Shell Power: Whispers of Inspiration from Mother Nature

Shelling I

The magic of shells

Do you remember the first shell that sparked your curiosity to discover more?

Maybe you have a jar(s) of shells you've collected, as a momento.

While holding those water realm forms & shapes was your explorative imagination brought to the surface?😉

In today's post we dive into the magic of shells, their property messages & how they might assist you.

Shelling II

The tools are provided

Ancient tribes around the world recognized an object, that was once the home of a sacred being, to have spiritual energy.

Shells have been and are used as fetishes, enhancing ornamentation/jewelry, protection from negative energies, ceremonial pieces, as well as tools to stimulate intuition and spiritual connection.

Remember that shell you put to your ear to hear the ocean? Well it turns out there is something to that. Temple Initiates were taught to be intuitive and hear inner voices by listening to a seashell. I'm sure further history holds the origins of this practice.

Mother Nature makes no mistakes, every object, animate or inanimate, is surrounded by its own energy field.(1)

With the ocean as their place of birth, each shell has been grown following a pattern of sacred geometry. This geometry is an essential part of their composition.

Nature's elemental objects of desire each have a song, a frequency, and are imbued with information and purpose, carrying a message. Our job is to allow and experience/receive.

Shells, energy-wise, ignite & bring inspiration! It's literally their calling! So why not use the natural tools she provides.

And if you feel that nudge to reconnect with the ocean herself… 🌊

Imagine walking along the shoreline, discovering shells shaped by time and tide — each one a message waiting to be found.

✨ Book your own shelling adventure here →Shell Key Shelling Trip

Let the sea choose your next treasure.

Scallop Chandeliers

Allow Your Inner-Voice

At times, you may have experienced a need for a spark of inspiration, an idea-to work, a revelation, to reach an answer to complete a project.

Remember those seashells you collected at the beach!

Next time you experience this, I invite you to arrange seashells with imagination, intuitively placing them to give some insight. (Among or around your current project). Move the shells around, be fluid with placement and arrangement- it's more about an interactive immersion.

Allow yourself space with an innocent approach. As you honor the process, seashells remind us of the fluid movement of flowing within.

In this way pathways are revealed. And your mind begins to be free within the moment.

Reminders

Children are open to receiving and remind us of the innocent play that brings streaming wonder & creativity. So let's draw upon that innocent approach! (This is guilt free, heehee)

Not to fret, if the process doesn't seem to happen straight away. Be patient, you know how the saying goes... allow the process to unfold. As a result new pathways are emerging and gaining strength. The more you allow the sooner the activating insight/qualities awaken.


Sea Urchin Wrap Dangles

Did you know?

~ Shells can be used to improve self-image, help organize your life, & to increase your personal strength & endurance. (1)

~ Shells were highly prized in ancient tribes of American Indians. They were used for trade. And when worn around the neck, this placement of adornment signaled/exhibited wealth. The earliest monetary trading beads.(1)

~ Early Romans built their civilization by the sea, carving seashells into every form of objects of beautification, such as earrings, fans, hair combs and even eating utensils. These carvings often represented images of their gods and of their heroes. It was believed that the shell could bring them the power of the carved image. (1)

~ Shells inspired this post!

Shell LaveRock Mala

Do you have a favorite shell? If so, what is it?

Looking to further strengthen the magic of nature in your world? Check out Four Indoor Plants To Brighten Your World

Stay Connected >>>>

Beech Designs

Objects of Desire + Notes From The Studio

Sources:

1- Dorothee, Mella L.. Stone Power. (1986). Warner Books Edition.

DIY BUSINESS TAGS AND CARDS - Part I

Cost: ~0- $10

Materials:
– paper towel rolls

– watercolor &/or acrylic paint(s)

– mod-podge, matte or glossy
– rub on stencil stickers or stamps
– any additional metallic/colors- optional

– labels- optional

Tools:
– paint brushes
– printer - optional
– ruler
– scissors
– cutting mat

~Free Within Abundance~

In today’s post we focus on creating your very own handmade business tags and cards!

DIY projects are a great way to add a unique aspect or style to your business brand’s presentation. Especially if your products are handmade goods.

Reasons why to create your own business tags & cards:

-You're just starting out

-Sticking to a budget is of importance at this time.

-You make handmade goods and would like to carry that theme throughout your brand’s display.

-Would simply like to add a distinct artistic element

-Or maybe incorporating materials that are up-cycled or repurposed are of interest for your brand’s message.

Note:

Be open to the flow and improvising. Variations/options are available. Feel free to run with your creative vision.

Supplies:

Most supplies are already around in your home or office/studio or found at your local dollar store. Play around and have fun.

Printing options:

If using textured materials, like paper towel rolls, do not use your home printer. Unless you know you have a printer that can handle textured material. From your home computer you can create labels.

Printing Alternatives:

-A self inking stamp on blank labels is an option or using a stencil method.

Prep...

Paper Sheets

Re-purposing ...

Smooth paper towel rolls work best, as glued ones don't absorb water (some paper towel have a remaining glue on the roll), mod-podge, or paint as well.

To begin, cut your paper towel roll down the center, flatten between some books-this may take up to a week. Once you flatten your paper towel roll it becomes a sheet.

First Application...

Once flattened, start with a quarter size of white acrylic paint, teaspoon of mod-podge, with three tablespoons of water.

This is what I have found to start with, from there variate. You may want to play with your own recipe for your consistency.

The water will absorb into the sheet bringing along with it the mod-podge medium and some of the white paint. Paint both front and back. Dry thoroughly.

This process can be repeated 1-4+ times depending on the look you are going for. As the applications will start to strengthen the texture.

Depending on your desired color density, add more color to your mixture.

