Sweet Bead Studio Blog
She sells sea shells
Is it too late to mention anything to do with the ocean? Maybe you have moved on now that school has started and people are wearing sweaters (out of no where!). Over Labor Day weekend, we made a point to enjoy every last ounce of the sun and the sand. We enjoyed the beach at Assateague Island so much that we went back again the next day.
Hurricane Irene created this amazing raging river of water that cut through the beach and led fiercely back to the ocean. There weren’t many people on this part of the beach, and those that were there were in for a rare treasure hunt! I love to search for shells, and on the beaches that we ordinarily visit, I’m happy just to find broken clam or oyster shells. On the Assateague beach, we found so many shells that we could hardly carry them all in our buckets (so we returned the next day better prepared!). We walked the beach bent over for hours – searching both in the sand and in warm water. To top it all off, we enjoyed a seafood dinner at Laura and Ray Twiford’s restaurant – it was great to catch up with Laura (til we meet again soon at ArtBLISS!). I have to say this was one of my favorite weekends of the entire summer (but boy was there many!).
I created these earrings to keep a little part of the ocean around after summer is long gone. Little brass Vintaj sand dollar charms are combined with vintage rhinestone buttons. I balled sterling wire to create the ear wires. Available in my Etsy shop.
On another note, I recently created this simple necklace – a combination of vintage Weiss earbobs and a sparkly brooch. A little something shabby chic.
Thank you for stopping by!
-Cindy
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Cindy Wimmer is a jewelry designer with a passion for combining vintage elements with modern wire design. She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. Her best-selling jewelry design book, The Missing Link, was released in Fall 2013. Read more.
Wow Cindy, it’s been awhile since we’ve stopped by…you creations are so beautiful. I can say that we spend alot of time at our local beach and although there are great collections of shells there, they are nothing like yours! They’re so big!
That is a treasure trove of shells…you must have had so much fun collecting them.
Your necklace is so gorgeous..there is no doubt about it..you have such a wonderful style. I also really love the mixed metal look in the earrings, very sweet.
jenni
WOW! I can’t believe how many big, beautiful shells you came across. I didn’t find anything near that big at Myrtle Beach earlier this year. I love both the earrings and necklace you made. Gorgeous! A nice way to say goodbye to summer.
That’s amazing how many big beautiful shells you scooped up. I can just imagine combing the beach for hours with such bounty to be had. The earings are simple and sweet and I like the combination of metals. Beautiful work with the vintage pieces in the necklace and it hangs perfectly.
Oh the grey on that shell is fantastic! So is the necklace – yummy vintage goodness beautiful!!
Aw, my niece and nephew are such avid seashell collectors. I love seeing the little treasures that they find, in the eyes of a child, a seashell becomes something so special! Oh, and I’m enamored with the necklace, it’s beautiful!
Well, you weren’t kidding about the shells! It was so much fun to see you all again especially the little sock monkey! The necklace is incredible, it drapes so nicely, love the vintage look. Now that things have slowed down a bit, when the rain quits I may have to go beach combing myself! I have 2 shells to drape things on in the display case, but a few more would look nice!
My kids are in serious envy right now! When they saw the pics, the response was, “We need to go to the beach mom!” Such pretty earrings and necklace!
Lucky you to have found all those wonderful treasures! I’ve had a love affair with seashells since I was young. When I see things like this it makes me want to live on the coast.
When my husband and were had been married a short while, we took our young nephew and niece to California for a vacation. I was so exited to have found a beach with loads of shells. We left them in the car that evening, and the next day the car smelled to high heaven. Lesson learned–make sure your shells are not being used as a home.
Your earrings are darling, and that necklace is stunning!!!!
Oh the joy of shell hunting! It has been years since I walked the Gulf beaches—we even have some of Grandma’s shell animals. The jewelry is so beautiful. My other grandma was a “city” lady and had so much beautiful jewelry. You inspire me to create a piece from the duffle bag full. So glad you had a beautiful day at the beach to remember the summer with.
The necklace is stunning Cindy…nothing much better than Weiss (except Miriam Haskell and Eisenberg, which is way pricey =)
Oh, how I would have loved searching for sea shells with you on the beach!! Beautiful post my friend =)
xo
Wow those are alot of shells! I am sad to say that beach season is over for me 🙁 theres always next year :)… I love the necklace too!
Nissa
I love sea shells…what a boat load! I never got out to the beach this summer…my knee surgery kept me from doing a lot of fun stuff this summer. Your creations are exquisite as always! Love them both!
That necklace is FABULOUS! I love it. And those seashells are beautiful colors and textures. Great finds!
Enjoy the day!
Erin
Just Lovely Cindy!! I so miss the beach..look at the beautiful shells! ox
What a yummy necklace, Cindy!! Glad you were able to eke out a few more days at the beach…love the shells! That is always one of my favorite beach pasttimes, although finding pretty ones can be sort of hard in OC…love the photos as always 🙂
Wow Cindy that haul of shells is impressive. I could never get over anything ocean related, I love it all year round.
Your latest pieces are divine
xx
Ohhh – finding shells is one of my favorite things to do at the beach – what a jackpot! I remember a few years ago after a big storm at my parents winter place down in Sarasota there were mounds of shells to look through, but they were not that big!
The earrings are so sweet. The necklace is amazing. So beautiful and wearable! The picture around your neck is very pretty.
Wow Cindy! What a bounty of shells! We also scoured the beach for hours following Irene. I love to walk the beach, especially after a storm, you never know what you’ll find!
Pretty pretty Cindy!! I love it. Take care, can’t wait to see your beautiful creation for Bead Soup!! I finished mine, very happy with it. Thank you again for all the amazing, delicious goodies you sent. Hugs, Riki
Lovely pieces, Cindy! And those sea shells! I guess that is why I didn’t find any this year – they were all swept over to your side of the world…
I never get tired of the beach and like you I scour the shore for treasures until my neck aches and I can’t stand straight. I am glad you all were able to enjoy lots of beach time this summer.
I absolutley love the earrings and the necklace, beautiful!
Oooh your earrings and necklace are so lovely!!!! Earbobs..wow!! I love looking at the shells you and yours collected!!!Treasured memories!!Hugs,Cat
Wow, that’s a lot of seashells! I’d be in heaven! We don’t find many shells at the beach where my parents live, mostly sand dollars. 🙂
The necklace is beautiful!
The seashells are gorgeous! I am so envious. I love collecting shells and stones along the beach. I have walked miles without realizing it because I get so messmerized by the treasures in the sand! I have been to Chincoteague Island and Assateaque Island twice- such a beautifull, quiet place. Hope to go there again soon!
You are so very talented Cindy! That necklace you created is simply stunning 🙂
And man oh MAN did you guys find a lot of beautiful sea shells! I don’t think I’ve seen any like that before! I’d love to have walked and collected with you all; I bet it was quite the experience 🙂
Holy smokes, Cindy, you weren’t kidding! I wish my migraine hadn’t kept us home. Why do I have to miss all the cool stuff?
And your jewelry is always amazing — I just want to grab it off your neck but I love you too much to hurt you by grabbing and dashing! 🙂
Love those earrings and necklace! You combine those elements so well, they look like they always went together! Thanks for the summery post, we’ll be having frost tonight and I don’t want to think about winter yet!
Such a beautiful post! I love the seashell pictures, and the jewelry is just beautiful! I really look forward to reading more of your blog!
I love the ocean and I can’t help but envy you. Such lovely shells. I suddenly want to go to the beach and go shell hunting. Your necklace is fantastic. I love it.
I really love the necklace. Nice blog!