Cool breezes and dramatic skies of summer evenings on the islands are fantastic. Oh… and did I forget to mention there are shells too? I felt a little giddy being at Blind Pass Sanibel last night since I haven’t been there in 2 weeks. It was lovely! Especially lovely after seeing the shells Deborah, Brian and Courtney from Jacksonville (FL) were finding. Courtney found that gorgeous knobless FIGHTING CONCH and NUTMEG.
… While her mom Deborah found her own NUTMEG and BANDED TULIP.
Brian had a pocketful of LIGHTNING WHELKS and CONCHS.
Alexis (NJ) and Todd (NY) just flew in for a weeks vacation. First stop? Blind Pass to look for shells!
They were on their way to making day #1 a great success. Did you notice Alexis’s shell bangles? She said she got them in Hawaii… but hmmmmm… maybe my OLIVE STRING bracelet could use a fancy version too.
Clark was busy finding a few goodies too…
Oh yaya, candy! The SCALLOP, OLIVE, WHELK and HORSE CONCH Clark found are oh so nice… but that KING’S CROWN! Come to Momma!
I can’t get over the skies of summertime! We got to the beach last night an hour before sunset (at low tide) and I snapped this photo of the pretty sky.
Then I shelled and gabbed a while meeting new friends. I gave most of my shells away other than a sweet little CHESTNUT TURBAN the color of a pumpkin (oops! I didnt take a photo- sorry!) But… meanwhile … the sky was changing crazy colors by the second. Each direction I turned the sky looked different. At a point it was purple! It gave everything on the beach a purple tint as well so I saw a “grape” SCALLOP and snapped another photo.
I turned towards Captiva and this is what I saw!
When we were leaving the beach about 15 minutes after sunset, I snapped another shot about the same place I took it before sunset. Oh, the summer skies of Sanibel.
Hold On! Get ready to dial your Shellaphones! We have Exciting News! Not only can we shell together during the iLoveShelling Cruise to Cayo Costa on Thursday August 15th at 1pm, but you can also join us for the FULL DAY CRUISE (10am to 4pm) to the north side of Cayo Costa on Wednesday August 28th… during Shellabaloo 3! We’ve had lots of requests to join Shellabaloo 3 for a day so now you can participate! Meet and mingle for a shell of a good time. Call 239-472-5300 to reserve your space for the iLoveShelling cruise on either half day August 15th or full day August 28th!
For more Information CLICK HERE or on the next image…
I will be down next Thursday for the trip to Cayo Costa. I am so excited. Can’t wait!
Sally
Awesome!! Great finds and amazing skies!!
Pam, the sunsets you’ve been taking lately have been amazing!!! The pinks and lavenders in this set are just beautiful!!! Can’t wait for my vacation next month…5 1/2 weeks and counting! I read every post you have and keep learning with each one! Thanks for the joy you give to all of us. <3
Wow great pictures….now I miss Blind Pass….love the knobless fighting conch.
Beautiful pics, and great finds! I did enjoy my time in Sanibel last week. Can’t wait to go back in October!!
Hi, what is the cost for the Cayo Costa cruise? Also, is there a shelling group in St Pete Fl?? I was in Sanibel this last weekend and I barely found anything. Has there been less shells this year or did I just hit it at the wrong season? :-(
We will be back in Oct and I am so excited already!! Love this page by the way :-D
I LOVE reading of your daily shelling excursions and viewing the pictures both thru FB and email, in fact I follow it daily! While doing so, I find my mind whisks me away to the beaches of Southwest Florida and I sooo yearn to be there!!! We hopefully will be in Naples sometime during Oct or November and would consider it a dream come true if Ic ould meet up with you even it it is a distance from Naples!!! :) Meanwhile I’ve been working on making simple jewelry and other craft projects to use some of my shells. It brings back memories and makes me smile :)
Did the west winds start to blow…..wish they had blown when I was there….but shellers have to roll with the tides and it made the hunt more interesting….I did find some great things! Glad you are back out on the beaches! See you next July!
Great shells, gorgeous images, fabulous sunsets! It must be Sanibel! :)
Pam,
Your sunset photos are not only gorgeous, but a “tide over” for Tucson, AZ.
You see, our annual rainy, summer monsoon has been just pitiful so far :(
The TV weatherman is calling it a “nonsoon” !! All year, we desert~dwellers look forward to the Technicolor sunsets with huge puffy clouds and of course the cooling rains of the monsoons. We all flock outdoors when the “coast is clear” of lightning and enjoy the serenade of desert toads along our normally dry river washes which flow wildly after a good monsoon storm, becoming an instant beach for happy water dogs and their families…. I should post a photo of me along the sandy banks of the RILLITO RIVER, searching for sand rubies and turquoise rocks… I do the Sanibel Stoop, but I refer to it as the Rillto Reach !! well the summer’s not over yet, there’s still hope for a monsoon’s epilogue:
A sensational picture postcard sunset.
