Quality Shells

We here at QualityShells.com love seashells and the animals that give them to us.  The oil spill in the Gulf has been the big news for the last month or so.  And, believe us, we’ve been watching.  It’s times like this when you start to think about how connected everything on the Earth really is.

Some mollusks (the type of animal in the shells) live in some of the deepest depths of the ocean.  But they also live in other areas that are also hugely important to fish, birds, reptiles, and other kinds of wildlife.  The roots of mangrove trees are usually thriving marine ecosystems.  But the oil spill threatens to change all that.

Mangrove trees have roots that rest both above and below the water in coastal areas.  This is great because they help in protecting the coast from erosion.  They act as a sort of barrier.  But they protect more than just the coastline— mangrove roots are home to many types of mollusks.  The roots serve as a kind of shelter to these little animals.  But the oil in the water can kill the mangrove trees by not allowing oxygen to get into the submerged root systems.

Our little mollusks eat plants, algae, and other small animals.  But if their environment (and subsequently, their food source) is covered in oil, the mollusks will find themselves with a set of problems that they aren’t prepared to deal with.

We’re sure you spend all of your free time last week drilling holes in seashells to make some jewelry.  You did, right?  Excellent.  Now that you’ve got your seashells prepared, you can start figuring out what you want your jewelry to look like.  Feel free to use some of the jewelry on QualityShells.com as inspiration.  Or you can just go ahead and let your imagination run wild!

In addition to the seashells, you’ll need some beads in assorted colors (if you choose to use them as spacers between the shells), fishing line or jewelry thread, and a jewelry clasp.

You might want to take some time beforehand and lay your shells and beads out on a table.  See what looks good next to each other.  Try to keep larger ones in the middle, so that they weigh the necklace down in the appropriate spot.  After all, you don’t want your necklace hanging down on the side instead of the front!

When you’re ready to assemble, just attach the clasp at one end of the fishing line or jewelry thread.  This will act as your end point.  Just thread the shells and beads on one at a time according to your predetermined design.  Then add the other end of the jewelry clasp.

And the final step, of course:  Go out and look fabulous!

There’s a wide selection of seashell jewelry here at QualityShells.com, but that shouldn’t stop you from making some of your own, as well.  We have so many different kinds of seashells that the opportunities are pretty much endless.  But before you get started, you should know how to drill holes in the shells.  Knowing the proper way to do it will save you some time and aggravation.

• With a narrow felt-tip marker, place a dot where you want to drill the hole.  Don’t do it too close to the edge of the shell, otherwise there might not be anything to hang on to.
• Make sure you put the dot on the front side of the shell.  You’ll want to drill from the front to the back.  So that if the shell chips at all, it’ll be on the back.
• Place the shell in a vice or a clamp.  Basically, you need it to be as sturdy as possible.
• Use a dremel with a ceramic drill bit.  Hold the dremel upright as you drill.
• Drill very slowly.  It’s okay to release pressure every now and again.  That will allow the drill bit to cool.  You don’t want to crack the seashell!

Next time we’ll talk about the different options out there for you as you begin creating your own seashell jewelry.  In the meantime, don’t crack any shells!

Do you have an empty wall that you don’t know what to do with?  More often than not, paintings and art prints are a little bit on the pricey side.  Why not try something with seashells?  After all, they’re beautiful, and they can definitely add a bit of nautical flair to your bare walls.

All you really need in order to create your own piece of fine seashell art is a shadow box, a piece of   fabric, and some seashells.  It’s probably easiest to start with a smaller shadow box (somewhere in the 5”x5” ballpark) until you get comfortable with the process.

How to make your shadow box:

1. Place the shadow box on a table, glass side down.  Remove the back.
2. Begin arranging your shells in the box.  For the best balance, put your larger shells on the bottom.
3. Make sure you place the shells in the box so that the “front” of the shell faces the glass.  After all, you want to be able to see your art!
4. Once your large and medium shells are arranged in the box, fill in the gaps with some smaller shells.
5. Cut the fabric down to the size of the box and place it behind the shells.
6. Replace the back of the shadow box.
7. Enjoy your new piece of art!