Below, are examples of less white acrylic paint used in the foundational application. Allowing the sheet's original natural material color to come through. The color paint application mixtures keep this thematic look going.

(In this batch an emphasis was put on having the sheet's natural material color comes through the paint applications.)

Adding Color...

Emphasizing your card or tag's background with color. In the display cards, below, more paint is added to the mixture. Giving more color and texture density.

What kinds of paint?

For this project we suggest using acrylic or watercolor paints. Feel free to mix the two as well. Mod-podge is crucial for using either watercolor or acrylics.

Mod-podge is a medium used between and for others materials. A carrier of paint color, transparency, and layering as well as a sealant or glue. (It's a multitasker!).

When painting with color, it is recommended to add 1-4 applications. Even if the color is made to be translucent (more water than color). Be sure to dry between each application. And note, the mod-podge in the mixture is key to help strengthen and texturize the body to your new tags or cards.

Measure & Cut...

Your colored sheets are now ready to be measured & cut. Decide on what measurements suite your display needs. Use a ruler and/or cutting mat to mark you measurements. Then cut.

Place your labels on the now cut tags or cards. You might like to use a stamp, press on/ stencils, stickers or metallic/colors to add a bit of contrast, that is your call. Additionally, you may need to trim.

Check out using some wavy craft scissors for you tags, as shown, as
an option.

Creating tags, place a hole using a hole punch or sharp instrument,1/4" from the edge is recommended for strength. In the image, cotton and twine are used. Again it's your call.

Sweet!

You are now ready to tag your products while up-cycling & re-purposing!

In this foundational tutorial, your job is to expand, play, and create.

Have fun!

Head over to Part II here!

Bringing Creative Experiences to Families & Children

Creative Endeavors

You may be familiar with Beech Designs jewelry, but there is art too.

Curated selected works are now featured at the Boston Children's Hospital's new Hale Family Building.

It's exciting to be part of this comprehensive art program, that brings an immersive creative experience of more than 700 individual pieces of art.

This collection, on view, presents different life themes. With each floor displaying a separate theme- Garden, Underwater, Harbor, City, Forest, Lake, Mountain, Space & Treetop.

Word & Image

It is an honor to be selected to take part in this visionary/project for the whole family to enjoy. Where creative imagination and good vibes take place.

Several mixed media 2D art, of fish/nautical inspired works, were selected. These pieces were created using watercolor and ink work.

The pieces, combine the elegant art with short poems in the display plaques. Bringing visual illustrations and the creative word together. Like Goldie the Fish.

Goldie by Beech Designs

Goldie

Made of gold and silver,
She passes through time and space.

Alert in fluid tranquility,
She brings clarity with ease and grace.

Call upon her in your dreams,
And with the waving of her fins,
Flecked with light beams,
A path of protection she brings.

These 2D works will become available on Beech Designs' website. So stay tuned for more to come. This collaboration has inspired future works and will be shared here with updates.

✨ Creative energy starts from within. Before painting or writing, I love a warm cup of my favorite natural blend of maca for sustained, natural focus and calm energy — it’s a gentle boost that supports clarity, both in art and in life.

🌍 When inspiration calls, nothing refreshes the creative spirit quite like discovering new places and perspectives.

Through Beech Designs Experiences, I’ve curated creative journeys and cultural adventures that spark fresh ideas, add color to your days, and leave you inspired long after the trip ends.

Nourish your inner and outer world — with grounding rituals, mindful movement, and creative escapes that keep your imagination alive wherever life takes you.

Here's to another great year! Full of abundance, prosperity & creativity.

Cheers!

💫 If you enjoy meaningful, handcrafted designs — explore more in A Bit About The Bead.

20 Astonishing Holiday Complaints

Apparently, even paradise isn’t complaint-proof — here are 20 of the most ridiculous complaints travelers have actually said on vacation.


Create your adventure!

1. "I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts."

2. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time - this should be banned."

3. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy food at all."

4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our swimming costumes and towels."

5. A tourist at a top African Game Lodge over looking a water hole, who spotted a visibly aroused elephant, complained that the sight of this rampant beast ruined his honeymoon by making him feel "inadequate."

6. A woman threatened to call police after claiming that she'd been locked in by staff. When in fact, she had mistaken the "do not disturb" sign on the back of the door as a warning to remain in the room.

Crowded tropical beach with palm trees, sand, ocean waves, and people in swimsuits and sun hats

Looking for

experiences

beyond the beach?

7. "The beach was too sandy."

8. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure.Your brochure shows the sand as yellow but it was white."

9. A guest at a Novotel in Australia complained his soup was too thick and strong. He was inadvertently slurping the gravy at the time.

10. "Topless sunbathing on the beach should be banned. The holiday was ruined as my husband spent all day looking at other women."

11. "We bought 'Ray-Ban' sunglasses for five Euros from a street trader, only to find out they were fake."

12. "No-one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children were startled."

Person snorkeling underwater among tropical fish in clear green-blue water

Island Hopping: Private Snorkeling

13. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England it only took the Americans three hours to get home."

14. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom apartment to our friends' three-bedroom apartment and ours was significantly smaller."

15. "The brochure stated: 'No hairdressers at the accommodation’. We’re trainee hairdressers - will we be OK staying there?"

16. "There are too many Spanish people. The receptionist speaks Spanish. The food is Spanish. Too many foreigners now live abroad."

17. "We had to queue outside with no air conditioning."

Woman floating on her back in calm sunlit water, relaxed and smiling

Go where the
water carries you.

18. "It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel."

19. "I was bitten by a mosquito, no-one said they could bite."

20. "My fiancé and I booked a twin-bedded room but we were placed in a double-bedded room. We now hold you responsible for the fact that I find myself pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked."(This list is widely attributed to a survey by Thomas Cook and ABTA.)