Sunday, June 16, 2013

SUMMER ELEMENTS Blog Hop by TOLTEC JEWELS

Dear sweet Rita (Toltec Jewels) of Jewel School Friends decided a while ago to get us all ready for the Summer festivities, by having a hop to feature what ever we enjoy most about it.

For me, living here in Florida that can only mean "beach time". Not that we didn't also love the Jersey shore when we lived there, but it is so much easier to go when the kids have to pack up their kids, and we just go along for the ride!



Now you know when you are packing that carry-all, there is one thing that can not be forgotten. No, not the towels or beach blanket, no, not the SPF50 sun screen. It's the nylon bag of plastic pails, shovels and shapes for the obligatory sand castle creations that are planned, by you know who.







Did you ever wonder why, when the little ones have a whole ocean to play in, they HAVE TO dig a hole and then try and fill it with water, one pail at a time?

Of course, if you have older cousins, that pail of water may have a whole 'nother use.











 


One day after one of our wonderful adventures, I decided to create a beach theme pendant to memorialize those precious moments, which I call "A Day at the Beach". I stamped and painted a skinner blend to mimic the sky and the ocean coming together. Then I took some of that sand that always finds its way into your clothing and included it into the shoreline of the pendant. Of course, the plastic pail that was used for all the water fun, and then a collection bucket for sea shells, shiny stones, some sea glass if we were lucky, had to take its place on my beach. No self respecting shore is complete without sea grass, and gulls flying over, so they too got created and attached.


To complete the scene I added tiny real sea shells that had a special meaning for our family, and used even more of them to create the necklace for the pendant. Our oldest son got married at Sandals in Antigua, and our two other sons went with my husband and I to be there for it.

You know there is more to the story though. One evening, my youngest son drove me to a secluded, rocky beach to enjoy the sunset, and it was full of these amazingly perfect miniature shells. Why did we collect so many? Well, since he dropped the rental car keys almost immediately upon getting there, it then took us an hour to comb through and find them again. To this day he still cringes when he sees any of those shells.


Please enjoy the other blog posts from so many wonderful entrants in Rita's Blog Hop.

Toltec Jewels (Hostess) http://www.jewelschoolfriends.com/
Christie (Charis Designs) http://charisdesignsjewelry.blogspot.com/
Andrea Glick-Zenith http://zenithjade.blogspot.com/
Kathleen Breeding https://www.facebook.com/99BOBOTW

 

20 comments:

  1. Marlene, Beach days are soo fun. I wish I lived closer to the coast. I want to be able to take my grandsons. One day soon. :)
    Love love love the pendant.

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  2. Very cute story about the shells! Thanks for sharing it.

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  3. Hahaha - great story, Marlene - and such a great piece. I also love your blueberries!

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  4. Oh Florida, view from here in France, Florida is a dream. Beautiful story about the shell, I love Antigua, I Lived in Caribbean. Very beautiful Sea theme necklace.

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  5. I'm from Florida and miss living so close to the beach. Not that I'm a huge beach bunny, but the air is more ionized and I love to comb for shells. That made me laugh because I made my husband and father-in-law stay on the beach at Southport for well over an hour, fully clothed, so I could collect shells. I love the necklace and the story behind it.

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  6. Marlene, what a delightful post! I love the wonderful pictures of your family "little ones" playing at the beach, your funny memories. LOL, oh, the car keys! lol ... but so worth it now for us since we get to enjoy your beautiful shell art necklace! ;)

    And your art!! Can't say enough about your incredible art work! I love it, every detail, the colors, the style. Adding shells and sand is brilliant too. I hope you make many more for your shop -- hint, hint!

    And more of your fab BLUEBERRIES too! When I searched for blueberry beads online to find not a one, you made my heart so happy and created the most beautiful blueberry beads. Thank you :)

    Love you! Thanks for sharing what you love about summer,

    Rita

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  7. What an amazing idea. I love it

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  8. What a lovely pendant you made Marlene...together with the shell necklace a piece that makes you remember all those very special Days at the Beach with your family!

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  9. I am so jealous Marlene. My favorite place in the world is by the ocean. And to have one where the weather gets warm enough to play in.. And the bead is just perfect.

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  10. Your necklace is gorgeous! And I love the beach - so THANK YOU for the beach photos!!

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  11. What a great pendant, Marlene! Loved the beach story!

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  12. Love the story and love the necklace too!

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  13. Wonderful design Marlene,and the story [and the lost keys] is just great!! I love the necklace and all it means to you and yours!!! Have A Blessed day!!

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  14. I love beach too...
    Love your story & your necklace... :)

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  15. Oh yeah!!! Looks like great fun. I'm glad you shared the beautiful shells ... nice piece of jewelry.

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  16. Oh your pendent is so sweet. Your post was delightful. The story about dropping the keys made me laugh. I'm sure at the time it was frustrating but you definitely managed to make the best of it and anytime you come home with shells is a good time to me.

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  17. I love your new creation- just beautiful! And what a lovely sentimental piece! *love*

    <3,
    Andrea

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  18. LOVE your pendant, Marlene. And how funny you would mention the Jersey Shore. Wildwood was our vacation spot when we lived in Pennsylvania and I miss it even more after reading your post. Also enjoyed the pics of the kiddies playing.

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  19. I love your beach story. Me and my little ones do exactly the same - dig big holes for a sea "bath". And what a perfect way to remember with your beautiful pendant!

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  20. Your pendant is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing photos of you family :)

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