Seashell Decorated Mirror

My love for seashells started a long time ago, on some faraway beach during a barely remembered childhood vacation.  

Image 1:  Detail of sea shells on mirror

On vacation, I searched for pretty shells.  In grade school I remember trading for seashells.  In a middle school science class, a unit on seashells was a favorite.  In high school a scuba diving trip cemented my love for the sea.  And as an adult I added to my shell collection, often at estate and rummage sales.

Image 2:  Seashell Decorated Mirror by Jeanne Selep

To celebrate my love of shells and display some of my collection, I recently created my seashell decorated mirror using an upcycled mirror.  

Image 3: Seashell Mirror Bottom Edge Detail

This mirror showcases much of what I love about seashells - the shapes, colors, textures and patterns.  

Shapes of shells especially intrigue me - the whimsical swirls and curls and fan shapes seem far removed from land based natural shapes like leaves and petals, or the geometric shapes of the modern world.  (And seashell shapes seem to have nothing to do with geometric solids from math class!)   

Image 4: Seashell Mirror Left corner detail

In the middle school science unit we classified seashells: univalves and bivalves, cowries, cones, conchs, whelks, starfish, urchins, scallops, clams, coquinas - each word conjures up shapes in my mind.  

It's been a long time since seashells have had much relevance in my life.  With this project I returned to a less hectic time where picking up seashells on a salty beach was fun and important.  

Image 5: Seashell Mirror

Laying out and arranging the seashells on the mirror seemed to take forever - picking out which shells to use, trying to create some sort of "balance" with the colors and shapes.  I felt I was reliving my childhood shell collecting.

I attached the seashells using my favorite "mosaic" glue - clear silicon caulk.  

I didn't use my favorite seashell, though.  

Image 6: Venus Comb Murex Seashell (murex pectin Lightfoot)

By far, my favorite type of seashell is the beloved Murex, (and there are some in the mirror frame).  My "best" seashell is the Comb of Venus (or Venus Comb, or murex pectin Lightfoot) that I bought years ago from a decorating vendor.   I love the whimsy of the name Comb of Venus.   

Image 7: "Comb of Venus" Murex seashell on a shell book

I'll end this post but not before pointing out Nature's colorway for seashells - creamy whites, ivories and and grays, browns and oranges, pinks and salmon and yellows, and occasionally lavender and red.

The colors blend with perfection.  

Image 8:  Seashell Mirror by Jeanne Selep

I hope your summer (or winter in the Southern hemisphere) is full of wonder and beauty!

*Notes: 

Taking pictures of this mirror was an absolute pain!  I used backdrop paper and ended up having the mirror reflect my ceiling.  Then I used photoshop's lens correction advanced tab to transform the vertical perspective.  And then more work to straighten the tilt.  

 

Click on the images to see them enlarged!

I blog for fun and my blog is ad free.  Comments encourage me, and I sometimes need encouragement. Please leave a comment if you have time!  Anonymous comment are welcome!

_____________________________________

Here is an earlier post on my seashells collection! 

Seashell Vignette

_____________________________________

If you enjoy Creative Projects you might also like:

