From the sublime, to the...well, you decide

Next time someone tells me to clam up, I'll take them literally. I've always loved the use of giant clam shells in decorating (as long as they're sustainably harvested, of course, or better still, fabulously faux), and I'm thinking I might need to incorporate a few into my design scheme.<br /><br /><a href="http://absolutelybeautifulthings.blogspot.com/">Anna Spiro</a> often uses shells in her lovely vignettes..<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ppdlLOIWSJzEvTC0He7u7wE8z90QD43JfaTNBhHsUsNinmw3J641Ox81FNt61Y7BLtXlzKikWup__PfqgFhwwagNWSUIJMegGAF4We3jYMvxi6tnqyRH6WLNWrD1aFVLaDwNuVSKTN4T/s1600/black+%2526+spiro+-+april+2011-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ppdlLOIWSJzEvTC0He7u7wE8z90QD43JfaTNBhHsUsNinmw3J641Ox81FNt61Y7BLtXlzKikWup__PfqgFhwwagNWSUIJMegGAF4We3jYMvxi6tnqyRH6WLNWrD1aFVLaDwNuVSKTN4T/s640/black+%2526+spiro+-+april+2011-2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...and I love how <a href="http://stuartmemberyhome.com/">Stuart Membery's</a> used them for his gorgeous pooches...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBK1ASKOAzUneyPQn44CJYshJPfFh7iE9fSTzU-FFL7OJsErclPPtzbwm8nMXfIxFeuHDDfVU7P7FyGG0sibiaTKmzx5yFifhp7frkP9EwNfaYj7Vgrg14jUk4C5ltOjzX00raIXvEe5HR/s1600/Bali-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBK1ASKOAzUneyPQn44CJYshJPfFh7iE9fSTzU-FFL7OJsErclPPtzbwm8nMXfIxFeuHDDfVU7P7FyGG0sibiaTKmzx5yFifhp7frkP9EwNfaYj7Vgrg14jUk4C5ltOjzX00raIXvEe5HR/s640/Bali-11.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">..they look great as a <a href="http://barrydixon.com/">centrepiece</a>..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTza6WhoRaBAato0z3Z_a4OIGdtAcBJTafxBJegCqDMyRn2BzPTV1gzXvzn0UFho7PJlgeqdXycvh2T9ZAkus-mH2drHAPepYU1F_haSR0nUYQT4qFlY6lq1-NfzlP6AjL8tfNIcJLSp7B/s1600/DesigningDNA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTza6WhoRaBAato0z3Z_a4OIGdtAcBJTafxBJegCqDMyRn2BzPTV1gzXvzn0UFho7PJlgeqdXycvh2T9ZAkus-mH2drHAPepYU1F_haSR0nUYQT4qFlY6lq1-NfzlP6AjL8tfNIcJLSp7B/s640/DesigningDNA.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...in the <a href="http://www.completely-coastal.com/2009/10/giant-clam-shells-everywhere.html">bathroom</a>...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KZtGY1ImpsYVjAHrH6jKj1kUvqJDWq6tu0K_AuXLtc7cTZ9M_Ooolf31dkk_Apwcg3mgwWtbLEoQBZe2hDwwF55zPdp_Rp-Fo9wCLHPd7vb8Vj3KcvdhoBq2g0LcbUHgQ34WHK3CqGe2/s1600/0310-coleman-04-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KZtGY1ImpsYVjAHrH6jKj1kUvqJDWq6tu0K_AuXLtc7cTZ9M_Ooolf31dkk_Apwcg3mgwWtbLEoQBZe2hDwwF55zPdp_Rp-Fo9wCLHPd7vb8Vj3KcvdhoBq2g0LcbUHgQ34WHK3CqGe2/s640/0310-coleman-04-de.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><br />...a summer fireplace...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86hottnePQUmm94jF95aZ_xndh_xbu4Pzx1ijJQ38Qt59YQ0WlbhtG6HLjdW3a_LWJLHfOJD2VzZ-5dnmLPKfb8Nib3EHK5QVAYukrYWd6I7_bR6GGy5vkBOgbDdDe-jOy9CtVgLQwZI5/s1600/Clam+Ali-Wentworth-Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86hottnePQUmm94jF95aZ_xndh_xbu4Pzx1ijJQ38Qt59YQ0WlbhtG6HLjdW3a_LWJLHfOJD2VzZ-5dnmLPKfb8Nib3EHK5QVAYukrYWd6I7_bR6GGy5vkBOgbDdDe-jOy9CtVgLQwZI5/s640/Clam+Ali-Wentworth-Home.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />...or glammed up with a little <a href="http://decorno.blogspot.com/2007/12/giant-clam-shells.html">zebra print</a>...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GxyLrc8heyE2HYTs7exEg7P0Biq5IAp4vASYiYD6qQXpDkV6L0T1egzaBvLmBFxas4UFZFefYB6ofgir6hAtunmFzAc9qZboq42_cENeGNGKDd9LQGjbv4FiwRNIC3arZX_HOVaGNtqS/s1600/clam_shell_zebra_mirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1GxyLrc8heyE2HYTs7exEg7P0Biq5IAp4vASYiYD6qQXpDkV6L0T1egzaBvLmBFxas4UFZFefYB6ofgir6hAtunmFzAc9qZboq42_cENeGNGKDd9LQGjbv4FiwRNIC3arZX_HOVaGNtqS/s640/clam_shell_zebra_mirror.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">But I can't believe I've missed so many other fabulous uses! Of course, they're great for storing everything...