 The Artistic Division of the 2012 Sanibel Shell Fair had so many creative entries that were so intricately designed, I had a difficult time coming up with my faves. I loved them all!
I had to keep reminding myself… “These are made with seashells!”
 I always love the ones that tickle the funny bone with such creativity…
 Notice what this JINGLE cat has on its feet… KITTEN PAWS!
 How about this seashell encrusted seashell!
 There were a few exhibits that had a little Beach Bling mixed in too…
 There were even Victorian antique seashell pieces…
 Of course, my favorite part of the day wass to run into Shelling Sisters!
I have more exciting news! I feel very honored to be invited to be a judge for the Sarasota Shell Show February 2013 Artistic Division. Yahoo! I had so much fun being a judge here at the Sanibel Shell Fair in 2010 so I look forward to meeting the fabulous shell crafters of Sarasota. I’ve got so much more to show you but coming up in my next post will be the cream of the crop of the Artistic Division… the Sailors’ Valentines. Don’t miss it! They are breathtaking!
Wow! Thanks for sharing!
How creative!!! I love the chess set!!! CONGRATS on being chosen a judge for the 2013 Sarasota Shell Fair!! You SHELL (rock)!!
when is the 2013 fair?
I got the date from the Chamber of Commerce. It is March 7-8-9, 2013 . We are going to try to make our first shell fair ever. I hope!
These are all amazing and so beautiful-thanks so much for posting pics!
Thanks for sharing the lovely sea shell creations….I didn’t have an opportunity to attend this years show so seeing them on FB was priceless :)
Love the calico jingle kitty!!
me too! kittiez are my favorite animals, and my new seashell goal is to collect a couple hundred jingle shells and make my own jingle cat. Wonder what was used to stick the shells together?
I’m with you….love them all. Thanks for including us in the fun.
Do they have the date set yet for next years shell fair?
So much fun! Must be hard to concentrate with all that creativity all over! Thanks for sharing! Love it!
WOW!!!So beautiful….
My BFF’s Mom and sister are shown here…a couple of the Sani-belles..so nice to see West-Coast beauties!
Wow!!!! I love them all but I really LOVE the Kitty. I would like to buy the kitty.
These are so great ~ thanks for sharing. I can’t pick a favorite because they are all so great!
Oh, I am drooling over so many of the items. It will be a dream come true to one day see this in person.
The waterlily is so real looking that I had to look twice! The chess set is amazing! The artistic talent displayed here is incredible!!! thank you for sharing, Pam!
My favorites are the chocolates (what an extremely clever idea, so novel!) and the chess set (very nicely done). But all of them are lovely.
whenever I see an especially lovely shell, I often have a strange urge to eat it. Those chocolates made me lol!
Wait a minute…
It just finally sunk in how very tiny the little shell shop or shell stand is which is in the photograph right below the chess set! The whole set-up is, what, less than 10 inches long?? Less than 8 inches long??? That’s really amazing! I love it!!
Awesome talents, fantastic photography (as always). I think I’m a little teary eyed over these amazing works. Thanks so much for sharing with those of us that couldn’t be there.
It’s really hard to pick a favorite, but I have to go with the chess set and shell encrusted shell.
Amazing creations. I love the simple flower in the first picture! So pretty.
I have to say that I too think the water lily is my favorite. While I really appreciate all the detail in the other works and the chocolates are really cleaver, the beauty and simplicity of the lilly really speaks to me.
The valentine has the most beautiful colors I’ve ever seen!
Just beautiful, the artists are just amazing and creative. Someday I’ll make it for the Shell Fair. Is there anyplace on the island where you can watch them create these pieces of art when I’m there in Nov. ?
Lucky Sarasota, their getting a great judge.
OMG, I need the jingle cat so bad…. :)
Hello Shelling Sistahs Pam, et al
It’s almost like being there! (sigh!) You do such a wonderful job of pictures/descriptions that it’s truly a grand vicarious experience..They are all beyond words but the Whitman’s Sampler Box of Shells and the little Shell Kiosk are my favs ..that is after my Mom Mermaid Ella and my Sistah Cherie.
Pam, you are the greatest…keep up the good work!
okay pam, now that the show is over are you going to trawling the beach???? i am NOT stalking you but want to see where you are finding more than just scallops. i got here over the weekend, at long last, went straight to the lighthouse yesterday morning cause of the story about the brother whose sister had died and he found an angels wing i think at the pier. thought about them both. and then i looked under the pier, the lines, and was excited when i saw my first kitten paw. asked every sheller i saw how they were doing and they were having the same luck i was. so moved over by where i am staying on shell basket and started working my way up toward captiva way. asked more shellers what they had found and nobody was finding much other than scallops but started walking with someone who had been here before. she was great, pointed at an olive, which she let me have. but that was the only one i saw. oops this is turning into something one would write to an advice column!!!! so all i am saying is when and where are you going to be???? p.s. i was shocked SHOCKED when not one person was an i love shelling follower or had even heard of it. i set em straight!!! p.s.s. i have a present for you, not a shell from the oregon coast. p.s.s.s. this place is growing on me. might have to talk to clark.
We were on Sanibel the week of the Shellabration– shelling was not great but certainly not limited to scallops. The important thing is to watch the tides– be on the beach at low tide. Sandbars are exposed, more of the beach is exposed– you will find shells but be sure not to collect live shells– which you’ll see lots of.
We shelled Lighthouse beach mid day with no luck, Sundials at low tide– found olives, conchs and tulips (alive & empty), The Causeway mid afternoon olives and a few whelks. A morning trip to Cayo Costa, sunray venuses, calico clams, purple tagelus and dozens of beautifully colored coquinas.
My favorite? The shell- encrusted shell, of course! :)
Love them all!!! artisitc and talented:0) Thank you for sharing such beautiful pieces!
Hi Pam !
It was great being at the shell fair to see you interviewed (you were awesome)
Everyone is asking when “we” will be on tv!
I had so much fun sharing with that day!!!
Hope you make it to Cayo for your “personal tour” before we leave !
By the way, my husband asked me to tell you that his name is Billl, not Jim :)
Thanks again for the fun time!!!!
Jan
Wow!!!! Those items are fabulous! I wish I had been there in person to see them all!
Can’t wait till my next visit to SWFL to visit family :) When beach shelling isn’t at its peak, I can shop in my mom & grandmother’s garages. They shell almost every day and love your blog!