Metal Fish Art by Chase Allen

Chase Allen of The Iron Fish forges gorgeous ocean inspired sculptures on Daufuskie, a remote island that is a ferry ride away from Hilton Head, SC, with no bridge to the mainland. "I fell in love with the simple way of life out here", he says in an interview with Town and Country.


And out there he is! Chase's home and studio where he creates his rustic metal fish art, mermaids, crabs and stingrays is a charming historic cottage situated along a dirt road deep in Daufuskie's maritime forest.


Some of Chase's designs are fictitious like the metal fish art in his Current Collection and (of course) the Mermaids. The fish you see above on the other hand as well as the blue crab and Stingray are based on nature and are part of the Permanent Collection.


Fish swim in schools, and they look great when they are decorated in odd numbers. These are just a few tips for decorating with Chase's metal fish art posted on his Designer Blog.


The Mermaids come in three different colors and sizes, the largest being 7' long, and they look great hung either way, horizontally or vertically.


I adore the Blue Crab, and it is perfect for a kitchen.


And I've always loved the idea of hanging art above the bed.

Now..., click on the video for a quick glimpse into Chase Allen's process of metal fish art making -it looks so effortless and easy! And I hope that I will have the chance to visit his open air studio and gallery one day, as well as Daufuskie Island.

Share

Glass Display Coffee Tables

Two inspirational glass display coffee tables..., and then there's Pottery Barn's.


This boat coffee table is just adorable, don't you think! But wait till you see what's inside.


Beautiful Fishing Glass Floats. I can see a dinghy or small row boat being repurposed!


The glass display coffee table on this sun porch is equally brilliant.


It is made from an iron sewing machine base that is topped with an old printer's typecase drawer, then filled with various seashells.


And then there's the Pottery Barn glass display coffee table.


Here photographed by Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville during a recent visit. This made her realize that she had a similar table at home which she then transformed into a shadow box table -another Pottery Barn Knock Off! To see Leigh's table click image above.

And if this felt just a tad familiar it's because I posted about glass display tables here: Curio Tables -A Way to Display, and you saw some amazing antique printer trays here: Stunning Shadow Display Boxes.

Share

Light Switch Plate Covers

I love these vintage style light switch plate covers. They remind me of the Cavallini Stickers and the book Cabinet of Natural Curiosities. Click images for more information and/or purchase.




Browse everything in the category Lamps and Lighting.

Share

Beach Crafts

Simple beach crafts gathered from online magazines such as Better Homes and Garden, Martha Stewart, and Country Living.

Beach crafts are all about bringing the beach inside the home..., and we all know that shells and sea treasures can be glued onto pretty much anything (see Bookends, Pots, Table, Basket & Birdhouse, just to name a few), here Shells are Glued to a Plate, and I love it. For more ideas, browse all Shell Crafts!


These Paper Lamps seem to never go out of style, adding capiz shells, I think, is a nice idea.


Add beach appeal to a Vase by tying jute around its neck, hot-gluing the ends inside shells. You find similar ideas here: 8 Ways to Decorate Bottles and Jars Beach Style.


A charming Shell Bookmark, much better than the Post-Its I've been using!


Keeping with the book theme..., if you have a large shell, you can turn it into a Bookend. Just add some weight by filling it with casting plaster -and I'm sure you know that I feature wonderful Inspirational Books here too!


With maximum-strength epoxy everything is possible. To pull off Seashell Pulls I think the trick is to use sturdy shells like these oysters.


And speaking of oysters..., if you happen to find a bunch with sides still attached, they can be useful as Tablecloth Weights in case the wind blows -or just for the good looks. Hang them in clusters, slipping jute, knotted at both ends, between open "wings" of the shells, and lay across the table.


As you might recall, I'm using my large Shells as Tea Light Trays, but they make pretty Soap Dishes too, all they need is a little seashell pedestal. Beach crafts can be that easy!


I love my Photo Pillow and Martha has a tutorial on how to transfer your beach photos onto Pillows.


And lastly, a beach craft for the beach! I love the idea of making something with a souvenir tablecloth. Here a vintage state tablecloth of Florida (backed with sturdy canvas) is used to update a Sling Chair.

Browse all Craft Project Ideas.

