A Beach Comber's Treasure

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A few weeks ago while digging through a box of shells at one of my favorite haunts...


I came across this box.




Much to my delight...


this was inside!


I was charmed and immediately began to wonder who had gathered these tiny and delicate pieces of sea life and placed them so lovingly and delicately onto this piece of sandy colored cotton inside this sweet green box.


I wish you could see it in person as pictures cannot do it justice.


 I've never seen such a precious record of beach combing.  

What story do you imagine lays behind the little green box?

Comments

Anonymous said…
That is such a beautiful collection of shells! xo
May 13, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Kathysue said…
GM, I think this is wonderful and now it has a perfect home with you. I wonder if it was a special summer vacation and these are the momentos? How perfect for you to find this,I think it was meant to be. Now I am off to the Living room project that is haunting me, TTYL Kathysue
Have a wonderful day my sweet friend!!
May 13, 2010 at 10:15 AM
ashlina {the decorista} said…
so pretty.....i love collections like this!!!!
May 13, 2010 at 10:26 AM
Anonymous said…
How are they kept in place though? I wonder who did it, and when.
May 13, 2010 at 10:50 AM
sharon santoni at my french country home said…
This much care could only have been taken by someone who associated the seaside with precious memories. This is surely an attempt to capture the moment and frame it forever. It's totally charming!.
Sharon
May 13, 2010 at 11:38 AM
Theresa Cheek said…
This has the feel of a museum collection in storage...almost a ritual in the way they are displayed. I love the careful arrangement in composition....so glad you documented it.
May 13, 2010 at 12:17 PM
Tuuli - Lumo Lifestyle said…
Lovely. Someone lucky has spent lovely holidays on seaside and collected a box full of memories from those vacations.
May 13, 2010 at 12:26 PM
Paris Hotel Boutique said…
Ooooh, isn't it the best finding a box of treasures? Love them!
May 13, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Cashon&Co said…
maybe from a vacation? it probably is a box full of good memories from someone. and it's pretty too.
May 13, 2010 at 1:08 PM
Privet and Holly said…
My grandparents lived in Florida after they retired and my grandma did amazing things with shells. When they washed up on the shore she saw them as tiny gifts from nature. I have a little box that she covered in small conch shells for me....all white ones. She also made Christmas decorations from sea shells and had a fabulous mirror that had a wide frame encrusted with shells. Writing this has made me miss her terribly. She will have been gone from us for ten years, this September. {I miss you, Mei-Mei!} I am so glad that these little gems fell into your hands as you are the type to truly appreciate them! xx P&H
May 13, 2010 at 1:20 PM
A Perfect Gray said…
lovely and what a treasure!
May 13, 2010 at 1:40 PM
Anne Lorys said…
Hi Therese!

What a lovely surprise for you!
Isn't it neat when you discover something like this? It's like God giving you a little unexpected present. :-)

Hugs,
Anne
May 13, 2010 at 1:46 PM
La Petite Gallery said…
A little girl did it to give to her Mother on Mother's Day. How about That?

yvonne
May 13, 2010 at 2:45 PM
A Gift Wrapped Life said…
You dig up the most wonderful finds Terri, or they find you, not sure which one! Have a happy weekend. Much love XO
May 13, 2010 at 4:35 PM
FrenchBlue said…
Awww... so sweet! I think maybe, gathered on a honeymoon, together, a beautiful young couple, maybe now celebrating a lifelong marriage together:) Thanks for sharing Terri!!
XO
May 13, 2010 at 5:40 PM
Unknown said…
Wow, the memories that must hold. My heart is feeling full right now ( I hope that makes sense ) xx
May 13, 2010 at 6:52 PM
Beth said…
I think it was gathered & collected by a lovely woman in her late 60's, whose children had moved away and husband was long gone...she slowly and deliberately collected each and every shell over a period of months. She packaged them carefully in the precious box and wrapped it in tissue paper. She would only pull out this box occasionally, when she felt particularly lonely. It gave her much pleasure.

I'm happy you have it to remember her!

xoxo Beth
May 13, 2010 at 6:59 PM
Pauline Wiles said…
This was clearly very special to someone!
I'm thinking maybe they were collected by a grandmother, on walks with her grandson.
May 13, 2010 at 8:43 PM
Dreamy Whites said…
Hello,
Thank you for your comment on my blog. I love your blog. You know what I have photographed Tyler Florence two different times. The first time was before Easter, and I wasn't happy with how my pictures turned out. When I was in there last time and asked them if it was okay to take a few pictures, they told me that another blog had just photographed their store. That must have been you!
Hope you are having a great week!
Take Care,
Maria
I am now a happy follower!
May 13, 2010 at 11:06 PM
Maya @ Completely Coastal said…
Sea treasures in a box -so precious!
May 14, 2010 at 7:01 AM
French-Kissed said…
I cannot imagine the story, but I know whoever made this treasure box somehow would be so very pleased that someone with your appreciation and sensibilities discovered it. I think it was meant for you.

~jermaine~
May 14, 2010 at 4:17 PM
Mélanie A. said…
so sweet . I think it is a little girl and it is from her summer in her favorite beach house. During winter, she loved to open the box , to look at her beautiful display and she could dream about the next summer
May 15, 2010 at 12:52 PM
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