Do You Mod Podge?

Do you mod podge? Or in other words: Have you done decoupage -cut out pictures and glued them onto objects?

As for me, not yet. But I fell in love with decoupage when I blogged about that awesome Nautical Furniture Piece makeover and learned about John Derian's Decoupage line..., and now I'm looking forward to post a few great decoupage projects. But before I do I thought I make sure you knew about Mod Podge and Amy's blog Mod Podge Rocks...


... because Mod Podge, as I understand, makes decoupage real easy -it's a glue, sealer and finish all in one. And Amy gives away starter sets all the time! The only thing negative I learned is that the glossy version of Mod Podge can be a bit sticky (due to the glue properties). But simply spray over it with a clear acrylic sealer, and solved!

Now back to the question..., I'd love to know...

poll by twiigs.com

I'd love to try!

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The Pool House in True Blood

The pool house in True Blood is a masterpiece in shell art. Who would have thought that vampires love shell art! I don't watch the HBO series True Blood, and just learned about Sophie-Anne, the Vampire Queen of Louisiana, and her Seashell Encrusted Pool House from Lisa of Seashell Finery, also see here).


The estate used for filming is a property located in Malibu, CA, with statues, chandeliers, chair rails and ceiling adorned with mixed varieties of seashells and corals, Lisa says. And look past Sophie-Anne to the shell planter!


A gorgeous piece made by Beatriz Valiente, another shell artist.

Related Posts:
Decorating Pots with Shells
Scallop Shell Pot
A Shell Cottage in Austin Texas

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Exterior House Decor Ideas

I've engaged in some house stalking again, not for House Names this time, but for exterior house decor ideas. Sure enough I found some great examples in my neighborhood and beyond, as well as on other blogs. So follow me...


... down my road to a seaside cottage in Red, White and Blue with one of those Personalized Lifesavers. I love the crab door knocker too and am looking forward to show you more entry door decor.


The most popular exterior house decor ideas seem to be nautical weathervanes and window displays. Lots of wonderful weathervanes actually, and I remember seeing a few model yachts in windows in other parts of my town. Here, a little bit of starfish love makes all the difference.


In this house you see a sea fan by the entryway, nice.


The last house on the road has a ship wheel mounted high on the wall. The visit from the seagull was appreciated!


This picture I took in Stonington, CT, which is about 90 minutes from where I live. I think someone was watching me stalking her home..., check out the door to the left and you'll see a lady in the dark. A rather unusual house decor idea for this quaint New England town.


And this lovely yellow cottage with starfish is located on Saltspring Island near Vancouver, Canada (click image), discovered on Sally Lee by the Sea.


I'm sure you can tell, this sand dollar home resides in Floria, via My Blue Skies. Then, previously featured exterior house decor ideas that are anything but ordinary... A Boat and Bow Maiden mounted on the wall, and a load of Buoys!

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Gone Green in the Bedroom

I can't stop looking at this Nautical Bedroom. Lobsters, crabs, starfish and shells gone green!

Happy Weekend!

Related Posts:
Going Wild with Wallpaper in the Bathroom
Falling for Nautical Wallpaper

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A Group of Glass Vases

Did you know that there's lots of ideas to be found for table decor on wedding sites? Makes sense, right! So I spotted this lovely Group of Glass Vases on Brides.com...


... and to create the look, go to Aero Home where you can purchase the entire set.

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Handmade from Recycled Sails

Made from Used Sails was my very first post here on Completely Coastal in 2010 with two giveaways sponsored by artisans who sell handmade and recycled products from sails. One of the artisans was Kim of Pink Oyster Designs. And a few days ago I received these gifts from Kim -handmade and recycled from sails!


A wonderful sailcloth bag which I took beachcombing last weekend. Strong, sturdy and waterproof, this little bag is perfect to hold whatever it is I want to take home from the beach! I picked up a bunch of colorful rope and a few sticks of driftwood. But let me tell you, I can haul tons of beach rocks with this!


Then, this gorgeous sailcloth pillow. I knew I was going to love the material, but what I didn't expect is how much I would love and appreciate the stitching on all of these items.


See the stitching! This super cute passport cover with a seahorse design is for my next trip to Switzerland. What can I say, I love all my handmade things from recycled sails -thank you so very much Kim! And since I believe that there's nothing more special than a personalized gift, Pink Oyster Designs offers custom numbers and letters!

And more recycled sailcloth items!


Beautiful Sailcloth Pillows and Bags at Cottage...


... and more pillow awesomeness at Outer Banks Trading Group, perhaps some Lobsters! More Sailcloth Totes to choose from, as well as Sailcloth Shower Curtains.

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Brass Lighting -Ceiling & Pendant Fixtures with a Nautical Twist

I'm so glad Fredeco introduced me to their product line of brass lighting that includes ceiling and pendant fixtures, as well as wall and table lamps; all with a very unique nautical twist. For a starter, a very chic and simple solid brass ceiling lighting fixture -ship wheel style! Many of the designs I'm showing you here are available in variations and/or as table and wall lamps, so please click on images to see and learn more.


An antique looking pendant lighting fixture inspired by ship portholes.


And I'm really loving the greenish patina and anchor detail on this brass lighting fixture...


... also comes as a beautiful chandelier.


And the ultimate nautical chandelier, with an anchor as a focal point.


