For the LOVE of the Seashore ...

Donna at Mourning Dove Cottage has inspired me this day. Apparently, the love of shell collecting is a shared passion! By taking grapevine, sea shells and moss, she created the sweetest wreath! Stop by to see!

After viewing her work, it reminded me of my own collection ...

... However, this is just a snippet!

Even though we live hundreds of miles from any coast, I've always felt my heartstrings pull to the sea ... as if it were a part of me - like salt water running through my veins. Every vacation led to its own collection of shells. However, when planning our wedding - I went a wee bit crazy and stocked up (and I mean large Rubbermaid containers!) on shells, sand dollars, starfish, and sea glass and created our very own oasis of the shore - cottage style - minus the ocean!

Creating decorations were my most favorite part of planning our day...(not of THE day, just planning the day! :)

Wreaths and garland ...

... distressed buckets of hydrangeas and pretties ...... even our bouquets ... I have used and reused all of it, over the years, by decorating our home, hosting parties - even creating gifts! One piece that I've made, but have kept to myself :) is a pendant ...
I twisted and framed a piece of sea glass with wire. Then, adorned it with pearls and the tiniest seashells. When I wear this, I swear that I can smell the salt air and feel its breeze in my hair. Then, to cure this ache ... I pick up a book of Dorthea Benton Frank and its as if I've hopped on a plane and headed to the coast - - in the low country, that is ... :).

Mint Juleps, anyone??

Sit in reverie, and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind”

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow