I started collecting WORM SHELLS on my first trip to Captiva in 1997 when Clark and I first met. We would comb the beach every morning and about every twenty steps or so I would find a WORM SHELL, pick it up, showed it to Clark and laugh at the crazy twists and turns it made in each curl. I didn’t care at all if it was broken or not, after giggling at it’s pattern, I put it right in my bag. After Hurricane Charley in 2004 those twisted shells got stirred up and showed up on the beaches by the handful so Clark and I kind of got obsessed with hunting for them. I think we were thought to be a little wacky by our friends after we came home one day with a bucket full of them. For some reason, the WORM SHELL got “no respect” in those days! The Shell Museum didn’t even have one on display at that time.
I have plenty of WORM SHELLS now that we’ve collected through the years and they still make me laugh. But today, I got JENNY CURL WORM SHELLS that have touched my heart very deeply….. in a piece of art by Melinda Henderson. This is what I saw on my front porch….
Ooohhhh! I package for me!!!! Did I order something I forgot about? Hey, it was from Melinda! Clark and I met Melinda a year ago on the beach while she was collecting her beloved “Jenny Curls”. I introduced her to you on my post Jenny Curl Worm Shells and told you her story. If you didn’t read the original post, you should. Just click on the post title I just wrote.
The moment I opened it, I was astonished. She told me the picture inside is of the Jenny Curls she found on Sanibel last July and that one of the Jenny Curls with the curly tops in the picture was one that Clark gave her.
She did this amazing picture with digital photography. “I really enjoy this kind of art work…it’s call digital photography. I use the computer to manipulate and enhance a photo by applying different media art forms (water color, dry brush, palette knife, etc.), and then add color, shadowing, texture for added character and personality.”
It is so beautiful, I found the perfect home for it one top of a piece of furniture I painted years ago that has the same colors she used. Along with my new Jenny Curl picture, I have other treasures…. the QUEEN CONCH given to us by the shellacious MurexKen, this beautiful piece of PIPE ORGAN CORAL given to us by our dear Sanibel friend Phil (He used to have the shop “Ile Crocodile” on the island, remember that?) and seashells sent to me all the way from Australia by my blog friend Prux of Flotsam Friends.
I have to show you the close up of the Australian shells and “flotsam”. These are the kinds of pieces that Prux collects from her beaches to make her sweet Flotsam Friend dolls she blogs about. I should get the names of these shells and do a post on Australian shells this summer, right?
With all of the special treasures so close together, it warms my heart beyond words. Thank you all for the best gifts of all…… gifts of the sea.
some of us get gifts of junonias, some of us get gifts of worm shells…oh well…on Sanibel, everything is a treasure
That photo is awesome! I thought it was the actual shells sitting there. Beautiful and I remember Jenny’s curls well.
Thanks Pam.
Hey Pam,
Love the pictures! I was just wondering if you were going to do any contests soon? I was hoping to try my luck with a hat light or a turtle safe light cover. I researched and found out that turtles lay their eggs May through September so I am hoping to go out at night and spot one.
Pam, This is so creative. Can I post your photos of the frame on a FB Page?
Pam,
Beautiful frames. May I post a pic of them on a FB page?
Hi Ive, Sure! Please tag the photo with i Love Shelling page for link. Sorry I missed you while you were here!
dI too love the worm shells…I think of them as a sort of metaphor for life, with it’s twists and turns. In the end it’s a thing of great beauty. And any life is a thing of beauty! LONG LIVE WORM SHELLS!!!!!
And the picture is a work of art. Great that you have just the perfect spot for it!
Awesome photo!
Pam, I remember the shop “Ile Crocodile” and miss it on my visits to Sanibel. We found many treasures in his shop. Tell your friend we miss his lovely shop with all it’s treasures.
Lee & Bill
I was cleaning out closets recently and found 3 empty picture frames. Now I know what to do with them — they’re going to hold seashells! Jenny’s photo looked so real that I will use real seashells. Thanks for sharing, Pam. You keep me motivated to keep crafting with my shells. — Marcia
Don’t ya just love getting a package in the mail?!? Especially one containing such a thoughtful and beautiful gift from one of your treasured shelling sistas! You spread your love for shells around with your blog and the love comes back to you when you least expect it . . . Keep spreading that shell love!
…what a touching and sweet gift…you have touched many hearts and given everyone many great ideas!!
I’ve been enjoying these wonderful emails for awhile now. Today I just couldn’t help jumpin’ in and gettin’ my feet wet!
That picture is just so beautiful! A true work of art. Melinda has a gift, there’s no doubt about it. Thank you for sharing it with us.
You all just make me yearn for the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva.
Best wishes to all from sunny & dry New Mexico.
What a great pic. It almost looks 3D.
Pam, That IS a gift from the sea. Amazing, thanks for sharing.
That was a really nice thing to do. Aren’t gifts like that the best? It’s really pretty too!
It was great to meet you yesterday, Pam!
Today 1 of the ladies from Missouri (in their I LOVE SHELLING.COM hats) found a Junonia!!! It is absolutely beautiful. Must have been your good karma to come by and spread the Shelling Magic for us!
PS – yes, i found 1 more Alphabet today before I had to leave for home.
Take care and happy shelling!
I love that picture. You get me into all sorts of things. Now I am going to have to find out how to create one. After your story about Mother Earth Marilyn and Sandy the Sanderling, I have been writing short nature stories for our local kindergarten class. I use my photos and create a story around it. The kids really loved the fighting conchs that I brought them. And I thought retirement would be dull! Thanks for this blog. You are a wonderful ambassador for Sanibel. See you next February.
They are such amazing shells and the photo is gorgeous! You will really enjoy that! ♥