The 73rd Sanibel Shell Fair and Show is here!!
The votes are in for the best exhibits and the doors open tomorrow and runs through Saturday each day from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. Here’s a sneak preview of what you’ll be seeing.
Sailor’s Valentines are octagonal shadowboxes that display fascinating shell mosaics. They are named for sailors in the 1800’s that would present valentines to their loved ones when they returned home from long sea voyages around the world.
Wish I could wander through that show!! My DD would love it, too!!
What kind of shells is that beautiful rose made from? What make the center pictures in the valentines? How many exhibitors are there? Do they come from all over the US? So many questions from your beautiful pics this morning! I read the rules and had no idea that the show was so huge. Being a judge must be a great honor, but what tremendous decisions!! I’d love to be able to attend. I hope to see lots of pictures, especially of the winners. Thanks, thanks, thanks!!!
Beautiful pics! Keep us posted……also anxiously awaiting how the shelling was yesterday after the remarks you made about all the shells in the surf….any word?….better yet… pics?? I need some shell reports…we got snow again here yesterday!!
Vicki- That rose is made of dyed and cut Tarpon scales. Beautiful, huh? The exhibitors come from all over -Colorado, PA, Conn, Texas, NY, Bermuda and more. I am so honored to be part of this show and I’m having a ball.
Oh, I just went through these photos of the Sailor’s Valentines and the Shell Art!! These are such beautiful and detailed and amazing artistic creations. The hands that made these are the hands of artists. I am so impressed with these fantastic works of art. Thank you so much for sharing!!! Dovie Belmont
As beautiful as this all is I have to think about the effect to the marine enviroment. Would be much nicer at the beaches and for marine life if all those shells stored away in boxes in closets were returned to the shores and left there. We cannot just keep taking and taking and giving nothing back.