Tuesday's Tip

i feel like it's been forever.  two weeks off from anything can do that to you.  we enjoyed our beach vacation, but even while away, my mind was working.  and one day, while walking along the surf collecting shells, a friend asked, "so, do you have any tuesday's tips for what to do with sea shells?"  funny you should ask.  this one's for you, bethany...

depending on which beach you visit, shells can be a rarity.  this year, they absolutely littered the coastline.

last year, i made it a point to only collect shells with a bit of purple on them.  this year, my goal was to find perfect shells - unbroken and classic. 

i brought home 2 large ziploc bags filled with treasures.  then, as an afterthought, i had my sister bring back a few bags filled with sand.  

i rinsed my shells...

i also cleaned them.  (call me compulsive, but i don't want the odor of decomposing sea creatures emanating from my center piece.  i'm just sayin...)

they dried completely...

and then i got to work.  

chances are, you have lots of decorative glass containers around your house.  most people have vases or even mason jars that will gladly serve double duty for decorative purposes.  if you don't, however, check out the dollar store.  or, if you're fortunate enough to live near an Ikea, stop by.  seriously,  you haven't lived, if you haven't browsed that store at least once.  this project gave me a great excuse to visit my nearby Ikea (thank the good Lord for placing one a mere ten minutes away).  

now, i realize there are a ton of artistic ways to use sea shells.  i mentioned last year's collection of purple shells.  this picture doesn't justify their color, but i like the idea of a color theme when using shells.  it works.

because this year's shells were more about their shape and form, i wanted to showcase them a little bit differently.  here's what i came up with...

with the exception of my trip to Ikea (which was really an unnecessary indulgence for me), this was free art.  i love taking full advantage of what nature has to offer... without bordering on overkill.  using sea shells, subtly, adds a neutral touch of class to your home while reminding you of your fun on the beach.  

i love the idea of using all of what the beach has to offer so much that this tuesday's tip will continue next week...