Wednesday 3 March 2021

Blue and White Shells

 I'm linking up with WOYWW today.  My desk is unreachable at the moment due to the fact I've emptied out the eaves cupboard that runs the full length of my room - it's full of overflow art and craft stash, and stuff I might need one day! 
However, I have a jar full of shells in the bathroom and a pile of paper napkins in the dining room so in between the horrendous task of re-organising that is going on upstairs, I've been playing nicely downstairs! 
I have wanted to have a go at decorating shells for a long time - they often crop up on Pinterest and after a few disasters I was quite surprised at how good they look from a distance - a bit shoddy close up but I blame the glue!
I finished them off with an 18kt gold leafing pen - it was an expensive indulgence that I don't regret at all as the quality of the gold is lovely. 
























24 comments:

  1. Wow! Lovely shells! The gold just adds that finishing touch!
    Happy WOYWW!
    Susan #2

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  2. OMG The seashells look so pretty! The remind me of our Portuguese art tiles!! The golden lining is just perfect!

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  3. Morning Diana. Wow - well done. The shells look fantastic. That touch of gold on them...lovely.
    Take care. God bless.
    Margaret #4

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  4. Oh the shells look gorgeous! Like pieces of Delft pottery with bling! Have a good week Helen #5

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  5. Oh my word, they are stunning! I have a blue and white vintage bathroom with lots of shells in. You've now got my mind wandering, darn it! The gold leaf pen is absolutely exquisite and worth the investment in my opinion. Stay safe and keep smiling, Lisa-Jane #7

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  6. The shells look exquisite, Diana! It must be difficult to work on those bumpy surfaces. I never realised gold leafing comes with real gold! Hope you're getting on top of the reorganization and can return to your studio soon. Have a lovely week! xx zsuzsa #22

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  7. Oh wow, those are gorgeous! They’ look like old china ornaments, I must resist being drawn into another craft cos I love the look of those...resist, resist..... ;-)
    Hugs LLJ 8 xxxx

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  8. These really are quite beautiful, the balance of blue and white is always appealing to the eye but the addition of the gold really adds extra class, like expensive fine bone china. That 18ct gold pen was worth every penny, simply gorgeous. Wouldn't the make a superb alternative wedding favour.. I'll just sit and gaze a while longer (AGAIN!!) WoywW Hugs Tracey #14 xx

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  9. Hello Diana
    The shells are beautiful. What a clever idea. I would never have thought of doing that.
    Good luck with the clearing, hope you’re more successful than me. I still can’t see the office floor one year on.
    Lynn xx 15

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  10. Wow - what a gorgeous effect you have created on your shells - a brilliant idea and the gold leaf just makes them zing. Thanks for sharing. xx Jo

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  11. Wow what fabulous looking shells Diana. Good luck with all the sorting and tidying. Hope you can reach your desk again soon. Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #3

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  12. Oh those shells are beautiful. You will be off to the beach in the summer to collect more shells. Sorting is a bit of a nightmare when you are in the middle, but you will be pleased you have done it. Angela #17

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  13. Beautiful work on the shells Diana, they look very stylish. Sorting and tidying is always better when it's finished but it's worth it in the end. Wishing you a very creative week and a happy woyww, Angela x19x

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  14. These are enchanting... such a clever idea, and beautifully executed. And yes, that gold leaf pen was definitely worth it! Good luck with the sorting and tidying - I'm hoping that in about a week or ten days I might be able to start unpacking!!
    Alison x

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  15. Gorgeous shells Diana and the gold is super special.
    BJ#13

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  16. Those shells are beautiful and I have never seen anyone decorate them like that before. They remind me of Asia - China I guess, or Japan, delicate bone china springs to mind. You must have a steady hand to paint on those surfaces so delicately. Beautiful
    Hugs, Neet 12 xx

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  17. WOW! I have never ever thought to decorate shells and these are mind blowingly beautiful! I love the blue & white you chose. Wow!!! So pretty. Have a beautiful week. Dorlene #30

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  18. Oh that is so lovely, fun idea!

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  19. I thought my Krylon pens were well used and well worth the investments. I bought a rose gold one back from the US in 2017 but being in the hold luggage reduced it to something so cold that it’s really not a good performer now, seems to have split the metal from its liquid carrier. Anyway, what I’m meant to be saying is how other people, specifically YOU use these things so differently! The shells are a joy. I hope, as I’m a bit late (sorry) that you’re conquering the clearing out. Ugh.

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  20. /gosh those shells look lovely! The gold is a nice touch.
    stay safe and keep crafting
    hugs
    Lynnecrafts 11

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  21. What an unusual project, Diana. They are exquisite, and I love how you've chosen blue and white with little touches of gold. Like you, I have a jar of shells in the bathroom too! I've collected shells since I was at school. One of my friends had a father in the diplomatic service in the Middle East and she used to bring back beautiful shells for me, and I've still got them all. I am fascinated by them - how they grow, and the exquisite shapes they form. My particular favourite is the Nautilus shell which is a supreme example of the Fibonacci series in nature - something else that I find endlessly fascinating. A few years ago at our County Show, I bought a Nautilus shell necklace. The shell had been sliced to show the chambers inside and the beautiful mathematical spiral.

    I don't know about gold leafing pens - perhaps a bit of Shaz-style enabling is required here? Haha!

    Thank you for your visit and I'm so glad you are enjoying watching the progress of the kitty throw. Last night I started crocheting squares together which is really fun - I found a fabulous pattern on Pinterest. More on this next week. I'm glad you liked the card, too. Since I've got all the Celtic knot drawings digitised (as well as the mandala drawings I did) I can print them out as often as I want, and decorate them in many different ways. I'm not a great card maker really, and this is a helpful technique to save time.

    That picture of Ruby was rather sweet, wasn't it! She's such a funny little thing! All day today she's been following me around and getting under my feet and demanding cuddles.

    Happy belated WOYWW,
    Shoshi x #21

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  22. What a lovely idea to paint the shells like you have! They look really nice, white and blue with a touch of gold! Never even realisedthere was something called an 18kt gold leafing pen! Lovely!! Stay safe, keep crafting! Happy WOYWW?! (((Lyn)#16

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  23. Wow what an interesting ide! I shall be trawling pinterest for more examples as I have never heard of it before. Oh yes, a gold leaf pen makes all the difference!! Happy belated WOYWW - I have stopped trying to get round in one day, it doesn't work for me right now. But no rules eh? Have a good week, stay well, stay safe, Cindy #18 xx

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  24. Oh, you're going the Blue Delft tour - beautiful! I used my shells a while ago as the background on a name plate mosaic. Shells are so versatile:) Am smiling how you describe all the stuff "you might need one day" for art! In our new house I took over a closet underneath the stairs for all my blank canvases, before hubby could think of some good things to store there, lol.

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