HAVE to do a giveaway with some of those shells! Some of us would LOVE to share in your dilemma!! Maybe between some creative minds out there, we can all find unique things to do with an otherwise ordinary material!
Just a thought...
I love the shells. I also like them in the glass jars with the sand. Would look darling in a bathroom. I will be showing a Christmas tree I made of old jewelry one day and that is something you could do with the small shells only not on a Christmas tree.
This link might give you some inspiration http://itsthelittlethingsthatmakea
houseahome.blogspot.com/2009/07/simple-seashell-shadowboxes.html
I like Gina's idea - they would look great glued to a frame or made into a wreath.
We live close to the beach and I have started collecting drift wood to make into a wreath.
Beautiful ideas! I love the mirror, picture frames, and wreath.
I've seen a bathroom vanity covered in shells - it was stunning! An ambitious project, to be sure, but the outcome is amazing! Plus, you do have 73 lbs of 'em....
Did you ever see Heather Chadduck from Coastal Living (former Cottage Living style editor) fireplace? She covered the entire surround with oyster shells. It was fabulous!
A chandelier!!!
http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/05/window-shopping-sweet-savannah/
~Lisa R.
Oooh... LOVELY! Love the idea... I have sea shells from our honeymoon to figure out a way to display. LOVE the idea!
Those shell looks beautiful in the glass....
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