Go with the flow. Haven’t you heard that saying all of your life? It’s really a perfect saying for shelling because the flow of shells in the water changes by the minute, hour and day. We haven’t seen oodles of shell piles at Blind Pass in the last few weeks but yesterday the rough water was cutting into the sand to uncover some shellicious lovelies that these Sanibel Stoopers were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.
These shells were being carried off just as the waves were eroding the sand that was brought in for the beach renourishment in December (2013). Just like the sand, shells come and go with the flow of the wind and water. This is what high winds swirling from east to west can do to the beach in a very short time.
This can also uncover shells! These were shells that my friend Emmie Grace found yesterday just to the east of the parking lot at Blind Pass Sanibel. Going with the shell flow… Yaya, baby!
Sure wish I was there!!!
We were there last Christmas when this shelling was going on @ Blind Pass. I figured by this Christmas it would be gone. You cannot stop Mother Nature’s onslaught.
I went again to lighthouse – both sides of the fishing pier – this morning but there wasn’t much of anything at low tide. Looks like I shoulda hit BP. Oh well, I’m still sorting and cleaning my catch from 3 times there. Sure nice to get some good stuff again.
We will be there next Saturday. I hope we have luck finding lots of shells like these. I am so excited.
Can’t wait..We will be there for two weeks next month..
I LOVE your site. I’m landlocked in the Midwest but get down to siesta key every winter for a week (until retirement!). Even though it’s not the shelling mecca that is sanibel, I still manage to come home with many many containers full of treasures. I am a summer/beach girl at heart so reading your site & looking at your finds helps me get through the months till our next trip (& sometimes brings a few tears in the winter months). Thank you & find some shells for me!
Love the post Miss Pam!
Question please_ do you have any ideas on how to find a teacher to teach me sea shell crafting ?
I would happliy pay for instruction – or volunteer time to assist my teacher. I am in the Panhandle area , Tallahassee Florida. I would love to find a an experienced crafter that is willing to teach so that I could learn “hands-on” rather than struggling to learn alone. I’ve asked around a bit in creative circles here- but haven’t had any success. Any ideas ? Thanks for any help and for your wonderful site and facebook page! ;)
( i am still working on a trip to sanibel – I am praying for a trip this year. ) Meantime , I am only 2 hours drive ( i gain a time zone when i cross into central ! ) from Panama City Beach – So i shell there whenever i can! ) Feel free to email me and also -please update my subscription I think you have my old email address – thanks !
In season here on Sanibel some shell crafters give classes at the Community Center ( I have a video on it on my YouTube channel) but I don’t know of anybody in your neck of the beach. Any else have ideas?
my heart skips a beat everytime I read your posts. I fear I’ll never make it down again and I love shells
I miss Sanibel…… but was working in my garden today in Massachusetts. Second best thing to shelling….. :)
Jackpot today! Hubby and I went back to BP Sanibel side after lunch and the pickings were slim. Then we started digging into the sand and the shells just started appearing. After a while we headed back to the car to discover we still had an hour left on our parking! So we went to the Captiva side and the water was violent. Again we dug into the sand near the rocks and I couldn’t pick them up fast enough before the tide swept them out. We finally left right before 6 pm as we were exhausted. I’m going to go through them in a few minutes and will post my finds later.
Sounds like a terrific day!
You are SOO very lucky!! Sounds like a perfect day. I can’t wait to get back down there!!
Weehooo! Love, love, love to hear that y’all were persistent, successful and that it was a perfect day. Thank you so much for reporting back!
Congrats! Looking forward to seeing all your treasures!
It was the perfect day! Moments ago the husband said “Come on getbyour suit on. We’ll go to Dunks quick then hit Blind Pass.” It’s his nature being a Bostonian always in a rush but today’s our last day so he’s on a mission for me to have a great time.
There are so many different ways to find shells… :)
So true… Did you have your shell ID day at the museum yet? I visited there last year during my first-ever trip to NYC, the shell/fossil exhibit is amazing. I could have spent a few hours easily.
Identification Day at the American Museum of Natural History (in NYC) is coming up this week! It’s on Saturday 10th May from noon till 4 pm, free with admission to the museum.
It is an amazing place — glad you enjoyed it!
Blind Pass was good this morning, each side for different shells. Sanibel side for scallops and Murex and Captiva (amazing shell pile and near the rocks) for Augers, olives and whelks. Haven*t seen any large shelss but that*s ok with me.