Local Shellin!

Photo Frame with Seashells and Sea Glass

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The best part of creating wall hangings and seashell embellished photo frames is that it gives me an excuse to be at the beach collecting seashells. 

I've been spending some time on Friday mornings -- hitting the local beaches to collect shells.  Here is a landmark on Revere Beach - Kelly's Roast Beef.  It's a great place to get fried clams, lobster rolls and fish.  I stopped there for a breakfast sandwich and coffee before hunting for shells. 

Here's the sun shining over Revere Beach one morning. 

Well, this is what you have to choose from on Revere Beach.  Not a lot of interesting stuff but if you look closely you can find some gems.

Of course, these seagulls are permanent residents along Revere Beach.  Lot's of them hang out by Kelly's and feast on not only what washes up with the tide but also what people will share of their Kelly's dinners.  You really need to be careful because if you leave your food unguarded -- they will come and steal it. 

 . 

 These seagulls prefer fresh over fried seafood.

 Here are some of the seashells I collected this week.  Some of them are just bits of broken seashells that some would pass by.  I love these though because even though they are broken -- they are tossed and their rough edges are all smoothed out. Each one is unique.

Visit my Etsy shop here to see where I have used some of these collected seashells to the embellished photo frames and other nautical themed wreaths and wall hangings. 
Here is my facebook page -- my twitter, google+ and pinterest. 

Janeen T.of JT Web Marketing on Etsy

I was approached recently by Janeen T.of JT Web Marketing with an offer to edit some of my pictures in exchange for a blog post about her shop and services.

Press release writing for your Etsy shop

She is an internet enthusiast with over ten years of web experience who just recently opened her Etsy shop. Having quality photos in your Etsy shop is so important so I was thrilled with the offer and anxious to see what she could do to improve my photos.  I send her 5 of my product photos and she edited and lightened up the backgrounds in each.  Here are some of the before and after photos.

Edited photo

My original photo

 Janeen offers various services in her JT Web Marketing Etsy shop.  Besides photo editing, her other services include Banner and Logo Designs, Website and Blog Header Designs, Product Description Writing, Video Advertisement Creation, Press Release Writing and Submission, and Article Writing.  I don't know about you but I know I could use help with all of those.  Click here to view her listing for photo editing. 

A Morning on Revere Beach

 One morning recently, I spent a bit of time at our local beach. 
 
It's not the most scenic beachfront but none the less, it is nice to visit first thing in the morning to walk and collect some seashells. 


These are the pictures I took that morning.

Seashell Heart Wreath

It was a bit of a cloudy somewhat overcast morning with the sun peeking through.  

Photo Frame with Seashells and Sea glass

Many of the shells that I use in my wreaths and photo frames are collected right here on Revere Beach








 
The week before was the yearly sand sculpting festival.  Usually the creations last for weeks but we had just had a major thunder lighting hail storm the day before so some of the creations were destroyed but here are some that were still standing. 

 Look at the incredible detail on this one.

This one was a tribute to Fenway Park, where the Boston Red Sox play and also honored the festival sponsors.

I hope you enjoyed the visit to Revere Beach,  in my hometown, and the oldest public beach.

Beach House Decorating

Since I love anything about the beach I thought I would search around Etsy to see what I could find in beach decor.  Here's my Etsy beach finds:

a sweet little "Life's a Beach" sign for your entryway. 

Primitive Country Sign

Shell collection in an antique soda crate

How about a seashell collection?

This beautiful seashell collection is made using an antique soda crate and carefully selected shell specimens. The "cabinet" is an antique find: an old Pepsi crate. The outside is a grey color, almost whitewashed with a red Pepsi Cola logo. Each of 24 "cubbies" holds a unique seashell specimen. Perfectly worn and rustic.

Seashell Table Lamp

 Here's a nice table lamp decorated with seashells and aqua blue glass.  This would be really pretty in a beach house. This seashell lamp is made using the traditional stained glass method. Every lamp is a unique creation. Soothing Aqua glass gems are Interwoven throughout the shade.

