Fire Island Lighthouse Ring Dish

* Lighthouses, with their often lofty towers, their beacons shining into the darkened seas, their remoteness and solitary stations at the many edges of the world, have ingrained themselves in the romantic quarter of our consciousness. They are a symbol of the call home and the guide to all in search of safe harbor. This series, personally hand drawn in pen & ink by me, begins with some of the legendary lights of the East Coast of the US.

* Off the south shore of Long Island, 49 nautical miles east of NYC, the Fire Island Lighthouse was often the first sight of America for thousands of immigrants of the early 20th century. The current tower was lit in 1858 replacing the original smaller tower built in 1826. This light holds special meaning to me as it is on the island of my familys summer home where, as a child, I would spend every summer night falling asleep to the gentle rhythm of the lights turning.

* Large Decoupage Clam Shell. These jumbo shells range in width from 5.5" to 6.25" - thoroughly cleaned with soap and water - no chemicals used.

* Ethically Sourced. We only use shells that have washed up on beaches naturally. Their former inhabitants have moved out. We never kill or harm any animals to get their shells. We also donate a portion of our proceeds to The Marine Fish Conservation Network as a way of giving back for the abundance and beauty our oceans so generously provide.* We package these up nice and snug so they'll arrive in tip top shape.

* Please keep in mind that each shell is unique and was once home to a little animal. Any 'imperfections' in the shell should be seen as a badge of honor of this creature's journey from the deep to your door. The pictures are examples of the patterns only. Your shell will be 100% one-of-a -kind and the only one on the planet that will look exactly like yours.

These gorgeous shells, collected from along the Atlantic coast, have been artfully transformed into lovely objets d'art and function wonderfully as ring or trinket dishes. Each one is handmade and consists of a painted base, thin layers of paper, and multiple coats of high gloss waterproof lacquer finish. The finishing touch is a fine edging in liquid gold leaf. These have the look and feel of porcelain and the gold really shines. The back of the shell is left natural to highlight the delicate edging of the gold leaf paint. The shell fronts are coated with a waterproof protective lacquer but please don't submerge them in water or leave them exposed to water for extended periods of time. The back of the shells are still porous and will absorb water.