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Do you love to decorate with momentos from family vacations? I am particularly fond of beach keepsakes and I am always trying to come up with new and creative ways to display my treasures of the sea.  Today I will be sharing the mermaid cove “garden” and decorative glass bottles I made using treasures from our trip to Wrightsville Beach, NC last month.

Last month? How has it already been three weeks since we left the beach? Summer is flying by now! Autumn decor is in all the stores and cooler morning temperatures are tugging at my fall loving heartstrings. School starts back in just three days which means it will be time to retire the beach themed decor and transition to fall. For the next few days at least, I want “no reminders of realities and responsibilities,”  just like this lovely mermaid in her sea cove!

Using the treasures I had found at the beach and a few other items, I was able to make this beautiful beach keepsake quickly and inexpensively.

While on vacation I collected some really beautiful shells, rocks, and stones. I knew I would be putting many of them in jars or pretty bottles, but I also wanted to make something unique.

When I found this little mermaid in a gift shop I was inspired to make her a mermaid cove “garden” with the shells I had collected. I am really pleased with how well this project turned out! This shabby-chic style coastal decoration is definitely one of my favorite beach keepsakes so far, and it was really easy to make.

At first I wasn’t sure what type of container I would be using as a foundation, but I figured I would luck into something eventually.  When we got home from vacation I remembered that most of the beachy decor would be on clearance at Michael’s, so I headed there first. I found this half barrel right away and I knew it would be perfect for what I had in mind. After finding the barrel I went straight home and got started.  I unpacked my ocean loot haul and the fun began! 

For inspiration, I put my favorite antique nautical picture in front of me and listened to old sea shanties as I worked, which was really fun and kept me in a beachy mood! Before starting on my mermaid garden I sorted the smaller shells and put them in glass bottles. Little bottles are inexpensive and make perfect beach keepsakes. I have enjoyed using them in vignettes all around the house for these last few weeks of summer. A few will remain in sight year round.

After sorting all of my sea treasures, I got to work on the mermaid garden. I simply filled the barrel with larger shells on the bottom and layered shells and rocks of different sizes on the top. I used some faux spanish moss as a “sea weed” filler. I was loving how it looked at that point, but I felt like it was missing some “bling.” I had some pearl garland left over from Christmas so I just draped it around to fill in bare spots and to add more interest, and that did the trick! For a finishing touch I added the little “message in a bottle” which is actually a Christmas ornament I had already been using in a nautical vignette.

My mermaid is the perfect size for relaxing among these amazing larger shells my that husband and sons found. I gave her a sea shell bikini top and a shell hat and necklace using some of the itty-bitty shells I collected.

I also used some beautiful teal green sea glass stones I purchased at Michaels. You can order  them here: Turqouise Sea Glass Decorative Fillers

“She wanted no reminders of realities and responsibilities.” Ah, the mermaid life!

I bought a package of sheets of scrapbook phrases at Michael’s with the intention of using  “Beautiful Dreamer,” but when I discovered this phrase on the second page it was the perfect sentiment for my creation.

Mermaids really are lovely creatures (with the exception of using their womanly wiles to lure innocent sailors to the bottom of the depths of the ocean, never again to see the light of day)! Can we just ignore that part of the folklore and focus on the beautiful, romantic, and carefree aspects of a mermaid’s life? After all, it is important to see the positive and beautiful in all things! This mermaid certainly is beautiful to me, and even though I will be saying goodbye to most of my nautical decor this week in exchange for some transitional fall items, my mermaid garden will be on display year round in my craft room to remind me that summer will come again!

Here is a last look at a few of my beach keepsakes before the pumpkins take over!

I made some “sea salt” shakers by placing pretty orphaned toppers on my bottles and they are just so pretty and fun! I found this vintage photo of some friends at Wrightsville Beach and I simply printed it off and stuck it down in a bottle full of shells.

Style tip: Print off a small vintage postcard graphic or nautical photo and display it a small bottle along with your own treasures of the sea.

I recently shared this photo on Instagram, explaining that I use the same criteria when collecting seashells and ironstone platters. I look for interesting colors, shapes, textures, patina, and a variety of sizes. I like to find them in different places and each find should have a memorable story attached. And the more, the merrier!

“Not all who wander are lost…”

I do often dream of days spent wandering along the beach, lost in thought and enjoying God’s majestic creation.  Beautiful coastal decor helps me feel more connected to the place I truly feel is part of me. In my retirement years I will call a cottage near the coast my home… with no reminders of rules and responsibilites! The cottage will be filled with an eclectic mix of found objects and decor which hold much sentimental value, as in the vignette below.

Soon the excitement of fall will replace the sadness of summer’s end. Our home will be a cornucopia bursting with pumpkins and autumn decor, but I always keep a few shells around the house year round too. My decorating motto is “Surround yourself with beautiful things you love,” and since all of us are ocean lovers in this home, we must have some beach keepsakes tucked in here and there, no matter the weather or season.

Well my friends, I hope you were able to have a fun and relaxing summer! As my mermaid relaxes, I unfortunately must face realities and responsibilites! I am off to purchase school supplies for my middle schooler! How are you wrapping up your summer? I would love to hear from you!

Amber

*If you would like to create a similar mermaid garden, shop online at Michael’s! Be sure to look for a daily coupon on the home page!

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