BOOK NOW

Shell Fair Festival 2014

08 Mar Shell Fair Festival 2014

Posted at 02:03h in Uncategorized by
0 Likes
It has been a busy week at the Sanibel Shell Festival. This year I was excited to enter a beautiful albino horse conch that I found a year ago. However, the judges were not as excited as I was about the albino and I did not receive a ribbon. The first place was a beautiful RIGHT handed whelk as opposed to a normal left handed whelk shell.  My friend Rachel did a stellar exhibit on natural pearls. I have a few photos above. Rachel also brought these cameos from a friend of hers who is a 3rd generation carver of shells from a remote island in Honduras. The cameos were my favorite and I am glad to have one in my house. The last photos are of the lovely and extremely talented Audrey O’Donnell who showed me how to thread a rice shell on wire for crafting.  The Shell Festival was a lot of fun, it was great seeing friends and talking shells and crafts.
Brian Holaway
relaxandexplore@gmail.com

I have been a Shelling Guide to Cayo Costa State Park since 1995. Many people know me as the Shelling Guide and Captain with Captiva Cruises over the past 20 years. In 2016 I began solely offering private small boat charters to the islands of Pine Island Sound including Cayo Costa State Park, Cabbage Key, Useppa Island, Pine Island and North Captiva. I am a certified Florida Master Naturalist, licensed USCG Captain, avocational photographer, seashell enthusiast and passionate about the history, people and culture of Southwest Florida, especially Cayo Costa. I volunteer as a member of Friends of Cayo Costa State Park and have great respect for the heritage of Cayo Costa. My goal is to provide guests with an overall experience and appreciation for the waters, islands, shells, plants, marine life, wildlife, history and people of this unique area of Southwest Florida.

6 Comments
  • Kim@Snug Harbor
    Posted at 10:19h, 08 March

    I'm sorry to hear you didn't win anything this year Brian, but it must be such a thrill to be there and see everything.

    I love the cameo's too – so pretty!

  • Penny Redd
    Posted at 16:51h, 08 March

    Wow, Katie would love the shell fair! I'm going to have to try to take her next time.

  • Nancy
    Posted at 01:27h, 09 March

    If I were a judge, I would give you a ribbon 🙂

  • Tiffany O'Donnell
    Posted at 16:07h, 10 March

    Capt. Brian, It was wonderful to meet you at the show! I give you a Blue Ribbon for your Albino Horse Conch-Gorgeous! You did a great job learning to wire wrap! Thanks so much for the photos posted of the 1800's rice shell basket. My next peice to restore. Sincerely, Audrey O'Donnell

  • Morgan
    Posted at 19:18h, 10 March

    Aww, bummer that you didn't win — the picture here does that shell even more justice than the one you showed me on your phone. So cool.

  • Ellen
    Posted at 00:30h, 13 March

    Excellent photos of the Shell Festival