12.08.2010

vintage finds wednesday...

Before I begin, let me give a Happy Birthday shout out to one of our four lovely women - Aliso Viejo!

Okay, shells are pretty darn old so I'm taking liberties here and using them as my find today.  We don't buy souveniers when we travel but do like to bring home something from the places we visit, usually a rock or some other such thing.  Of course while we were in Coronado over Thanksgiving, we collected shells to to add to a little collection I've got in my living room.

Here is some of our bounty from this Thanksgivings trip...


Is this color not gorgeous (to me it's dove gray, which is funny, but I'm not very good with color so who knows)...


Look how these 7 different shells just nest into each other beautifully, they look like a family...


We call these "butterfly" shells...


These are my favorite things to find - beloved sand dollars (only 6 this time around)...


These Sand Dollars inspired me to make a sweet little charm necklace that may or may not be a giveaway tomorrow................do be sure to check back in.

What do you bring home from your travels?

37 comments:

k said...

the sand dollars are def my favorite, they are so cool :)

Diana Mieczan said...

I also love collecting shells:) Those are so beautiful. I always put them in huge glass jars...Kisses, darling

Ps: I am hosting a stunning leather clutch GIVEAWAY later today, just in time for Holiday Parties!

quintessence said...

Love shells - one of nature's wonders! We go away to the beach every summer and my daughter and I love shell hunting!

Charlotta Ward said...

I love shells! Including picking them. It's so relaxing isn't it!?!

Like you, I love bringing home a piece of the countries and places we visit and for years I added to a big bowl of shells & rocks from the oceans I had snorkeled in. Sadly the collection was confiscated by customs when I moved from England to Australia. Sadness!

Thanks for your sweet comments on my blog. I love that you keep coming back. It means a lot!

Hugs
xx C

vintch said...

just found your lovely blog! we always bring seashells home with us from the beach:) one summer, we tried to bring home live sand dollars. they dried up on our way home, and when we opened the trunk, their box fell out onto the driveway and they all busted!

sometimes it's the memory of collecting that's just as sweet as the item itself.

new follower:)

jeanette from everton terrace said...

Hi Vintch and welcome. We throw all the living sand dollars back in the ocean. I think that was my daughter's favorite part. We felt good leaving the beach knowing we had saved lives.

bronwyn said...

We collect shells too. Last year we took a trip to the Central Coast of California and there was a collection of shells in our room. Abby LOVED it. So when we got home, we started our own collection. We pick them up every time we go to the beach. One day I found some that looked like they had been fossilized. I have no idea if they really are, but they look like clam shells except that they are thick and chalky white all the way through.

KR said...

Happy Birthday P!
Love searching for shells!
Yes, a relaxing walk on the beach.
Over the years as a keepsake I have bought a postcard each place we go but I no longer keep them. I send them to a friend in New Zealand who collects postcards.
I love the 'flower' shape on the sand dollars!

Covnitkepr1 said...

This brings back memories of taking our kids to the beaches of Florida many many years ago and watching as they both ran wildly trying to see which one could collect the most. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been following and enjoying your blog for a while now and would like to invite you to visit and perhaps follow me back. Sorry I took so long for the invitation.

Jude said...

Oh these are beautiful! I always loved collecting shells (I guess it's a given when you live on a tropical isle) and still love seeing them (and knowing that other people love collecting them too!) The sand dollars are so wonderful :)

Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...

I LOVE sand dollars, they're so pretty!

pam said...

i need to walk on the beach with you guys. i never find shells! is it just coronado?
thanks for the shout out. i fired that maid, BTW. if she can't be on time, forget it.

La Dolfina said...

You found some beauties!
I love the nesting ones and the delicate sand dollars.
You're a good beach comber my friend!!
xx

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

Wow, those last beauties are definitely mine favorites too!!
Have a most happy day, Jeanette xxxx

Nicole said...

Shells are so very cool and unique. Great finds!! I always try to bring something home but it's not always the same type thing. Heck I have a piece of Volcanic Rock from a volcano in Costa Rica :)

Tanya (a Taste of T) said...

I love sand dollars. I usually bring home memories and a lot of dirty laundry :)

Jillian said...

I just love shells and sand dollars!

Chris said...

fridge magnets....prosaic but the kids love them and you can fit them in a handbag and see them every day. I have a big collection of noisy ones bought in Century 21 basement before anyone in the UK had heard of them.

Anonymous said...

i loove shells :D
they are so beautiful
cute blog

xoxo

Andrea said...

These are beautiful! So much fun collecting shells. I once spent 3 hours collecting 200 sand dollars when I was a kid.

Maria said...

magnets, rocks, definitely shells, and pictures :-D

But my fave to pick up, as you know, is sea glass - the excitement is the same each time.

Happy Birthday P!

French Basketeer.com said...

I love collecting shells, as long as they are not alive and not from an endangered marine environment, as many of our beaches in Laguna are. Years ago there were tons of shells, and now, very few except mussels. How great to find the sand dollars! I have a footed bowl of coral frags from a trip to Cabo, and I love to look at them and be reminded of that trip. Have a lovely week, Jeanette~

Anonymous said...

Happy Bday to Aliso! Love collecting sea shells.... sand dollars are so cool! xo

Kellie Collis said...

I like those nested shell as well as the sand dollars. So lovely! Have a gorgeous day, Kellie xx

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

I've always loved sand dollars!

Diana Mieczan said...

Btw: how amazing that you have a view on the mountain:) Cool!

Unknown said...

I love seashells! What are you going to make with them? XX!

jeanette from everton terrace said...

FB - yes we threw all living shells back in the water.

Shari, I don't make anything I just add them to some large glass vases in my living room.

Bronwyn - I have no idea about the chalky ones, I am a desert girl after all.

Anonymous said...

Just beautiful...love and adore shells. Butterfly shells are the best :-)
xxx Emily from EL Vintage

PS- No links on the slips. You must go the traditional route. :-)

PSS- Thanks for entering in on Diana's giveaway on the clutch! xx

Damaris @Kitchen Corners said...

I too bring back shells. last time we were in brazil we brought a whole bunch. now that we're going to hawaii we'll be bringing back more.

Leah said...

Wow these are all so pretty! What treasures!

Luvs!

Brenda Pruitt said...

I have never walked on the beach and collected shells. Can you even believe that? These are a beautiful collection!
Brenda

Brandywine said...

Lately I've been collecting different kinds of acorns - not too many beaches around here. I've found that nature usually provides a better souvenir than a gift shop. Love the nesting shells.

Stacey said...

I foresee some great necklaces from those sand dollars! Beautiful shell collection:-) XX

ag. said...

Oh I love shells! And sand dollars are so sweet, they definitely remind me of my childhood!

We always try to bring a piece of art home from wherever we go...something we'll actually display in our house!

lisaroy said...

I've never actually found a sand dollar so that would be pretty special. I've brought home shells and sand and rocks from Ireland (my guy thought I was nuts). :)

Claire Kiefer said...

Oh my gosh! I can't believe you found 6 sand dollars! I always feel so lucky if I even find one. And those little nesting shells are precious. As are the butterfly shells. I'm getting so nostalgic here!!