Where Earth Meets The Sky

Where the Earth meets the Sky you can never come closer to who you are than right here on the beach.

Where Earth Meets The Sky

 

Lion's Paw Seashells

I Love Lion's Paw Seashells. I think they are amazing. The shape, the colors, how wonderful beach nature is it's beyond imagination. Every time I find one of these awesome shells at the beach, it's like a gift from the sea!

I'll be back hoping for more cool finds, some days it's a bag full of treasures and some days it's just a beautiful walk on the beach.

Baby Sea Turtles In Florida

Baby sea turtles in Florida are so important there are local rules and laws to help these tiny, determined beautiful little turtles survive. Sea turtle nests are protected with barricades and tape marking out the area beach goers should stay away from so the baby eggs can survive without being disturbed. Lights out on the beach at night so sea turtles aren't frightened and disoriented when it's time to lay their eggs. Even the residents who live in houses on the beach are respectful about not using glaring lights at night that reflect through their windows.

The love and respect for sea turtles is a beautiful thing that unites people no matter their differences in politics, financial status, genders and careers. Everyone unites to care about the little sea turtles and try to help protect them.

I was lucky enough to be there when baby sea turtles celebrated their just born birthday and declared their independence on July 4th making their way determined and awesome to their new home in the sea.

Hi From The Beach

Hi from the beach always a welcome no matter the weather, you are welcome to visit. You may have to bundle up in winter jackets, shed everything but your bathing suit or find some beach gear inbetween. Quick dry pants, shorts and tops are awesome for the beach especially for those days when you aren't really going to just sunbathe or swim in the waves.

Beaches are waiting for you come fishing, shelling and walking. The power of the ocean, waves, sun, wind and sand will do what they will and it's you that needs to be prepared!

No matter how many times I go to the beach, no matter which beaches I go to, it's always that first glimpse of the sea that welcomes me the most. Suddenly the sun, clouds, waves, noise, smells and sounds all blend together to wrap you in it's world.

The only thing that's hard about the beach welcome, is when it's time to leave. I hate to say goodbye but always ready for my next welcome to the beach adventure.

Whale Bones Found On The Beach

Whale bones I found on the beach still leave me amazed at how big the ocean world is, how old and how diverse.  I love finding beach treasures. Always searching for some great seashells, pieces of old treasures like boats, sea glass and some other great unknowns that was ashore. But whale bones! This treasure I did not expect.

The ocean waves were serious the last few days. Even low tide was rocking the beach and covering most of the sand with every wave washing up with it plenty of shells and strong enough to move the beach rocks on some of the beaches (more about that later).

To be honest, I had no idea when I spotted this pretty amazing looking specimen on the beach what exactly it could be. I just knew it was like nothing I had ever seen before and anything you find on the beach, is some kind of crazy treasure. I cleaned it up and started my google research and before long I was able to easily figure out this is for sure a whale bone vertebrae fossil. 

Maybe it was the winter storms that were raging to the North of us that helped send this whale fossil my way, or maybe it's been dislodged from an old whale graveyard from hundreds of years ago and just found it's way to land now. Whichever it is, I feel pretty honored it chose to share this find with me. 

Seashell Planter Home Made DIY

My seashell planter is one of my favorite homemade projects. It was one of those things you think about and never get around to. Every time I looked at the plain planter on the outside of my screen door I would think I really should replace that planter. It has a great aloe plant growing in it that was a baby clipping from a great big aloe plant that we never thought would take, but my daughter babied it and it was now thriving. I didn't really want to transplant it but I could. But I didn't. And I really like the shape of the planter that fit really nicely in the little plant stand. So really for months I did nothing. Except for say I really should do something with that planter, at least 3 times a week.

Aloe Plant In My Old Planter Pre Seashell Renovation

Then it happened. The great idea and motivation from out of nowhere. Wouldn't it be awesome if I could cover the planter with some of the great seashells I am always collecting from the beaches I love.

Seashells From The Beaches I Love

Out came the seashells. Tons of seashells. All different sizes, shapes, colors. Out came the tacky glue, mod podge and then finally, the only thing that really worked to hold the naturally shaped shells to the curvy shaped planter (with the aloe plant still inside the whole time) was the hot glue gun.

Seashells Work Great With A Hot Glue Gun

I have used tacky glue and mod podge with other great projects including shell art home made projects before with great success but this planter was not going to happen. The shells slid almost immediately so unless I held each one in place for about an hour it just was not going to work. Out came the hot glue gun and a fresh new package of glue sticks.

Seashell by Seashell. One by one I chose from the great colors and shapes from the sea that I had handpicked over the last few months just because they all just were fascinating to me.