Flower Mirror

Rock Window

Heart Window

Glass Flowers

Fused Glass

Autumn Wreath

Oak Leaf Print

Glass Leaf

Mosaics

Mosaic Birdhouse

Mosaic Birds

Bowling Ball

Button Pumpkin

Spring Album

Spring Gift Tags

Mixed Media 2

Mixed Media 3

Batik Star Quilt

Circle Quilt

Heart Quilt Top

_____________________________________

I am linking up to these parties:
Sum of their stories: Handmade Mon xxx (Entry )
Altered book lover: T Tuesday (Entry *)
Lisa Howeler: Weekend Traffic Jam Thur (Entry )
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop 287 Mon 4a (Entry )
Rachel Swirl: Sunday Snapshot (Entry )
Mostly blogging: Inspire me Mon 9a (Entry )
My Random: Anything Goes (Entry )
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry )
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry )
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry )
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party Mon 1p (l Entry )
Keeping it Real: Party (Entry )
Wisdoms+Wrinkles: Wisdoms Party Tue (Entry )
Mersad photography: Thru my Lens (Entry )
Kristin at Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 2-4p (m Entry )
* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 3p (l Entry )
Karins Kottage: Linky Party (Entry the Party is over.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 28)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday 508 (Entry 10)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now Link-up Tues (m Entry )
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry r)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with a twist 640 (l Entry 30 of **)
Stonecottageadventures: You're the star (l Entry )
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 5p Tues (l Entry x)
Studio27 - Jennifer: Wed Studio 28 (Entry 7 of **)
Artsy Mama: Team Creative Crafts (Entry )
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed (Entry --)
Also Ducks n a Row: Wonderful Wed (m Entry --)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house Wed (m Entry )
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10a (Entry )
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry )
Fifth Sparrow No More: Whimsy Home (Entry )
Our Hopeful Home: Vintage Charm Wed (m Entry )
Simple Life Mom: Homestead Blog Hop Wed (Entry )
Studio27 - Jennifer: Wed Studio 16 (m Entry x of )
Karins Kottage: Linky Party (Entry )
Pennys Passion: Thinking out Loud Thur (Entry )
French Ethereal: Share Your Style Wed 6p (Entry b)
Try It Like It: Creatively Crafty Th (Entry)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 10a (Entry )
Also Follow the yellow brick: TFT 10a (Entry )
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry )
Modern on Monticello: Home matters Fri (s Entry )
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry )
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 8p (i Entry )
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks Fr 8a (L Entry )
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 325 (Entry )
Fiesta Friday: Fiesta Fri (Entry )
Skyley: Skywatch Fri (Entry )
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry )
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe (L Entry )
Shabby Art boutique: Create-grow-gather (L Entry )
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party Fri (Entry )
Rambling Woods2: Nature Notes Fri (Entry )
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged Fri (Entry )
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry )
Weekend Reflection: reflections (Entry)
Huisvlijt: Huisvlijt Party Sun (Entry)
Nixpixmix: Sunday Best (l Entry )
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 7a (Entry )
Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade Sun a (Entry )
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 2p (l Entry )
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun 6p (l Entry )
Jaipur Gardening: Garden Affair Sun (Entry )
Sew can do: Craftastic Mon Su (Entry )
A Labour of Love: Happiness is Homemade 497 Sun a (Entry )
Also Love my Mess: Happiness is homemade Sun (Entry )
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop Mon 4a (Entry)
Pienilintu Finland: Wed around the World (monthly)
Life tales books: Will blog for Comments Mon (bi-week)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 9a (m Entry monthly)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry monthly)

792828

Summer Vacations

Image 1: Cinque Terre near sunset, Italy

This post features photos from past summer vacations while answering ten questions about summer vacations.  Compare answers with me!  (Question list below). 

Image 2: Overlook at Ferry Bluff Natural area, Wisconsin.
View of Wisconsin River with Sandbar
Notice the tiny canoes at the bottom edge in the river

1.  Share your summer trips for 2025!  

(2024 trips would be easier!)  Summer trips in 2025 should consist of (2) weekend in-state camping trips, (weather permitting).  One is a canoeing trip where you camp on a sandbar in a large river, water levels permitting.  

Image 3: Overlook at Ferry Bluff Natural area, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin River view with my kids and nephew, 2023

I hope to add in a visit to Door County, and possibly (a day trip? or two??) to Chicago.  This summer is a good time to stay home and enjoy Wisconsin in it's best season, especially when money and vacation days were used for the spring trip to Japan.  Someone has work on the 4th of July this year, so no July 4th mini-vacation to Door County or Michigan, both destinations I've enjoyed in the past.

