It is a fairly newfangled invention brought to you by the same folks who invented those wonderful little things we like to call PANTS.

Apparently, if one chooses to engage in this so-called "washing," one must first acquire some sort of substance called "soat" or "mope" or something like that. It is allegedly a derivative of dead animals and ash. It also involves water, although I presume that it is the fancy kind sold in grocery stores in little matching bottles, not the kind that can be found in various puddles, ditches, or toilets.

In order to engage in this "washing," one agitates the water, adds the animal fat and ash, and then places the soiled object in it. After the object has been in this mixture for a while, one removes it and pats it dry with a "towel" (again, we can only assume that this is the rag possessed by many solely for the purposes of "washing" and inter-galactic travel).

While "washing" has its cult followers, scientists and others with their finger on the pulse of Pop Culture believe it will never really catch on (unlike, say, food-on-a-stick).

I used to have a cousin who was an artist. He was a weird sort of fellow but he did the most amazing thing with fresh water mussle shells. The variation of color inside them, I don't know if it is mother of pearl or not, but the variation of color was incredible in some shells. In other shell it was subtle. He used to take a pillow case full of them and crack them up with a hammer. Then he would glue the pieces to his wall and make pictures out of them. He had a wall size portrait of his mother on one wall and a landscape on the other wall that were both beautiful. He told me once that all the acid he did in Alaska back in the 70's w..., wait, that ain't it. He said he drew the images on before he started gluing pieces to the wall. He said he would put a number on the wall where a certain color went and then he would number each piece according to their color or shade of color.

My all time favorite sea shell project?
Sailor's Valentines! Google that and see how cool shells can be.

Take care, Orion
P.S. You can check out the AQ photo album section,
under Great Cape Escape 2006, and see my version of one!

I had a large one that had a hole in it. I slid it over a nightlight and it gave a soft pink glow.
Chickadee (of JR&C)

I catered a wedding once for 350 people that took place on a beach. I glued smallish seashells to the ends of 12" skewers and served fruit skewers on them. This worked really well with shells that have a hole in them with the skewer being glued clear into the hole... (doesn't look so nice with clam-type shells.) Guests loved them and kept coming back for more fruit so they could take the skewers home as favors.

Carianna of GG (whose catering days are mainly behind her now that she has a teaching degree!)

I saw a beautiful scrapbook page themed on the beach. Foam core was laminated onto the beige colored page, a hole about 1 1/2 by 2 was cut out of the page and foam core. Another layer of foam core was added. The hole was filled with sand shells and a bit of sparkely stuff. Over that, a window of clear plastic, and around it all, photos and journaling.

Eaglewatcher who is not a scrappbooker, but spent the night in a Holiday Inn....(not)

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I saw a beautiful scrapbook page themed on the beach......hole was filled with sand shells and a bit of sparkely stuff. Over that, a window of clear plastic, and around it all, photos and journaling

Saw this done in Arizona. They used the little plastic bubble from packages that you buy. The lady had put some shells and sand in it, then glued it down to card stock. She built it up with foam so that the page was level and put her page over that, with a window punched out so the window was visible. It was a really neat thing.

Since rinsing them and putting them in potted plants has been mentioned...

if it were me...

I'd toss them out in the backyard amongst all that snow (still!) then look for them in spring when The Big Melt is finally over.... ('bout July 4th, or there abouts....so it's looking...at this writing.) Then I'd add some "stuff" to make my own beach....Like: sand, and umbrellas, and ooooh, ooooh Cabana Boys! and other WARM weather thingies...I think I'd buy flip flops for everyone! Maybe a few hammocks. Then I'd put in a pool. Then I'd buy a few blow up pool toys...

Then I'd invite people over for a BBQ and a themed event and drinks....of course! I think I'd send beach towels with the invites. Ok, and then I'd rent a wave machine and a hire really good (and HOT) dj.

I'd hope someone had tossed a shell-themed-letterbox in my backyard long about NOW for "good measure" ...so we'd all have something to look forward to...erm looking for. Lemme know if you need my addy ;-)

but then again, that's just me....

Ok wait. I live in an apartment and don't have a Backyard.

Never mind!

PREStillFrozenIn5WeeksRunningWithAnotherStormDueThisWeekendAndHATINGIT!
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and ooooh, ooooh Cabana Boys! and other WARM weather thingies.. Concentrate on these thing and throw a party and forget the inches outside. Can people actually make to your apartment. Do you have a sun lamp? I s there a sun anymore? Remember the old tanning sheilds made of aluminum foil that you held under your chin to get a tan fast? ooh ooh more cababa boys please.! ;p lol
Fran

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and ooooh, ooooh Cabana Boys! and other WARM weather thingies.. Concentrate on these thing and throw a party and forget the inches outside

Oh my!

<drops knitting>

Have we reached the "adult content" part of this thread?....Kidding...always kidding! ;-p

http://www.menknit.net/images/HIS_WWI.jpg

pre
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Nice RedCross sign. Imagine from shell to sox lol