I’ve had many people ask me about my OLIVE shell bracelet that I’ve shown in some of my photos. I’m tickled that you like it… because I made it! I missed the string on my wrist from Thailand so I decided to make a Sanibel version because I loved the sentiment that came along with my original simple string….Remember, every day is a gift. It’s just like tying a string around my finger when I had to remember something when I was a kid. My “Sanibel Shell String” version also reminds me to remember to look for the not-so-obvious treasures and simple wonders the day can bring. Everything doesn’t have to be grand to be good. Don’t get me wrong… I like grand too (LOL) but I love the things that I overlooked in the past and then when I finally see them- WOW! It’s been there the whole time and I never realized how cool it was. A simple pleasure. So when I would show photos of my hand displaying some of the treasures I found on the beach and it showed my Sanibel Shell String, I noticed a few comments that yall would like to know how to make one too. I’m thrilled!
So I made a HowTo video! Since it’s been raining here in Sanibel and all of Southwest Florida, I made this video to show you step by step on how to make a shell bracelet too! It’s easy! Go look through your boxes of shells… I’m sure you have an OLIVE with a missing tip and follow these same simple steps I took to make mine. Okay… but please disregard who many times I say “uuummmm” – geez Pam! I should have edited that out but…. I didn’t have time. Bleck! I’ve got to get more used to being in front of the camera instead of behind it- LOL
Anyhooo…. Enjoy!
PS- I did forget one thing- before I give one as a gift, I soak the bracelet in hot sudsy water for a while then rinse it to get as much of the wax off the string as I can. If you don’t do this, the string gets too lose on your wrist and you have to retie it.
Simple and beautiful. Exactly what I love about shelling vacations to Sanibel. :-)
Your so cute Pam!…and what a cute house too…and wishing I could see your necklace up close…is that sea glass?
heeehheee thanks Tam Tam! I was a little nervous about me in front of the camera but I did this in one take all the way through so I figured I’d roll with it. hahaha Yes, thats sea glass- It was a gift from a friend almost 2 years ago and i wrote about it… http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/2011/08/29/barefootin-with-shelling-sistas/
Thank you so much for the video! I collect olives in Alabama and have hundreds! What a great idea! Even for Girl Scouts!!!
I even take big beautiful chunks of broken, colorful shells, modge podge them and put them in vases! Great decorating idea!
Great tutorial – I have to go make a bracelet now. You are too adorable!
Great “how to” video, Pam! Hope to see you in October!
Your video is so cute! I have that same shirt and I love your house! Time to go get those olives out without a “nose” (my daughter calls them that). Thanks for taking the time to share!
Loved the video – great thing to do on a rainy day! You have inspired me to try it. There were a ton of olive shells without their tips a couple of weeks ago at Blind Pass that I did not keep – I will have to see if I took any home with me. I did collect some shells with the drilled holes that I thought would be great for making a shell bracelet or necklace. Aqua is my favorite color too!
This is what I make with my Sanibel shells…
https://www.etsy.com/listing/153085531/sanibel-sea-shell-pendant-pink-scallop?ref=shop_home_active
Beautiful…but sadly sold!!!
Check back soon – I’ll make more!
Loved this…thank you so much for sharing. We love our beach walks here in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Olives are ones that we find a good bit of and now I know what I can do with some. ^_^ Hope you will visit my blog and see what I did with a broken fighting conch shell. I LOVE sea shells too!!!!
Pam you did a fabulous job with the video!! Enjoyed watching it!!
Adorable! I’ll make sure to look out for some of those when my mom and I go to sannabel in a few weeks!
P.s. thanks for helping my mom with our shoes! We bought some yesterday that were just perfect!
I loved your video I wondered what that was on your arm. wonderful stocking stuffers I’m going to get busy and make some thanks keep doing your videos your great at it
It’s great to remind people how beautiful even beach-worn shells are, and how, as you said, things in life don’t have to be perfect for us to be able to enjoy them!
Good for you Pam!
Thanks Pam. Great reminder that “nothing is life has to be perfect.
I could hear the rain before the start of the video.