Share

Cottage -A Coastal Store with Unique Products

Kim and Joe have been running Cottage Coastal Store for five years now, providing thoughtfully sourced unique products for your home. They care about the environment, and they are always looking to source items that are made of re-cycled materials. You got to love that! So I thought I show you this neat driftwood peace sign first, handmade by Sugarboo Design and available in two sizes.


Sold as a set of four or six, these sand candles, or rather sand encrusted tea light holders, are handmade on Cape Cod. You can bring home the beach with these quite literally!


We all know how important Pillows are -they're not only comfy but complete the look of our couches, sofa chairs, window seats and beds, and these pillows from Cottage's Thred Collection are unique and special. They're the textile artwork of the Kuna Indians of the San Blas Islands in Panama. For a detail view click here, then click on the close up shot.


And how unique and fun are the blue and red crab pillows from the same collection -just love them!



And more fun to be had with sea life wall decor, each piece hand cut from rusty roof tin salvaged from old barns, then handpainted.


And one more favorite of mine, their Beach Signs. I love the ones that say "Seas the Day", and "Too Blessed to be Stressed". Words worth remembering!

Share

Ceramic Sculptures by Betsey Rice

Besides the purple wall color, it was the ceramic seashell sculpture made by artist Betsey Rice that caught my eye in the dining room of this New England home (click image to see more).


It's a glazed stoneware Whelk Shell to be exact.


Betsey Rice, an accomplished studio potter for over 40 years, has devoted the last decade to creating hand built marine life sculptures. You find her studio in Charlestown, RI, which is less than an hour drive from where I live.


Her ceramic sculptures are mostly in oversized proportions to magnify the beautiful details.


What a master piece this blue lobster is. And here's a fun fact. Did you know that only one in two million lobsters is blue, due to a genetic defect.


All of Betsey Rice's pieces are made of high-fire stoneware or porcelain and can be hung or displayed inside or out. Many are multi-fired to attain the depth of coloring. Just beautiful!

Related Posts:
Large Seashell Bowls
Sea Life and Seashell Vases
Seashell Garden Ideas

Share

Boat Oars -Three Unique Decorating Ideas

I keep discovering more boat oars (see Decorating Nautical with Wooden Oars), and here are three unique decorating ideas that I find original, clever and crafty, in that order.


I love these light boat oars, original for sure. Unfortunately though I can't tell you anything about them, other than that the picture is from the portfolio of photographer Keith Scott Morton..., and that I think the oars would look great in a New York loft space.


I didn't really discover this very clever boat oar installation, Tasha, a dear reader emailed it to me. She wrote, "I was inspired by a similar display I saw at a vacation house on Cobbs Island, Maryland. It took me a year to collect the vintage oars from thrift and antique shops. They are hung from a repurposed (LL Bean) quilt rack into which I drilled holes and inserted dowels." I love this idea -thanks so much for sharing it Tasha!


Then if you have a wooden boat oar, you can always get crafty and make it special like Carla of It's the Little Things... did. She added a number with personal meaning to one of her oars and gives you step by step instructions.

Browse all Misc Crafts and Wood Crafts. See all Craft Projects.

Share

Ideas to Bring Home the Beach

Atlanta designer Carter Kay shows us an example of how we can Bring Home the Beach.


Her mission was to establish a seamless transition between indoors and outdoors, using tranquil colors of sea glass greens, watery blues and sandy neutrals, as well as organic textures to keep the mood simple but sophisticated.


And of course it always makes me happy when there are Fishing Glass Floats involved!

Related Posts:
Coastal Living by Colors
Blue and Green -Decor and Inspiration

Share

Handmade Beach Decor Accessories by Beach Grass Cottage

What has Shari from Beach Grass Cottage been up to since her Giveaway here on Completely Coastal?


She's created many more awesome beach decor accessories with sea glass...


... like this set of sea glass balls in all the colors of the sea! Included in the set is one blue, one green, and one mixed blue/green/aqua, and other colors are available -as always, please click images for more information and/or purchase.


Her handmade sea shell mirrors are pieces of art and I wish Shari had a blog showing us her creative process!


I can't imagine how she made this very unique and on of a kind barnacle mirror.


And check out her beach home decor collection. Beautiful handmade shell and sea glass embellished boxes for storage, and other beach decor accessories...


... including new sea shell letters that measure approximately 9" high by 6" wide. And Shari just thinks of everything -the letters have built in hanger cutouts so you can hang them anywhere!

I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Share