Embroidered Rocks???

No they're not rocks, but they look like it, don't you think?!


This week I found myself happily strolling the beaches of Cape May, NJ. gleaning for treasures washed up by the sea. There seemed to be an abundance of solid pieces of broken shells, whose edges were worn nice and smooth.


At first, I collected them as I loved the soft faded color variations found on each one. After I was back home however, I got the idea to cover some in batting and fabric, using them as a base for some small decorative objects, such as these rock buttons...


They feature reverse applique, raw edges and fun embroidered elements!


The shanks on the backsides are macraméd...


I decided that each button would be better off with two shanks, as I really prefer my buttons not to flop around, but if desired only one shank could be used as they are very sturdy.

Here's another example of embroidered fabric buttons made with inner cores of sea shell ...


This pair sort of look like exotic pea pods from another planet! The inner shell core makes the buttons lightweight yet solid, so they won't lose their shape. The various shapes of each shell fragment makes each button unique.

Once again, these buttons feature two shanks each...


Now, if you are a purist, and prefer your buttons round and with one shank, never fear, as we have that, too!


Instead of using a shell fragment as it's core I simply used, (what else) a button!


But back to the shells... as I said they were all collected this week along the beaches of Cape May, NJ., (a place very near and dear to my heart) where there is now a mandatory evacuation in place as it braces, along with much of the East Coast, for Hurricane Irene.


This embroidered talisman was formed over a heart shaped shell fragment, reminding me of what is important, as I want to lift my heads to the heavens and say, "Please, enough". I can only hope and pray for everyone in its path, that Irene continues to change course, moving farther east, back out to sea, and that people and property will be spared.