I love everything about the beach: watching the pelicans and seagulls diving after jumping fish; seeing fiddler crabs skitter across the sand; the breeze blowing the sea oats. I especially love the waves - the crashing sound, the constant movement - they invoke serenity while indicating a great power, the driving force of nature.
When my husband used to go out to sea, I often got lonely. On the days I particularly missed him, I would drive down to the beach, stand in the water, and tell him I loved him. I would imagine the ebb of the ocean carrying my message to him. I don't know that he ever heard me, but I like to believe he did.
I also went to college near the beach. This afforded lots of unique opportunities, such as being able to study while working on my tan. I also went to school with some very handsome surfers, which is where I got the inspiration for my Surfer's Shell Necklace I recently listed on Etsy. You could find necklaces similar to this in just about any gift shop on the beach, and almost everyone on campus had one. Some of them were plain, but a lot of them had carved shell pendants or shark tooth pendants. When I made my own shell chip necklace, I created my own pendant by layering a mother-of-pearl shell disc behind a metal scallop shell charm. I have also created two more of these necklaces, which I will be listing in a few days. They're identical to the one I have listed currently, except one features a starfish metal charm, while the other features a clam shell charm.
Making beach charms makes me feel good, since it reminds me of happy times in my life. Hopefully one of these days I'll get back to a place near the ocean. Until then, this won't be the only beach-inspired jewelry I'll be making for my shop.
