paint cut paste

on memorial day weekend, our family just had a little stay-cation here in northern california. one of the days, we drove along highway 1 to check out some sights along the coast. we rolled the windows down and cranked the alexi murdoch, and set out over the coastal range and through the redwoods to the beach…

when we arrived at the beach, we realized that it was a good 26 degrees cooler on the shore than it was 36 miles away at our house, so we threw on our jackets and scarves and enjoyed the sand anyway! whenever i go to the beach, i barely see the vistas, as i keep my head in the sand.

that is, i am an avid sheller! and i think it is hereditary, as i got it from my mom and i gave it to my daughter.

we gathered some lovely little shells that day…

we spent the afternoon having a lovely organic lunch at davenport roadhouse and visiting the lighthouse at pillar point. (yes, i’m getting to the art part, but i have to share these lovely views with you all!)

back at home, we looked through our beach booty once it was washed. many of the shells along that stretch of sand were like white Os, which begged to be strung.

("O shells" in bottom right section)

sure we made a necklace (for a friend’s bday)…

(and i was tempted to make 100 more)

but then N chose some seafoam green embroidery thread, and we began to tie the “O shells” to it about 2 inches apart.

voila – lovely garland for N’s bedroom as a reminder of her day at the beach.

i think we’ll make a strand with a new color of thread for each local beach trip this summer, and perhaps hang them vertically and curtain-like (hey, i’m a child of the 70s) in her room by labor day. but for now, this garland above N’s bed is sure to invite some beachy dreams…

(p.s. my first sewing project since 1987 is over there on the left)

Related posts:

1. sparkly shell ornaments
2. autumn leaf garland
3. beach installations
4. mod podge leaf garland
5. beach treasure mobile