Seashell By Seashell Hot Glued Onto The Planter Project

Choosing the right shells to fit any kind of pattern on the interesting shaped planter was no easy job. Pretty small crown conchs, olive shells in every size. Whelks and cockle shells and pretty scallops. So many to choose from. To fit in to the right spot. I also decided to add some pretty cool white decorative rock accents to give the planter that southern beach feeling so they got hot glued on also.

Seashell By Seashell Hot Glued Onto The Planter Project

It took a couple of days dedicating every minute and hour I could possibly run out to work on the seashell planter but I loved it as it started coming together. The family would come out to visit. There were many cups of coffee. Lots of eyes and helping me sort through even more shells. Plenty of fun DIY home artists in my family and lots of great advice. And more coffee.

Seashell By Seashell The Planter Was Really Starting to Come Together

A seashell project of love it took lots of time, hot glue sticks, seashells and coffee but I love my seashell planter

I was determined that every spot of the original worn out planter would be covered with something beautiful. Layer by layer. Shell by shell. Burned hot glued finger by burned hot glued finger this seashell planter was starting to look great!

Shell by shell. Burned hot glued finger by burned hot glued finger this seashell planter was starting to look great!

It took a ton of hot glue sticks, initially for the shells and rocks and then another layer in and out around every shell wherever I could to make sure this planter would make it through the harsh weather of down South Florida.  So far so good. Everything is holding on. As the summer comes and time goes by we'll see if the hot glue can stand up to the hottest sun in the world. 

I really am crazy about the seashell planter. Now I look at it every day and smile. It reflects who am I, what I love and what I love to do. Take things that are pretty cool and make them even better. The aloe plant seems to love it's new look too it's still growing like crazy.

And the good news is, if any shells do come off, I can always go back to the beach and collect some more seashells to replace them! 

 Searching For Seashells At The Seashore

Love Art and Beach Shells

Love art from the beach has to include seashells for our family and we love using the beautiful shells we find on the beach to create art, signs, decorations, photo frames, seashell planters...  You name it we love sharing our love of beaches, sunshine and shells all over our home.  My family gave me the greatest gift this Valentine's Day an awesome seashell art canvas that clearly spells out how much they Love Me.

Every beautiful shell was handpicked from our beaches including some of my favorite whelks, conchs, kitten paws, olives and some of the amazing beautiful sea glass my daughter the beach whisperer always finds every wonderful trip to the seashore.  Heart shaped rocks and shells decorate our home made shell art while pretty little seashells of beautiful colors become a magical butterfly.

Be creative in your home too. If you find some seashells big or small, round or long make something wonderful out of them and show someone oceans of love from the sea and from your art from the heart.

Waves of Moods

The beach reminds me of everyday living. Some days there are so many extremes. Feelings of high tide and low tide ebb through your day. Some of the waves of feelings whether reacting to work, bills, stress or hopefully, happy times, birthdays and memories they are all guaranteed to stir up lots of underlying old stuff and new.

 

Some days it's all one mood. It's a great calm day and the plan comes together.

 

Some days it's rough and tumble and you are working harder to keep up with the tide. But everyday it's important to take some time to see the beauty in your life through high waves and foamy seas.  

Seashell Solar Lights

Seashell solar lights are perfect because I love lights especially solar lights out in the garden, along my path, on my deck, in my planters, everywhere I can. I even have solar string lights for the holidays. They save energy because you don't need electricity. They look great and really light up a dark night. Solar lights are a great way to give a cozy we are home feeling to every house. Solar lights are even great on balconies and terraces if you live in a condo or apartment.

I also love seashells. My new passion is seeking out seashells because that's a great reason to go to the beach. Now that I have moved down South and the most beautiful tropical beaches are just a few miles away, going to any one of the beaches is the best way in the world to clear your head, leave reality behind for just a little bit and remember that out there, the sky meets the ocean and everything possible is on the horizon. Seashells are a token of that visit. They are big and small. Sea shells that are hard to find and some very common but every size, shape, color and type are just amazing and beautiful. I quickly have brought home so many seashells I love that I need to keep making things I love out of things I love.

We happened to have two leftover tiki candle cans that we had never used (I never set anything on fire with actual flames if I can help it probably due to my firefighter career (you can read more about that here) and had used the big tiki candles with two solar lights in it to light the back area of the house until they kept getting knocked over when we trimmed the bushes. The tiki torch holders were long gone but the cans and solar lights we still had. Tiki cans with no cool holders are just not that great looking. So out of the garage came the cans ready for a diy seashell home renovation.

