author...illustrator...guerilla artist
author...illustrator...guerilla artist
Things learned while collecting found objects on the beach.
1. As your eyes scour the sand you may become quickly overtaken by an obsessive quest to find the most interesting, unique item. Though sometimes it is the simplest of things (or group of things) that are the most satisfying.
2. Always carry a bag of some sort. You will usually collect more that will fit in your pockets.
3. Pay attention to the following attributes...color, texture, contrast, size, shape.
4. When combing the beach it is easy to get lost (and obsessed) in looking at the ground. It is important to stop every now and then to look out at the water.* (*failure to do so may also result in wet feet.)
5. Always check items for inhabitants.
6. It's fun to bring a friend so you can compare your finds.
Omy! My home town and it's treasures. Lovely to see them here. Love your blog!
Posted by: yolie on March 17, 2006 10:41 AMI love Cambria! I'm from the mid west so I don't get there often but you bring back wonderful memories. I love the tidal pools and the sea otters! and that lovely walk to town.And I also support your post above...TRUST YOUR FEELINGS AND TRUST YOUR BODY. Its taken me ages to learn this and practice it too. Its really the healthiest way. I curse your foes!!
Posted by: lindsay on March 16, 2006 06:07 PMoh yes. there's nothing better than screening and combing the beaches for treasures. and you can get lost. i never go to the beach to look at the wide open sea. it's merely the ground that fascinates me. lots of inspiration.
Posted by: ramona on March 16, 2006 02:26 PMKeri- I was scavenging on Moonstone Beach in Cambria just last month. It's a wonderful beach for finds. You were lucky to get that green sea glass. Thanks for reminding me of my time there - especially now that I am back in MD and it's COLD with snow possible tonite
Posted by: Lesley on March 16, 2006 07:45 AMWe can learn so much from nature. We have some nice woods around here, but no ocean. By the way, I just finished reading The Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh - like you, she found a message from the ocean :)
Posted by: Stephanie on March 15, 2006 11:16 PMI love love love treasure hunting at the beach! I treasure hunt everywhere, but the Ocean... Its a magical realm all its own, and gives us so many gifts. I loved seeing your picture. Reminds me that its time to go out and allow myself to be found by Her gifts again. Thank you!
Posted by: Lunarmusings on March 15, 2006 03:36 PMthanks for sharing! i'm always collecting shells & small stones that i find interesting when i'm at the beach.
Posted by: Jes on March 15, 2006 09:50 AMaren't oceans just the most provocative?
Posted by: Leonie on March 15, 2006 03:55 AMNow i want to shed my shoes and wander bare footed in the mushy sand =)
Sea Glass just blows me away!
Sadly, I live nowhere near a beach, so I like to play a similar game looking for things in my gravel parking lot to my apartment building :) I have quite a growing collection
Posted by: Robyn on March 14, 2006 11:58 PMI like #6. I bring a friend because I always give them findings to put in their pockets since I never remember to bring a bag!
Posted by: Nina Smith on March 14, 2006 10:25 PMRemember to sniff before you bag an item. I had to pitch a backpack after I left an old crabshell in it for 2 days. Pew!
Posted by: Mr Pants on March 14, 2006 09:34 PMAlways check items for inhabitants.
What a lovely line! May I steal it for a poem?
Posted by: an awfully serious girl on March 14, 2006 07:34 PMThis is really making me want to visit the beach.... But there are no beaches near me without too many people and tons of pollution all over. I wish there was a secret beach somewhere that had very smooth ocean rocks. And I've always wanted to collect beach glass. Maybe I'll try to start that....
Posted by: Sabine S. on March 14, 2006 07:23 PMfinding ocean treasures is one of my favorite pastimes.
your treasures here are just lovely. what are you going to do with them?
xoxo
Posted by: bohemiangirl on March 14, 2006 05:54 PMThere's a city up the coast (well, up the coast for me, anyway) of California called Cambria. I love that place. A woman I know named her daughter that.
Posted by: Barb on March 14, 2006 04:15 PMhey nice collection
spent a lot of time around NZ collecting shells for my gf's kindergarten, now it's autumn leaves time! ciao ;)
Oh this makes me want to go to the ocean. Thank you for sharing the image. I have a box of stones from different beaches and times in my life. I like to spread them out on the floor and remember how they got there...
Posted by: jennifer on March 14, 2006 02:27 PMWhat a beautiful collection...i especially love the sea glass....i dream of making it to the ocean again soon...i long for the ocean as you once mentioned you long for walking in the woods :)
Posted by: Sarah Pezdek-Smith on March 14, 2006 12:39 PM