The Beaches of Summer

Summer is here, but for me - summer was here way back in the spring. It started off in early May with a few of my girlfriend's from high school. We rented a beautiful condo on Seacreast Beach just west of Panama City on the beautiful 30A scenic highway. We spent most of our days talking and laughing on the beach that was almost empty except for a few people. I took my morning walks completely alone on the beautiful sandy beach. Here are my foot prints. 

One set coming and one set going. I never met anyone while I was walking. Just a few sandpipers who I enjoyed annoying by following them.

Crystal blue waters that on some days didn't even have a wave. I picked up large seashells just by looking down and seeing them in the shallow water. 

We didn't get out and explore the beautiful community like I would love to do, but I did go to Grayton Beach area to visit Andy Saczynski's art studio. I bought this beautiful print. He's such a nice guy. Drop in and see his beautiful art if you are in the area.

Evenings were cool but beautiful. And yes, we saw dolphins.

These photos were taken from our balcony with my telephoto lense. So magical to see them.

Then a month later I went to Orange Beach in Alabama as the photographer for a ladies retreat. I got up around 5:30 every morning to see this beautiful sunrise.

Sunrise on Orange Beach

I had the most wonderful mornings on Orange Beach. I found a sanddollar, starfish and an embarrassing amount of seashells. I have never in all my beach combing days have seen so many shells in one place. I had the ladies so excited they all came out the last morning to collect shells. 

Another stage of the beautiful sunrise. 

Just example of the shells laying on the beach and if you look in the background, you can see the clusters of shells along the shore. Amazing.

I had three very wonderful ladies agree to be models for me one evening at sunset. I had to let my creative juices flow and I think people on the beach thought they were models - well, they were. It was so much fun.

I'm already looking forward to going back to the beach. I love summer.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Bayou Pelican and Repurposing a Mirror Frame

A few months ago, me and my husband were in a second-hand store in the heart of New Orleans - the French Quarter, and I stumbled upon a vintage mirror frame - without the mirror. We brought it home and had some birch cut for it and I created a painting. It was a hit, so what did we do - found another frame and did it again. :)

So - for my June mixed media challenge - I'm using my latest creation. The Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog is having it's two year anniversary, so this month you can pick your favorite challenge. Funky Junkie is the sponsor and they are providing the random winner of the challenge with a $25 gift certificate. How fun is that? 

Here are the different challenges we had throughout the year.

I'm using #19, which is "Silver and Gold".

 "Bayou Pelican No. 2" by Melanie Douthit

It's approx 16" x 36" on birch using paint, papers, gold leaf, corrugated cardboard. Coated in resin and framed with a repurposed mirror frame (which was also sanded and painted). The beak and the foot has the gold leafing on it.

I hope you can join in the fun at the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge Blog. 

Please follow these rules to be eligible for placements and prizes. Entries not following our rules will be deleted.

* You must use our challenge graphic in your challenge post.

* You must comment on at least 3 design team member's blogs. 

* Your post must link back to the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge post

* Add a link to your direct post, not your entire blog, a YouTube Video or a Pinterest Board

* You can combine with up to 4 other challenges. 

* No Backlinking allowed! Any back-linked entries will be deleted.

* You can enter up to 5 times, create whatever you want, and HAVE FUN!

You have until the last day of June to enter.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.