When I travel to beaches, I've made a tradition of collecting shells to form a fairy, then leaving it on the beach my last day as a thank you. I always wonder if a kid finds it and enjoys the treat, and smiles. We share so many smiles on the beach, I hope that I can leave some behind for others too.
But they are very special to me, and I spend the week looking for the right shell inspiration. This year, I was lucky to find this broken sand dollar that made an ideal skirt, a curved shell for a gown bodice, and wings that actually look like they came right off a dragonfly, not a broken shell.
The best finds weren't mine, Kai Kai found this curved, pasta like thing that made a lovely, bent arm to hold the heart shaped shell Miss Tree found in the same spot her daughter snared that tube/arm thing. I don't know for sure what it is, it is a cluster of little bits, and is a perfect little heart, practically complete with ventricles and such. That is, if like me, you know nothing about anatomy.
Creating farewell fairies was an even more special event for me this time, since the family joined in. My son made a Warrior Sprite.
Miss Tree formed a curly headed faye, that seems to be jumping for joy.
Kai Kai left the beach a fairy riding a galloping unicorn. You can almost see the movement.
That inspired Dewdrop to use shells as double unicorn horns for herself.
Her sand fairy was a big happy face. Which did a very good job of expressing how we all felt about Siesta Key Beach.
Here are a few more seashell fairies from other beaches:
- Outer Banks
- Maui
- Missouri
- Siesta Key, Daddy's Ashes Angel