Or create the seafaring feel with a rustic brass lighting fixture designed with a rope and pulley systems that you find on ships.

Related Posts:
Show me the Ropes
Nautical Decor -Loving Life at Sea

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A Shell House Like No Other off Pine Island FL

Remember the Shell Chic Cottage in Austin Texas? Emily, the owner, incorporated shells everywhere, inside and outside her home, except for the exterior walls..., then I saw the Shell House on Pam's blog I Love Shelling!


Pam who lives on Sanibel island had posted a few pictures from a recent drive by via boat. The shell house sits on Demere Key, a private little island off Pine Island just north of Ft. Myers, FL. It is covered from head to toe with ancient whelk shells from mounds created by the Calusa Indians, a Native American tribe that populated the area more than 2,000 years ago.


Over 100 shell mounds in varying sizes, from small refuse heaps to large islands, are said to exist off the coast of Southwest Florida. But only one man as far as we know has created a master piece of a shell house.


That man is Phil Demere who originally built the shell house to be a winter resort in the late 1950's or very early 1960's. And coincidence has it that another Pam who blogs at Small Serendipities had done some extensive digging through old books and newspapers last year and shared what she learned about Demere's House of Shells.

Related Posts:
Seashell Covered
It's Called Coquillage
A Shell Chic Cottage in Austin Texas

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How to Make Lampshades from Photographs on Someday Crafts

Today I'm showing you how to make lampshades from Photographs over at Someday Crafts! So please join me there..., as you can see below, I have quite a few photo lampshades around my house...


... two in the bedroom.


In the upstairs hallway I painted the (old) existing wall sconce and made a little half shade with the beach photograph that you see framed here (last picture).


The scallop shell sits on a shelf in My Orange Room which, in the meantime, has been converted into an office.


A coastal wildflower lampshade lights up a dark corner in the living room.


And you have seen the beach pebble photo lampshade here. I used to have a small (tiny) business, making lampshades from my photographs, so I have a few more, but behind closed closet doors.

See you on Someday Crafts -the lampshades are really easy to make!



Related Post: Have Your Own Beach Lampshade Made at Lamps Plus

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Shell Shard

I've become enamored with shell shards ever since I featured Gail's Jewelry at Sephemera and read this on her blog Shell Shards: "Many have spent hundreds if not thousands of years sloshing around in the ocean, where they have lost their original shape, but gained texture and patina that makes each one a tiny work of art."

Photo: Rachel Whiting

Happy Weekend!

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Caron's Beach House

Step into Caron's Beach House and it becomes clear that Caron not only loves the ocean, but is committed to help protecting it. From striving to find sustainable home decor items to recycling and re-using packaging material to supporting causes.


For example. If you buy this hand-crafted Glass Starfish, which I think would make a beautiful gift, Caron's Beach House will donate 25% to Ocean Conservancy.Org. Caron says, this organization works tirelessly to bring awareness of our Oceans' plight and they've been the instigators of the largest volunteer effort, ever, picking up over 7 million pounds in over 100 countries.


Another favorite of mine are these wonderful Sea Life Ginger Jars. The detailed drawings remind me of Cabinet of Natural Curiosities, as well as John Derian's Work.


Naturally I'm loving these vintage style Sea Life Trays too. Check out another set here. I'm really tempted -the price is so good!


One of Caron's Beach House favorite categories is Coastal Tabletop -click over and indulge yourself! So many different styles to choose from. Dinnerware, serving pieces, linens...


... and a great selection of Fine Glassware.


I love wreaths! They can incorporate anything and everything you love. This Coastal Wreath says Fall to me, and I adore the driftwood Sandpiper. I've featured Caron's very own wreath here.


And in the same category (as the wreath) Beachcombers Gifts, I found this gorgeous little cast iron scallop Shell Box.

Having an entrepreneurial spirit myself, I'm always eager to learn about other people's journey, and I'm really glad that Caron shared hers here on her blog Everything Coastal. Keep alive what you love, no matter what the circumstances are! That's what her journey tells me.

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Framed Sea Fan

Joely of Two Little Fishes lives in Australia and found this sea fan at a nearby beach. After letting it completely dry out, she cleaned it up a little (brushed off loose bits of outer coral stuff) and framed it in a shadow box frame, gluing her fragile find onto the backing with a tiny bit of glue on a toothpick. To me her framed sea fan looks like it came right out of a high end home decor store!

Browse everything in the category Framed It.

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John Derian Decoupage

Telegraph Magazine wrote: Decoupage artist John Derian has the ability to make beautiful things out of seemingly not very much. Love that! They titled the article cut and paste and that's pretty much what decoupage is -you cut out pictures, glue them onto objects, then apply a few protective coats of glue.

John Derian uses his extensive collection of vintage images for his decoupage. Some of them are collages, others he paints on, and they are reprinted and made into glass accessories. Or in case of Target who licensed some of his designs, they were produced as melamine plates and trays. For a look into his production studio in Manhatten click On the Road with John Derian.

So let's see some of his stunning pieces...


... nautical glass paperweights...


... cachepots (= ornamental containers for flowerpots)...


... fireplace screen...


... nautical coasters...


... all kinds of trays...


.... and plates.

And when John Derian isn't working decoupage magic in Manhatten where he lives and has two stores, he's spending time on Cape Cod, MA. To tour his home in Provincetown click Designer Superstar John Derian's Cape Cod Home.

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