So, thank you for posting, and hope to meet you in January. :)
Pam those are amazing pics!!! I would really love to have an enlargement of the one taken after sunset. Do you sell any of your pics?
Also wondering if there are plans for a shelling day in November??? Hoping I can go on one when I am down.
LOTS of goodies there – I wish I were there!!
Love the king’s crown conch Clark found! I went shelling tonight for about an hour until the lightning showed up. I found 5 big beautiful shiny lettered olives, 1 scotch bonnet, 2 baby fighting conchs and 10 augers, and 5 ceriths. I am so happy I am finding shells here! This will keep me busy until I can get back to Sanibel! Thank you for all you post! I love it all!
Hi Pam,
I have my reservations for Mitchell’s in January. Are you planning any shelling trips then? I haven’t book my flight yet but will make a reservation to stay longer if you’re having a shelling trip sometime that month.Thanks, Sue Bunkin
Some of the better finds!
Hi Pam (and Clark)…..I hope I see you guys on the beach next week! Coming there next Friday (from Virginia)…the only place I want to celebrate my 50th birthday!! I like Clark’s Sand Crab Scoop/Sifter thingee…..the one in the pic today. Can I get that style on the island?? I just love all your posts !
Great pics ! I think the kings crown that Clark found was really saying, “come get me, Moira,”. lol
Awesome pics Pam and I too check your site daily and drive over to the island on the weekends for some shelling fun. I live in Cape Coral and was wondering if the water near Blind Pass has turned “ice-tea” color from Lake O? It’s mind boggling that the State is still allowing fresh water releases from the lake into the Caloosahatchee. It’s ruining our beautiful beaches and will start affecting our tourism if they don’t put a stop to it.
I hope the offer for space on the day trip to Cayo Costa does not mean that the response for Shellabaloo was light. We are looking forward to meeting the group.
I love seeing all the beautiful shells you are finding! I’ve been doing a lot of shelling since moving to South Carolina and I am already getting to the point where I don’t quite know what to do with them all. What are all of you doing with the shells you are collecting? I’ve got some of the larger ones on a shelf and I’ve done a shadow box with a few of the nicer ones, but after that, I’m not sure how to display them.
Julie, I have found that getting a unique glass container ( Igo to out Goodwill and get them for 1-2 dollars and fill them up with the left over shells. I usually tie burlap ribbon or twine around the top. Sometimes I hang a shell from the ribbon. My friends will pick up the containers and look at the shells everytime they come over. It is so easy but effective. I also just made a ZEN BEACH for a fellow worker of my husband’s. We got a cute low square ceramic container for $1.00 ( Goodwill) I brought back some of the sand from the beach, put in 20 mini shells and bought a little rake from the arts and crafts store. I think it cost $2.39 for a rake, shovel and hoe. I only needed the rake but this is all I could find ( minitures section) I did buy a dowl rod and replaced the handle to make it longer for $.29. After everything was done I typed up a little card listing all the different types of shells that I put in the sand so she could find them and identify. I must say for very little money it was a HUGE hit. Also check Pam’s past posts, she has some great ideas for making shell projects. Good luck with your endeavors. Loree
Thank you, Loree and Bonnie for the great ideas! Loree, the Zen Beach is awesome – I love that.
I’ve seen Pam’s bracelet in one of the posts, and I want to give that a try too. Maybe an anklet too! :).
Julie,
One of my favore things to do with my shells, is use them to cover tissue box holders. I get them at Goodwill or Salvation Army. I use various shells, and pieces, however I’m careful not to use excessively large shells such as the Conch, especially on sides. On top I may use slightly larger shells. Important to not leave large gaps between shells, but I prefer not to overlap. Keep them fairly tight. Additionally I have added very small pearls inbetween at random. I got pearls from Michaels Crafts for .99 cents per string. Now I’ll bet your wondering how I get shells to adhere? I use ‘Acryl-Pro Ceramic Tile Adhesive’ from Home Depot. I work sections at a time, but no more than one side at a time. I spread adhesive on as u would frosting a good 1/8″ thick; enough to press shell in securily. If I get adhesive on another shell, I keep a tiny flat end brush and small dish with water close by and just dip brush and clean off shell. Adhesive is removal with water as long as it hasn’t set. After all is done I leave it sit a few days and then spray with Krylon clear finish (Wal-Mart), either satin or gloss. Additionally, before adhesive sets up, u can sprinkle sand over entire side. If u feel adhesive is srarting to set, spray with water. Don’t worry about sand on shells, when all is dry, just shake off and use dry brush for remainder. Each of my covers are different. I love using my shells and creating something which reminds me of my visits to the beach. They make beautiful gifts too! :D
Sam & I are so excited that we get to join you for the October shelling cruise to Cayo Costa!! We will also do a private cruise with Captain Brian, so we will get two great adventures during our trip!! School just started here yesterday so we know our trip is coming up fast!! See you soon!!
Yeesssssss!
Gorgeous sunset pics! And the shells aren’t bad either… :)
Can’t wait for my February trip…sure hope you’re planning a shelling trip mid-month.