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Pearly shells give By Bethany Waldrop Keiper
August may seem like an odd month for a column on summery seashells, but in many areas, August is still very much prime summer time, with temperatures pushing toward and over 100 degrees. This month's column has two inspirations -- sun-seared, sea-surrounded, sand-swept Florida, and the Supreme Court of the United States. The first inspiration is pretty obvious -- not too long ago, I had the opportunity to visit several beaches in Florida, and despite the heat, the tiny multicolored shells I saw were a source of delight. This seemingly odd second source of inspiration came from much further inland. As I glanced through the magazines in a doctor's waiting room, I noticed a current issue of Newsweek with retiring supreme court justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the cover. In that photo, and also in a photo inside the magazine, she was wearing a pair of long, twirly, pearly, shell-shaped earrings.There are many poems, quotes and songs about seashells, and I can't help including this song lyric for this month: "Pearly shells, from the ocean, shining in the sun, covering up the shore. When I see them, my heart tells me that I love you, more than all the little pearly shells." This song was recorded and sung by Hank Snow, and written by John Kalapana-Leonpobar. The "pearly" part of shells is one of the best parts, so why not combine shell beads with pearls?
These lovely deep purple pearly shells contrast dramatically and beautifully with creamy white pearls, while crystal clear AB Swarovski bicones reflect the purple, along with a rainbow of pastel shades. The pairing of dark and light provides a dramatic effect. Shining pearly stars and swirls are lovely with small, round, bubble-like beads. Looking fresh and cool, this combination of pressed glass AB beads in pretty pale blue also reflects the shades of a seashore sunrise. These swirled beads remind me of some of the pretty shells I found years ago on the North Carolina seashore. And don't forget stars for ocean-themed designs.
Actual shells that you find on a beach can make a pretty piece of jewelry as well as a nice keepsake of your visit. Some shells are helpful enough to already have a hole in them, naturally, so they are ready for the addition of the correct jewelry finding to help them become part of a design. Some people use glue to attach an appropriate finding to a natural shell, while others will go so far as to drill a hole into a shell. I recommend leaving the latter up to a professional of some sort, rather than trying it yourself and risking the fate of your health, the shell, the drill, or all three. Often you can find lovely shell shapes carved in natural stone.
Tall, twisted shell beads or conch shell beads are more difficult to find. These unique twisted beads, with their half silver-gray AB and half opaque white finishes are a lovely likeness. The pearly gray color is reminiscent of the lining of colorful abalone shells. Combine beads such as these with gray AB facetted fire polished rounds, small opaque white beads, or silver accents and smoke crystals.
Shells found along the beach seem to be one of the few things left in life that belong to everyone and are actually free (the cost of getting to an actual seashore doesn't count). So take some time to enjoy their unique beauty, and join comedian Steven Wright in his sentiment: "I have the world's largest collection of seashells. I keep it on all the beaches of the world... perhaps you've seen it."
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