Image 4: Canoeing on the Wisconsin River with three adult  children

2.  How do you manage the post vacation laundry?

I try to wash vacation laundry almost right away once home - within a day or two.  It might have sand or bugs or whatever from afar. 

Image 5: Sandbar Camping on the Wisconsin River

3.  What are your most memorable summer vacations.  

My most memorable summer vacation (post pandemic) was a trip to Italy including Venice and Cinque Terre.  Hot but wonderful!    

Image 6: Rialto Bridge at night, Venice, Italy

Another special summer vacation was a road trip from Wisconsin to Charleston South Carolina which included three National Parks (Smoky Mountains!)  I discovered driving trips could be fun, and I set a goal of visiting all of/(most of) the National Parks !  

Image 7: Angel Oak Tree, Charleston, South Carolina

4.  Do you cook or eat out on vacation?  

We eat out on vacation because of places we stay (mostly hotels).  We have camped out and cooked, but I am not great at it.

Image 8: High Tea in Tokyo

5.  Do you over pack, under pack, or are you just right?   

If I'm driving, I way over pack and that car is filled!  Even flying - It's so hard to not over pack.  Especially if there will be cold weather (gloves and heavy coats needed.)  Doing laundry on vacation isn't fun, and extra shoes are a must. (If it rains, I am not wearing wet shoes.  In Japan we had to buy my daughter new shoes because hers got soaked...)  

Image 9: Spring in Tokyo, Japan - with wet shoes in the rain

6.  Beach, Lake or Mountains?  

Where do I want to go? or what's close? (particularly for summer).  For me it is sights.  I'd prefer mountains and beaches, but this summer, near Wisconsin, no Mountains, so Lake.  Beaches can be rocky around here, like in Door County.  

Image 10: Door County Beach, Wisconsin
Notice that the rock Cairns can be taller than the kids*

7.  Road trip or Fly? 

Road trips for small things (Weddings, camping), flying for "real" trips, and then rent a car once there if needed.  If you only get X days of vacation, I want to get to a spot fast and enjoy the location.  Except for that road trip to Charleston...

Image 11: Unknown bridge from car at sunset, South Carolina

8.  My favorite vacation activities are... many things!  Seeing sights and museums, dining at great restaurants, exploring new places and cultures, hiking in beautiful locations, and shopping!  

Image 12: Oak tree on Wisconsin Hillside

9.  Best packing tips?  

Packing cubes, but not black ones.  (which is what I have)  Looking for adapters and power cords in black packing cubes tucked in with black clothes is a pain.  Having all socks and undies and technology extras in neat flexible packages, magic! 

Image 13: Kids Watching Sunset, Door County, Wisconsin, USA

10.  Favorite road trip songs?  

With multiple people we take turns selecting songs.  My daughter has incredible musical tastes, and I like hearing new tunes, .  When I pick a song it could be Billy Joel, Greatest Showman tunes, and Josh Groban's Oceano, and Canto Alle Vita.  I like peppy, upbeat and beautiful music.  

Image 14: The list of questions from Pinklady

This is a new kind of post for me.  I am participating in a link party where the questions above were posted (by Holly and Patty) with a link party where people answer these questions.  I hope you enjoyed my answers.  Thinking about the responses and writing this post took such a long time, but allowed me to organize vacation photos to find photos to share.  Feel free to post your answers or ideas on some or all of the questions below!

I hope your summer includes fun vacations
with friends and family!
...and a lot of beautiful sunsets! 

Click on the images to see them enlarged!

Let me know any thoughts you have on the questions above in the comments!  Anonymous comment are welcome!

_____________________________________

See other FANTASTIC travel posts here...

_____________________________________

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy...

