Sailor Valentine “ MY LADY’S GARDEN”

Description

The name of this Sailor Valentine is “ MY LADY’S GARDEN”. Hand-crafted in a 12 inch by 12 inch box. The box is printed a vert pretty antique looking pinkish color with a lighter natural color.
The center of this Valentine features a puffy heart made of rose cup shells decorated with a miniature ivory heart cockle and a bit of stingray barb. The heart sits on a background of abalone and is edged with ivory colored rice pearls.
A wreath of flowers which include chitons, sea urchin spines, gooseneck barnacles, red nerites and volva shells. Sea urchin spines used for leaves are between the flowers. A ring of sea urchin spine leaves circle the inside of the wreath. Larger and medium sized sand-dollars circle the outside edge of the flower wreath.
An round overlay decorated with miniature white flowers, barnacle claws, Chinese gaming piece and a Glossus Molkiana shell. The round overlay attaches to the top of the spines. So the puffy heart sits down into the center, giving the center depth and three dimension.
Six petal of green tusk shell surround the center. The petals are filled in with sea urchin spines, white coquinas and operculums. In between the petals are sections of blue green chitons.
The eight corners of the box are decorated with green limpets and small arrangements of miniature flowers edged with wentletrap shells.
My Lady’s Garden can be hung or displayed on an easel. There is a sturdy hanger on the back. I use shells from all over the world and the finest hand made boxes with the best hardwoods.
My Lady’s Garden won third place for 2020 at the Sanibel Shell Show.
I am a juried member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. My Sailor Valentines have won several awards at the Sanibel Shell Show, Sanibel Island Florida.