Starfish Watercolor

 
 
Who doesn't love starfish?  Here is a lovely print to decorate your beach house walls. This print is a reproduction of an original watercolor painting by Kelly Bermudez. It is printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art paper which is high quality, beautiful and Certified Archival. The print looks very much like an original watercolor painting

Heart Twig Wreath with Seashells

Here is a twig heart wreath from my Angels and Everlastings Etsy Shop with assorted seashells and sea glass.  This heart shaped twig wreath is embellished with seashells and sea glass and measures approximately 18" across from tip to tip. This wall hanging is perfect for rustic home decor. If you love the beach and nautical decor this wreath is for you

Jewelry Holder or Key Rack

Seashell jewelry holder or key rack.  Brighten up your vanity, bathroom, bedroom, closet, mudroom, or home with this beautiful jewelry or key holder. Use It as a fun, stylish jewelry rack to hang up your most treasured, or well-worn pieces. No more digging through a box to get just the right one!
This also can be used by the front door or in the office to hold your keys. Easy to find when you're rushing out the door!



For those that are unfamiliar with Etsy, it is a on-line marketplace for handmade items.  There were so many beach decor choices on Etsy and it was hard to choose so I know that this will be the first of many Etsy beach posts I will make.  I hope you enjoyed my choices.  Take a look on Etsy here for more beach listings.  Check out my Etsy shop for  seashell and sea glass embellished photo frames, silk and dried flower wreaths and wall hangings at Angels and Everlastings.

Shop Feature - Wits End Design on Etsy

Wits End Design carries cross stitched items, needlework, vintage and collectibles.   A new item in Wits End Design is personalized stitched jewelry.

Personalized Embroidered Pendant

Friend Cross Stitch Sampler

Lorrie of Wits End Design opened her Etsy shop in Feb. '09 It was an outlet to engage her creative side while doing office work full time. She eventually left her job and began to dedicate her time to making her shop more than just a hobby.  She initially started selling just her own cross stitch projects, towels, bibs and samplers.


 

Friends For Life - Cross Stitch Pattern

Since she was also a thrifter at heart, she added needlepoint kits and patterns to her Etsy shop that she would pick up at thrift shops.

Evening Gown with Scarf and Jacket

It wasn't long before she also began selling sewing patterns too.  Here is just one of many patterns available in the Wits End Design Etsy shop.  Take a look at her Sewing Pattern/Notions section here.  She has quite an extensive selection of patterns available.

Her love of vintage also found it 's way into her shop in the Vintage Corner section.

Small Fruit Themed Plates

Lorrie says "Every once in a while I find a real nugget that I can add there".

Check out Lorrie's Etsy shop at Wits End Design.
She currently has about 250 items in her shop and sells mostly to other crafters and those looking for home accents or gifts. Follow her facebook page at Wits End Design facebook page.

CAST team treasury - He leads me beside still waters

Ladies Night at ZUMIX | Zumix

I will be a vendor at this local event in East Boston on Thursday 6/28 from 6:30 to 9:00..

Click here for more info - Ladies Night at ZUMIX | Zumix

This is a fundraiser for Zumix in East Boston, Ma. Zumix is a non-profit organization that provides musical opportunites for inner city kids at no cost or low cost.  They are raising money for one of their rock bands who have the opportunity to perform in Europe this summer.  I am pleased to be able to participate, and I hope you will come out and help this worthy cause. Here is a link to the Zumix website and a bit of information about the history of Zumix. 

I will be selling my seashell and sea glass embellished photo frames,

When my daughter was in middle school, she had very little interest in school and had no interest in sports.  She had limited academic success and needed help with social skills.  She had very few interests but had the unusual interest in rapping.  At least I thought it was unusual.

my silk and dried flower wreaths,

  So I set about looking for some way to support that one and only interest. Somehow I found my way to Zumix where my daughter attended a song writing workshop twice weekly.  My daughter didn't go beyond that first class, but it was really beneficial for her while she attended.  I could see that what they provided was a great opportunity for young at risk teens. They gave them something to do to keep them out of trouble and away from drugs and gang activity.

and wall hangings.

  There are plenty of programs for kids who are athletics or interested in sports but this is a unique program which provides for those kids who's interest is musical or the arts.  I don't know of any other programs like this that provide musical training at low cost or no-cost.  So, I benefited first hand from the work that Zumix does and am pleased to be able to participate in the Ladies Night Out on 6/28.  I hope to see you there!