Summer Sunsets

Glass Garden

Italian Garden

Lotus Garden

Winter Garden

God's Garden

Spring Blossoms

Yellowstone

Flower Mirror

Bluebirds

Travel Memories

Rock Window

Bonsai in Bloom

Orchids

Lilies of Valley

Orchid Peacock

_____________________________________

I am linking up to these parties:
Holly pinklady: Monthly Musings Summer Vacation (Entry 27 of 27.)
Bosworth Life*: POCO Love (Entry 14 of 14.)
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop 367 Mon 4a (Entry 14 of 173.)
Rachel Swirl*: Sunday Snapshot (Entry 2 of 6.)
Mostly blogging: Inspire me Mon 523 (Entry 6 of 41.)
My Random: Anything Goes 450 (Entry 3 of 56.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 8 of 39.)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 17x of 33x.)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 10 of 25.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party Mon 586 (l Entry 4 of 54.)
Keeping it Real: Party 469 (Entry 2 of 49.)
Wisdoms+Wrinkles: Wisdoms Party Tue (Entry 9 of 15.)
Mersad photography: Thru my Lens (Entry 1 of 16.)
Kristin at Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me Mon 333 (m Entry 10 of 127**monthly)
* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 783 (l Entry 1 of 107.)
Karins Kottage: Linky Party (Entry 4 of 108.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 7 of 36.)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday (Entry 4 of 13.)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now 483 Tues (m Entry 42 of 79.)
Altered book lover: T Tuesday (Entry 4 of 13.)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 44r of 118r.)
Stonecottageadventures: You're the star (l Entry 9 of 86**)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 643 (l Entry 4x of 107x.)
Studio27 - Jennifer: Wed Studio 16 (Entry 19x of 29x.)
Artsy Mama: Team Creative Crafts (Entry 17 of gone.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed (Entry 3r of 142r.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 459 Wed (m Entry 20 of 70.)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry 10r of 35r.)
Fifth Sparrow No More: Whimsy Home 141 (Entry 4r of 78r.)
Our Hopeful Home: Vintage Charm 497 Wed (m Entry 11 of 46.)
Simple Life Mom: Homestead Blog Hop 555 (Entry 10 of 73.)
Lisa Howeler: Weekend Traffic Jam Thur (Entry 2 of 70.)
Karins Kottage: Linky Party (Entry 4 of 108.)
Pennys Passion: Thinking out Loud Thur (Entry 2 of 42.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style Wed 459 (b Entry 19 of 28.)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 498 (Entry 36 of 84.)
Also Our Hopeful Home: TFT 498 (Entry 36 of 84.)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry 12 of 15.)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 537 (s Entry 1 of 119.)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry 4 of 95.)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 549 (Entry 7 of 120.)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks Fr 8a (L Entry ***)
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 405 (Entry 3 of 103.)
Shoreline Journeys: Time to Travel July (Entry 4x of 5x.)
Skyley: Skywatch Fri (Entry 40r of 40r.)
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry 21 of 22.)
** Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe (L Entry 29 of 55.)    I was featured here!
Shabby Art boutique: Create-grow-gather 682 (L Entry 64x.)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party 96 Fri (Entry 15 of 48.)
Rambling Woods2: Nature Notes Fri (Entry 5 of ?6.)
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry 16 of 59.)
Weekend Reflection: reflections (Entry 6 of 14.)
Huisvlijt: Huisvlijt Party Sun (Entry 10 of **)
Nixpixmix: Sunday Best 440 (l Entry 4 of 10**)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 255 (Entry 1 of 107.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Happiness is Homemade Sun a (Entry 6 of 121.)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 315 (l Entry 7 of 82)
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun 681 (l Entry 24 of **)
Jaipur Gardening: Garden Affair Sun (Entry 3 of 7.)
A Labour of Love: Happiness is Homemade 497 (Entry 6 of 121.)
Pienilintu Finland: Wed around the World (monthly)
Life tales books: Will blog for Comments Mon (25 of 50.)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly)
Grace filled moments: Sweet Tea Friends (monthly Entry 5 of 150.)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry monthly)

780493