Small Joys

The sky is grey and the clouds are swirling over head trying to come to some sort of agreement over the weather. But I don't care about the weather. It won't get me down. today I am thankful for some of the little things in my life.









This is a necklace I have made from my small treasures of the sea. I love the tiny little shells and fossils that I have slipped into my pocket while walking the beach. I haven't decided whether to keep this one or list it on Etsy. It is near and dear to my heart but I really don't need another necklace. Or do I?











I am thankful for my flower garden and the tasty herbs that Mr. Gnome is guarding. he does a wonderful job on his post except for keeping the deer at bay. He must have fallen asleep on the job a time or two.

Most of all, yep you got it, I am thankful for my little princess even though at 8 months she has developed quite a tude. An attitude is easy to get away with when you you are just so doggone cute. Today there is a major Tude Alert. I will have to be on my toes. Maybe her new nickname should be Tudy ;)








Hope you take the time to treasure the small joys in your life today.


xo-mya

Friday Flea Market in the Zen Garden

Take a deep breath; slip on your flip flops and your wide brimmed hat. We are headed to the flea markets for a little shopping zen. Pop over here to visit all the markets set up today. Miss Polly is our lovely hostess.







Absolutely gorgeous. I'm there; well in my mind anyway.

Doesn't look much like shopping but it should get you in the mood for my newby's at studiopink

"zen gardening by the sea" and my "zen garden kit."









I love to create seascapes of all kinds, but these zen gardens are so special. This piece starts with a Japanese dish and is filled with wonderful fossils from the sea. I included a little vial of beach sand to add after shipping.












The fossilized tree makes the perfect topper to this garden. To sea more pics and a detailed description visit StudioPink. You can purchase this piece there for $14.00









The dish is filled with wonderful treasures that I have collected along the gulf of Mexico. Including antique pottery shards and starfish. $14.00 at Studiopink






Now we are on to the do-it-yourself gardening part of our market.





After enjoying my lovely dip in the water and a stroll on the beach I returned with a pocket full of treasures. Fossilized trees, shells, coral and pottery shards.










Just perfect for a little project. I have put together kits for you to be the creator of your own seascape or zen garden by the sea. So perfect for a meditational moment and beautiful summer display.









The kit includes shells, fossils, and sand that I have collected on my sea side excursions. I included a vintage jar/bottle with lid.
My sea side kits and creations can be found at StudioPink for $12.00








This is an example of what you may end up with. They are stunning in the wavy morning light. You may even hear the surf and smell the salty air as you create your beautiful garden by the sea.





Thank to my flickr friend for this wonderful image



Thought I would leave you with this inspiring image. I hope your weekend is filled with beauty and zenful peace.

Thank you for stopping by. Please leave a message.

XO-Mya

Owed To a Pirate

This photo is from my last vacation it was a Pirate ship that took goups out on a sunset sail. What a beautiful evening this was. Take me back to the beach!

April is national poetry month
So here is one of mine
Owed To A Pirate
I found a treasure along the beach,
it was just out of my reach,
floating on the waters blue,
the more I looked my curiosity grew,
what was that yonder still afloat,
I think I spied a pirate boat,
filled with treasure this I know,
begs the question friend or foe,
yes I found a treasure in the sand,
and I held it tightly in my hand,
I know you want to take a peek,
at the lovely treasure that I seek.
-Mya Anthony





This is another little Seascape that will soon be available in the Studio Pink shop on Etsy. It is so hard to photograph these little buggers. I would like to get better photos before I list them. It takes just the right light, early morning or early evening, and just the right spot and angle. Maybe tomorrow.


This is a macro view of the contents in the bottle. Still not too clear. The glass in this old bottle is a little wavy. I found the bottle years ago along a Michigan river. It's marked LCW company USA. Don't know what that means I have never researched it. Of course you know by now that I love the ocean and all the treasure that I find, but I just have a thing for these little tiny tree-like structures that wash up on the shore. You should have seen me collecting arm loads of them while all of the sunbathers gave me very strange looks. But I just knew I needed them.
Oh well, I have always been one of those curious sorts that finds beauty in the most unusual objects.

Travel Treasures Make Mermaid Dreams

I am inspired by my beach treasures, to create something fun. I just knew that I would find a use for the many little ocean trees and shells my hubby and I collected on our recent trip. Hubby has become quite the shell hunter. See ladies they can be trained for some things. Does anyone know what these little miniature tree looking plants are called? I would love it if someone would leave me a comment and educate me a little.

