Summer Therapy

I went to Sanibel this morning to meet with the Shell Crafting ladies from the Community Center and began my training to be one of them! They are all so nice, and I know I will throughly enjoy this! They threw me in the deep end to start right off, making my own arrangement! My biggest weakness (so far) has been the coquina flowers, I just have issues making them look symmetrical, but what better way to learn?

I made about a dozen of these guys, too much glue, and look forward to when it's 'easy' for me and looks professional! Practice makes perfect, so next week I hope to do a little better! So much Fun, I feel more everyday like part of the community.

The summer storms continue to travel through during the evenings, but I've been lucky enough that they have finished the last 2 nights before low tide.  I have been keeping an eye to the sky, just to be sure.

This was when I was heading out to Sanibel from home...Not too sure they were done yet....

 ...It was beautiful!

The beaches were pretty bare of shells, but I did find some more live treasures, 2 more buried lightning whelks, this live shark's eye (Moon Snail) which for me is quite rare to find live...

 Such pretty, deep colors! I put him back where I found him, along the surf line.

This live sea urchin was slowly releasing his shell cover, while dancing a little 'jig'.

 I considered doing a little "Mexican Hat Dance" around this guy, but thought better of it pretty quickly.

 I found this guy, and wondered.....is it live?

SCORE! It wasn't....so he came home with me!

 Though the beaches are covered with lots of beautiful shells

 I only found a few to take home with me

 Several 'craft' shells, shells I use while making stuff, but nothing super special. That's okay, I still need the therapy.

Again, I left and went to my little beach by the causeway for some tellins, (also for a craft project) and found a few more! Looks like the Great Blue Heron had also been there....he has some BIG feet!!

The clouds kept the sun hidden most of the time I was out, but to me it's still worthy of a pic...or 2.

Here are the last 2 evenings finds

(left top to center then down) Flats, king crown skeleton, worm shell, banded tulip, cockles, lightning whelk, scallops, kittens paws, Sand Dollar. (Right) Tellins, white and Rose, (bottom right) Sailors ears, (broken ones will be crushed and used on crafts)

Mini tellins?

White and Rose Tellins

 I can't decide if the one on the right is another small flat scallop, it's awesome anyway!

Sea Urchin

Stay tuned!

::Shelllady Hugs::