Will send you a picture of “shelling” in Michigan.
Hello from South Dakota. I will make my first visit to Sanibel on July 3rd. I am super excited and hope to run into you Pam.
Great video, Pam! I’m going to have to do this!!! Thanks for the “how-to”!
Pam, What a jem you are to Sanibel …… I wish I could get down there more than once every few years. Someday, I want to rent a house for a whole month. Love the bracelets, I know I have some great ones I can use from our Sept trip. You are the only thing on Facebook I truly love following. :) Diane
Oohh I am SO going to try this for myself!! Thanks Pam!!!
I just made one today. I just got a string and put it thru the olive like you did. I collect shells in Corpus Christi,Texas. I have 100 full sand dollars.
Hi Pam,
It was so fun to be able to see you and listen to you….it’s been several years now since we met you in person so it was like renewing your acquaintance all over again. I had admired your bracelet in a past post, so now I can make one of my own. Until we meet again in real life, I’ll enjoy seeing your beautiful pictures and posts and dream of visiting Sanibel again soon!
Thanks!
Val
What a terrific video…made me go through my shell stash to find all of my little olives to try this. Love all of your ways to display shells in the background. That would make a great post in the future. You are the master!
Love the video. I bought several dental tools at the shell store on Fitzhugh. They’re great for getting the shells clean. Occasionally I have found a whole shell inside. Years ago I found a sharks eye on Jones Beach that had 2 holes in it. I almost threw it away until I realized the holes were just right for a string for a necklace. Now I will try something with my olive shells. Hope the storm brings up shells but no damage.
Pat
Hi Pat!! This is SHELLOTTE… met you on PAM’S shelling trip in 2014…. I’m enjoying my OLIVES &
teaching SHELLIN’ SISTAHS to make the string bracelets. ⛵⚓💙
Thanks for the video! I’m going to make them for my three girlfriends!
Love it, I need to get back to making seashell stuff again!! thank you for the inspiration. Stay safe with Tropical Andrea!!
Simple…yet so beautiful!!
Hey – nice to know what you do on rainy days! How nifty. I was thinking if a person has enough small olives, they could thread them like a bracelet, but at the end of the string, and then braid them into those cute children’s hairdo’s with all the braids! Just a thought.
I just made the bracelet! My olive shells with holes were too big. I chose a smaller and shinier one and sawed the top off. The hole was too small for 4 strings so I used 2. Also, the beads that I bought had very small holes. I could fit only one string through them. Just kept on going and tied the knots with both strings.
Thanks for the video, Pam.
bracelet up date. Decided to make bracelets for my girlfriends that I’m going
to Orange Beach with on Saturday. Got tired of sawing the points off.
I ended up rubbing the point on rough cement. It worked like a charm!!
hhahah Atta girl, Jeanne. If at first you dont succeed, break it on concrete. LOL Love it!
Loved this idea!! I am planning my 40th birthday which is next year in May. I’m renting a house on Sanibel Island because I love shelling and I want to share this my family/friends. I’m going to use this so that everyone who come can make a bracelet to remember the celebration. What fun thanks for sharing. I’m also hoping you’re going to be doing shelling cruises next year so I can go on one with my family/friends when I’m down there.
Can I be your friend? :) just kidding, your plans sound wonderful!
Hi Pam,
I just joined your website a few weeks ago and love reading about all your
“Gifts From The Sea”(love that book too). Also, love the shell bracelet.
We live in Sarasota and can’t wait to come to Sanibel for shelling and to
meet you! Hope to see you soon.
Great idea, thanks Pam!
A natural way to create beautiful bracelets coming from the sea.
Hi Pam
I was down to Sanibel back in the spring of 2015, and went out on the Sight seer cruises, to one of the islands with you. However, that is past tense. I have watched your video on your website, on how to make the olive bracelet. I want to make some of these for Christmas gifts this year, but have one question. Do you tie a knot, or a bow to bring them together on a persons wrist. Also, where can I find that I27 glue you used. I found the E6000 at walmart just this afternoon. We have Jane’s, and a Hobby Lobby, here in Panama City, Florida