Of course we had way too many to take back on the airplane. In the past we have shipped things back but this time we were lucky enough to have our sweet friends Paula and Jerry just down the beach with wheels. So they will be bringing our treasures home when they return in a week. Now you know that I didn't go 2 weeks without any of my fabulous finds. I did managed to wriggle a few in the luggage. I just couldn't wait, because that's how I am, way too impatient!

This pic is from a previous post and will be part of a scrap book type thingy, that I am making for my parents 50th anniversary. I am going to write a nice post about it and then print my whole blog (because they don't have internet and never ever see it) and put it in a scrap book type folder thingy.

Another inspiration for my Mermaid Dream catcher is my little mermaid girl and tiara model. Don't you think fur and shells go well together? Fabulous! Tyra Banks (or whoever is the hot model these days) eat your heart out.

And last but certainly not least is my little mermaid's little mermaid. Baby girl Giselle, she is a way cuter model than the famous model Gisele Bundchen ever was. Don't you think? She's so sweet. I know you just want to pinch her cheeks. I'll do it for you.

Sea Treasure;Seascape Globes

Seascape Horchow. This little globe reminded me of something you would see in a Horchow catalog. I love the sea and all her treasured creature's fossilized remains that she spits out upon the sand. I love to hunt for sea treasure, no not the kind that make a pirate wide-eyed with excitement, just the natural wonder of life beneath the surface, along the ocean floor. It is hard to imagine that the contents of this cloche were once teeming with life.

The seascape natural wonder is assembled on an antique crock lid. It just looked like such a natural surface to place it on. I found the tiny tree-like material along the beach and was so fascinated by it that I knew I had to bring it home and create something wonderful with it. It reminds me of a tiny little ocean biosphere, so small but yet so beautiful.

It is so funny that what one person finds a treasured object others just never see. I have always loved the unusual or strange. You should have seen the looks I got at the beach while gathering all the little trees, and other fossils along the shore. Well look at them now they are in my studiopink store on etsy.

Fun in the Sun Memories

The sun has set and our pirate ship has sailed on this vacation but I have great memories and pictures to share. The beach and the weather were perfect. The Sand Key of Florida is a beautiful spot to vacation. It is much quieter than the nearby cities of Clearwater and St. Petersburg but just busy enough to meet your needs.

The solitude of walking the beach draws you within yourself. The sound of the surf, the feel of the sand at your feet, the wind blowing across your face and the sweet smell of the air infused by the sea are the perfect end to a day in the sun. We spent a good share of our time treasure hunting for shells or what ever else the sea will give up. The sea is constantly churning like a violent storm which melts into a calm ripple once it hits the beach and spits out it's debris.

This was the awesome view from our room at the Sheraton's Sand Key Resort. It looked onto the pool and then out to the beach of the bay. When the morning sun hit the beach it was as though each and every grain of sand rejoiced with a sparkling twinkle. The poolside was a busy place with a seaside grill and cabana bar for all your needs. I would definitly go back even tomorrow if I could, it was 40 degrees and raining when we deplaned.

This spectacular view was from the Clearwater bridge, departing Sand key Island. The shore line was almost exclusively condos and hotel/resorts. It gives you the feeling that nobody works here just living a permanent vacation. I am sure the unretired residents would correct that thought if given the chance. It is hard to return to the real world and Michigan weather but spring is crawling in, like a snail, one millimeter at a time.

Can You Feel It?

I lost my favorite picture today. I lost my muse. I need to touch down on a warm spring day.

Ahh spring, new life, fresh start, warm and bright. I need to see something spring, black soil, green shoots, new blooms. It's all right, it's on its way. In my mind I am walking in the sun, on the beach, the breeze is blowing softly across my face, the water is gently rolling in and lapping at my feet. I bend over and pick up the most beautiful shell, I marvel at it, put it in my pocket. A treasures from the sea. I am walking through the meadow with wild flowers bursting in full color at my feet. Into the woods I go though the moss covered trees. They are alive with new life nesting. Yes this is spring. I can feel it coming. My desires are not only wishes. I found my favorite picture, I found my muse, but I am still dreaming of spring. I feel like a new soul reaching out into the light. My roots firmly planted and my shoots are beginning to break ground reaching up to the sun. Warm on my face. Can you feel it? Bottle it up and share it with the ones you love.