Summertime is still a little ways off, however, that doesn’t mean that you can’t start getting into the spirit of the season now. Tropical drinks on a warm night can take you from your porch to an island paradise from the first sip. So, the next time you want to unwind and crave a vacation, consider whipping up this Passion Fruit Paradise cocktail. Great for any dinner party, backyard barbecue, or just whenever you need a break from the ordinary!

Passion Fruit Paradise

1 cup of citrus vodka, preferable lemon

2 tablespoons of triple sec

12 ounces of white cranberry juice cocktail

12 ounces of passion fruit juice

Lemon or lime slices, for garnish

Ice

Mix all ingredients together in a large pitcher filled with ice and stir briskly. Serve in a tall glass or fun container at your next gathering or in your favorite glass for when you need an escape.

So many brides choose seashells for their wedding favors and make very pretty crafts out of them, so we’re always on the lookout for great wedding blogs out there to help us keep up on wedding trends. Dynamite Weddings is one of our new favorite wedding blogs, and we just love how much fun this wedding blog is!

Dynamite Weddings posts on ways to add a bit more personality into your wedding, such as injecting splashes of color, having a wine-tasting reception theme, unique centerpieces, and so much more! They post daily, so be sure to check the blog often, and we know you’ll love what you’re reading, and the pretty photos on the blog as well!

It is hard not to enjoy a vacation to the beach.  We always like to find some way to try and keep the memory of that vacation alive.  Pictures are always nice, but why not try something a little on the unique side?  Why not try a beach themed memory jar?

Memory jars are simple to make.  All you need is a glass jar that is transparent.  Then you can add sand, seashells, driftwood, beach grass, or any other item that you feel fits the theme of your jar.  You can even decorate the glass with decals, paint, or other supplies.

This way, you not only have a memory of your fun time, but a nice decoration for your home as well.  A memory jar could even make an excellent gift for others who accompanied you while you were on your vacation.  Or, you could save the memory jar and give it as a gift during the cold winter months to help remind someone that summer is on its way.

If you need a few extra seashells to add to your memory jars, don’t forget to visit QualityShells.com.

Looking for something a little on the unique side when it comes to seashell craft projects? How about using seashells as candle holders?

Seashells can make the perfect little holders for small candles, tea lights, or the new battery operated candles or tea lights. This is exceptionally true for a home or room that has a beach theme in its décor. You can add a variation to this and get bowls that have a little bit of water in them, then place your seashell in the bowl so it floats. A floating seashell candle holder can make a neat decoration, especially in a sea-side cafe.

Or, you can get extra creative and actually make your own candles out of the seashells. You can find some wicks, and pour melted wax into the shell, making sure that some of the wick remains out of the wax so you can light the candle. Allow the wax to dry and you have your own home-made candles.

You can find a variety of shells that you can use to try and make your own candles or candle holders at QualityShells.com.

Are you the type who likes to cook a large meal for friends and family?  Do you like to hold dinner parties?  Do you like the food to be of gourmet quality and the experience to have an equal sense of elegance?

Then one thing you’ll want to remember is presentation.  The simple step of making your food look beautiful will add an extra amount of class to your dinner party.  It will really get people talking and really have them remember the experience.

One way you can spice up your presentation is with seashells.  Seashells can be utilized as serving implements.  If you are serving any sort of seafood, they make a natural serving plate, which will allow your guests to easily take away portions of food.  They can also be nice little serving dishes for an accompanying sauce.  If your party is beach themed, you can use the shells to serve items that aren’t even seafood, and allow the shells to actually tie the party together.

There are a number of ways that seashells can be used to add a little extra to a dinner party.  Find any type of shell that you need at QualityShells.com.

Do you like to have a beach or summery theme for the decorations in your home? Do you, or your child, like to have a little bit of light at night? Then you can find the perfect item to fit both of these needs at QualityShells.com.

This seashell night light is a wonderful compliment to a beach themed house as it utilizes a beautiful seashell with a plug in light socket.

The actual light is muted by the walls of the seashell, which give it a subtle glow. Instead of a harsh and bright light, you now have a muted glow that will still illuminate the room, without disrupting your sleep or night vision.

The entire product stands between four and five inches and comes two inches away from the wall. The seashell is removable so that you can easily change the bulb, or so that you can have more light should it be needed during an emergency situation.

Find the seashell nightlight, along with many other great seashell products at QualityShells.com.