I just returned from a family wedding that was held in one of the most charming places I have ever been to. A little seaside town in Massachusetts called Provincetown
I really enjoyed my stay and LOVED this quaint town, with all of the art galleries, restaurants, friendly people and cool shops. I love to look for creative inspiration in everything around me. I don't know why - but going away for a few days seems to jump start my creativity. I get re-charged and look forward to starting new projects once I get home.
the view from my room
I saw some very beautiful - but expensive hand crafted shell wreaths made with local shells in some of shops. This gave me the idea to try to make one when I returned from the trip. I have a lot of oyster shells left from the counter top project sitting in a bucket in my garage. I picked up some 12" foam wreath forms at a garage sale for 50 cents a few months ago waiting for a project.
I think that a straw wreath would work fine also.
I wanted to have a white base to lay the shells so I tore 2" strips of fabric from an old white cotton sheet piece.
I covered the foam wreath with glue using an old brush
and wrapped the fabric strips around the foam to cover the green color
I sorted my oyster shells into two piles (the thin flat bottoms and the heavy crusty tops)
here is a bowl of the bottom shells - by the way... after I ate all some of the oysters, I put the shells in a big bucket of water with some bleach in it and left them to soak for a couple of days to get them really clean.
I used a hot glue gun to glue the thin bottom shells along the inside edge in one direction
I used ten shells along the inside
next I hot glued the thin shells with the opposite side up in one layer
then I edged the outside with the thick crusty shells going in one direction ( about sixteen shells)
I wanted to add some additional texture to the top - so I glued on one more layer of thin flat shells and then added seven of the thicker crusty tops spaced out to really give the wreath some substance. I used a total of 22 thick shell tops and about forty five of the thinner bottom shells for the entire wreath.
that was it
This is what I do went I can't sleep at night - Glad to be back, Lori
