If you found a perfect JUNONIA on the beach the second morning of vacation on Sanibel, would you let it out of your site for the rest of your trip? Not Tim from Ohio! He told me about his treasure find after I met him while at the Sanibel Shell Festival and was able to show it to me since he had it stashed in his pocket. He said he couldn’t bear to part with it yet. LOL
That started off my day at the Shell Festival off with a smile but after seeing beautiful works of art like these, it was hard not to keep that smile going.
Gorgeous pieces!
I loved this miniature seashell doll house shell shop.
Of course its always breathtaking to see the Sailors Valentines.
My favorite shell exhibit of the entire show was in the “Freak” category. It’s a shell with 2 apertures. Yes, I said TWO openings … its like this shell is a Siamese Twin. I was stunned and amazed and I still am. It was so hard to get a good photo to really show both openings but you can see on the far left there is an opening with an operculum and then you can see the more obvious lip and opening. Wow! Can you imagine? So cool.
I had the best time browsing the exhibits and meeting other shellers like Cheryl and Pam (Brett Bailey’s sister) who showed me a very cool juvie MILK CONCH they found at the Sanibel Lighthouse area. But…. Pam didn’t have her shell in her pocket like Tim did (heehee), the shell was on her phone. “Ring. Ring. Ring… Hold on, I need to get my Shellaphone….. Shello?” hahaha
The festival is like dialing a shellafriend…. Shellekelle, me and Christine Florida shell girl had a great time hanging out and catching up. They are such cutie shellooties!
It was a great weekend…
But now its back to the beach tomorrow for some real shelling time and our iLoveShelling cruise to Cayo Costa with Captiva Cruises. So excited because we had some good winds yesterday to hopefully have thrown some treasures up on the island for us. Hope to see you there!
love love love the shell flowers and sailor’s valentines..such a great way to use up a shell stash…
Love seeing every picture!!!! Wish I could be there!!!! Next year for sure!!! Oh the Junonia!!!!!!
I love the box of 9 flowers, the sailor’s valentines, the freak shell and especially the the doll house shell shop. Everyone is so talented. Nice junonia that Tim found. Pat
As I understand it, the Sailor’s Valentines were made by the sailors, not the sweethearts of the sailors as some might suspect. That sure makes for some talented sailors!!!
The original Sailor’s Valentines were made by local ladies on Barbados, then sold to sailors who took them home to their wives and girlfriends in the British Isles.
Back then I suppose some people did think that the sailors made the valentines themselves, but just try to imagine gluing all those little shells in place on a ship that was tossing on the waves!
And also just try to imagine having that much free time when you were a working sailor!
The creativity of the shell art is amazing. I hope to use the shells I found this vacation to make a sea shell mirror.
It was so nice to see you at blind pass :). Your Connecticut friend.
I love the miniature shell shop!
The flowers, valentines, and the adorable shell shop are amazing! How long does that take to glue all those tiny shells?! That junonia is spectacular :) and what a crazy freak shell!
Where did he find the junonia? I’m here for a week now. Have people been finding more shells at Blind Pass or Lighthouse? We are staying West Gulf Drive. Have found some banded tulips and lighting whelks. Would like to find more olives. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
wow wow wow looks like a great time for all thanx to you and clark,,junonia was great and the flowers were great done by a lot of talented people but your still my favorite hope to see you soon just the pest r.g.stein
Thanks for the “visit” to the shell show ..loved seeing all thats shared in the photos..my favorite is the Freak shell..amazing&any info on where this was found?? the stunning sailors Valentines&the lovely doll house shell shop! Bravo everyone..Great Junonia find!
Have you noticed this year that there are a tremendous number of ponderous ark shells on the beach which have a plant or perhaps coral attached to them? is that normal, or just a coincidence? I’ve only seen the ponderous arks with plants attached, this year, no other she’ll types, not even other arks.
Thanks, Kevan
I know, right? Tons of sea whips attached to those arks. It doesn’t happen every day but it does happens every once in a while when there are strong west winds. They come up the same time when we get lots of starfish washing up. It’s all pretty fascinating!
Candy with a “y” and it was great to meet you and chat about shelling at the festival Pam. It was my first time attending. The contest portion was amazing especially the science division. I’m a science geek and that was awesome. The children experts for the live exhibit was also wonderful. The artistic entries were incredible too. Hope the cruise turns out as great.
It was such a pleasure to meet you! Now I know- Candy with a “y”. :) :)
Congratulations to Tim. Those junonias are finding new homes all over the country! Thank you, Pam, for a glimpse at the beautiful shell displays. Wish I was still there.
Thanks for sharing the shell festival. Next best thing to being there and such wonderful ideas!
Going to the Shell Fair is on my bucket list, maybe next year. The shell art is just beautiful. One of my new shelling friends received a blue ribbon for his exhibit.
Pam, have you or Clark ever displayed anything at the fair?
Wow – I wouldn’t let that junonia out of my sight if I had found it either- It looks absolutely perfect.
Thanks for posting those beautiful pictures. I went to the show also, and it’s fun to relive its treasures. My friend just met you on the recent trip to Captiva. She loves shelling also, and we were wondering when you might be having a multi-day shelling event at the Island Inn. Any plans for that?
Pam, We are back in Ohio and I wanted to tell you what a pleasure it was meeting you at the Shell Festival. It was neat to see all the shell exhibits and the artistic creations.
Thanks for posting the pictures, letting me show off my Junonia. I have gotten a lot of mileage from that post!! I am disappointed my name wasn’t drawn for the ‘Junonia in the Surf’ shellagraph, but happy for the winner.
I am curious to know what you consider your very best find.
I