First thing my husband did was clean off the can including any rust it had accumulated then spray paint it black so the writing and old stuff was all covered up and looked much better already.

Seashell home art projects often require the work of a glue gun. Shells are so irregularly shaped sometimes the mod podge and tacky glue just doesn't work. Your hot glue gun will work with seashells on almost every surface but you have to definitely have patience and definitely have fingers that will probably have to hold up to a couple of hot glue gun burns!

Slowly but surely my husband worked his way around the cans sea shells and glue, choosing some of our favorite calico shells, olive, clam shells, small conch shells, all the colors and shapes that would fit into each spot. Every single shell we found with our own hands, during so many visits to the seashore every day new finds now DIY fastened to a cool new home light project. 

Not to say there wasn't any under the breath cursing every time a finger met the glue or the shell moved or the glue dried before it was in the right spot, but it was worth every minute. It took a couple of days between spray painting the light cans, hot gluing the shells to the light but it was like adult arts and crafts that ended up a DIY project we really use and love.

After both lights we decorated with shells, the hot glue all set and the lights cleaned up and charged by the sun we covered the entire beach shells surface with mod podge to seal it up hopefully keeping the harsh weather from breaking down all of our hard work. So far, so good!

We hope you will join us on Facebook at Bonfire Designs and share some of your home DIY projects, fun beach adventures or share your love of beaches with us too.

Beaches In My Mind

This is the beach where I am in my mind. Even when I'm not there at the seaside, shelling for adventure I'm looking forward to being there again. When life gets stressed reality of course says you can't just go running off and play in the sand. There's work and school and bills and homes to take care of.  Home is beautiful too I love it there. But tucked away like the ocean waves now and then the thought rushes over me....  I really wish I was right here where I took this beach photo and can't wait to be back there again.

Beaches on my mind

Beach Carts For Seashore Days Fishing and Shelling

Beach Carts For Seashore Days, Fishing and Shelling On The Beaches is my latest recommended you really have to think about one of these for your own. Check these out.

Beach carts are what you need to get your gear down to the beach for an easy trip with this beach buggy, carts and wagons. Foldable for storage when not in use (although we keep everything for the beach like our beach chairs, insulated coolers, kids beach pails and shovels stored away and ready to go in ours when not in use) and they will help you get through the sand and beats carrying your beach chairs, towels, beach bag, lunch bags and insulated coolers as well as fishing gear and sunscreen in your arms.

Beach carts and fishing buggy loaded up with everything we need to hit the beaches

Beach Buggy Cart loaded up with chairs, umbrellas, shovels and pails, plenty of room for insulated cooler and beach bags

Whether you are shelling, shore fishing, tanning on the beach or surfing the waves these beach carts are really exceptional. The wheels are made not to dig into the sand instead to roll over the sand making the push or pull of the beach buggy easier than a little red wagon. (we upgraded our wheels but the ones ours came with also worked great, we just really load this up and go a long ways on the beach so we can also do some shore fishing away from the swimmers.

Sea Where It Leads

This is why even when I'm not at the beach I'm thinking of the beach. Seashells and sea air. The sky goes as far as forever until it meets the horizon and keeps on going where it meets with the ocean and together they are the rest of the view.   Sea where it leads, it leads to clean air, fresh thoughts. Sandy toes and you feel so much more grounded than when you first got there.

Sun filled blue skies or white puffy clouds overhead. Huge barreling waves so loud you can't even hear or calm low tides that float around your ankles, you never know how the beach will be from day to day. You never know where the sea really leads.

Beaches Are Beyond Dreams

Beaches are beyond dreams it's part of why I love going there so much. You can dream about an amazing nature scene. Dream about the skies, the clouds, the ocean. You can picture what beauty and amazement is but when you are there, standing on the sand looking north, south, east and west all around you is this amazing phenomenon of endless horizon that blends together yet is still separate and independent.

Wherever you plant your fishing rod for some shore fishing or lay out your blanket and beach towels there's something wonderful to see, feel, hear and enjoy. Every day is a special day at the beach. A great day for reflections, to let your mind wander. To dream and let the outside world go. At least for a little while.

Relax at home and dream about the beach - we have fun for that too!

Beach Theme Pillows and they all can be personalized

Seashells at the Sea Shore Throw Pillow
by bonfirenature

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Beach Love Throw Pillow
by bonfirenature

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Beach Cheers Throw Pillow
by bonfirenature

Treasures on the Beach

Anytime I'm lucky enough to get to the beach I can't help but search for new treasures. Shells of every size and shape fascinate me. Millions of sea shells millions of years old I love new and different safe relaxing adventures and every visit to every beach is always a new wave of fun

  Personalized Gifts Personalized For You