Seashell Art

When you stop to think about it, seashells are the ultimate DIY project. They're designed, created, and decorated by tiny sea creatures working alone all hours of the day.  There is tremendous incentive for these creatures to complete their homes on time and under budget.  Otherwise, in their homeless, shell-less state, they risk being devoured by a pesky predator.  Fortunately for us, the consequences of overdue or over budget home improvement projects are [usually] less dire.

I've been intrigued by seashells ever since I learned how to put on a bathing suit by myself.  I like to display shells, but I don't want my home to look like a beach house, especially since it's not a beach house. And especially since it's 50 degrees or below outside nearly half the days of the year. 

The pieces shown here are by artist Peggy Green.  They have an old-world look reminiscent of Sailor's Valentines (above) and Victorian pincushions (below).  I'd feel under dressed in flip-flops and a T-shirt around these.      

The variety of soft colors and repetitive, carefully arranged patterns keep the frames and boxes from looking weekend-at-the-beach crafty.

I have a large framed mirror from a consignment store that could use some tasteful razzle-dazzle.  The shells are inexpensive to buy online.  The only problem is that beach season is almost here and the thought of me at home, alone with nothing but a bottle of Aleene's Tacky Glue and hundreds of shells while everyone else is outdoors is not appealing.  Although shells are synonymous with summer days and sandy beaches, this may be a better project for the cold nights of winter 2012.

All photos from Antique Shops and Designers Magazine, Volume 5. Photographer unknown.