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">...from <a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=giant+clam+shell&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=642&tbm=isch&prmd=ivns&tbnid=N4Ul9Yt8b3H3fM:&imgrefurl=http://filmiholic.com/2007/02/22/honeymoon-travels-pvt-ltd/&docid=E35fT5WL0V8J5M&w=400&h=261&ei=CFtETu7pEcrTmAXDwLi6CQ&zoom=1">mermaids</a> (note the ultra-comfortable, shag-pile interior)..</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-FB7tNP19Fu7newdLqoiktmlTuy4EOhwpAJa3mxwnEThi3zlw5TpwEkunxGgSiNRsNzPwbivk9Srgj7DPzVVXq2GIshL0dYzdprNziudurXxt4z3yTbHf9rHTuMI39XSf0dh51GwutOI/s1600/tiara+and+furry+clamshell+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-FB7tNP19Fu7newdLqoiktmlTuy4EOhwpAJa3mxwnEThi3zlw5TpwEkunxGgSiNRsNzPwbivk9Srgj7DPzVVXq2GIshL0dYzdprNziudurXxt4z3yTbHf9rHTuMI39XSf0dh51GwutOI/s640/tiara+and+furry+clamshell+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />...to <a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=giant+clam+shell&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=642&tbm=isch&tbnid=ssVg2WxRt5sI1M:&imgrefurl=http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Little-Boy-in-Giant-Clam-Shell-Posters_i2851985_.htm&docid=mXBP0uBexjjxxM&w=400&h=277&ei=_WlETt_UIqSKmQXEmaC4CQ&zoom=1">children</a>...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmU-rt3JdBdlVfbmx58r2S0i3isf2pgX0wZsL3Wnvdt1s2eJwH_6MSdnQHlmwkGGJ_2c-3n3W27iUTGUa2J6gBwE-zX1ursfrTO8LDCgyFvnTJ-ScvIavLqvviqtAvuflbDJZ26PQGLtt/s1600/little-boy-in-giant-clam-shell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmU-rt3JdBdlVfbmx58r2S0i3isf2pgX0wZsL3Wnvdt1s2eJwH_6MSdnQHlmwkGGJ_2c-3n3W27iUTGUa2J6gBwE-zX1ursfrTO8LDCgyFvnTJ-ScvIavLqvviqtAvuflbDJZ26PQGLtt/s640/little-boy-in-giant-clam-shell.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">...to <a href="http://boutique.borrowedbluewedding.com/decorative-display/decorative-accessories/giant-clam-shell-2">champers</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QNkMYBedeI1v3olZ_63q_iTO9J4SmAvvuKw2zopEexhnF_tt_BGMtzNyLJgH4noYanHK4vJKv6y0KZGxf1PCAhMEtOUVlP07IBL3BpUMCDNZOcHi_z8UzqGS0nFRhyhwI_hz0l4xpFGH/s1600/giant-clam-shell-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QNkMYBedeI1v3olZ_63q_iTO9J4SmAvvuKw2zopEexhnF_tt_BGMtzNyLJgH4noYanHK4vJKv6y0KZGxf1PCAhMEtOUVlP07IBL3BpUMCDNZOcHi_z8UzqGS0nFRhyhwI_hz0l4xpFGH/s640/giant-clam-shell-thumb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />But wait....how about making a grand entrance?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsVpfQnXOglHg2GaOw24eL17brnk20IEZrmvugqGqFokVvkmWGhIL2L8DgXFqb8z_yhHFHPMX1WtyxuXkecLcQ8ZGzneGTOpP_lPa3I0y6BySfcquERKrdMRvMkicGLzMWT-pGzjIkO3p/s1600/1276465476-shell-528x351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsVpfQnXOglHg2GaOw24eL17brnk20IEZrmvugqGqFokVvkmWGhIL2L8DgXFqb8z_yhHFHPMX1WtyxuXkecLcQ8ZGzneGTOpP_lPa3I0y6BySfcquERKrdMRvMkicGLzMWT-pGzjIkO3p/s640/1276465476-shell-528x351.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>...for your next <a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=giant+clam+shell&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=642&tbm=isch&prmd=ivns&tbnid=N4Ul9Yt8b3H3fM:&imgrefurl=http://filmiholic.com/2007/02/22/honeymoon-travels-pvt-ltd/&docid=E35fT5WL0V8J5M&w=400&h=261&ei=CFtETu7pEcrTmAXDwLi6CQ&zoom=1">fancy dress party</a>?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt21EdaaDbiZddh5OhCsho7upyvbMpRb7tx48RjRNGyxISms94cM2omtEFc8thugfhSlRQZYE4mr1Y7y2u3Wh5vc65-VeYwqzczCtfbg1e5CiQOK2U5j_ZTDxlmbEUEJ-7NOLdhuTsHmND/s1600/Giant-Clam-Scallop-Shell-Costume-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt21EdaaDbiZddh5OhCsho7upyvbMpRb7tx48RjRNGyxISms94cM2omtEFc8thugfhSlRQZYE4mr1Y7y2u3Wh5vc65-VeYwqzczCtfbg1e5CiQOK2U5j_ZTDxlmbEUEJ-7NOLdhuTsHmND/s640/Giant-Clam-Scallop-Shell-Costume-01.jpg" width="496" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />...or my all-time fave - the perfect place for a spot of <a href="http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=giant+clam+shell&hl=en&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=642&tbm=isch&tbnid=fzYpjDzl9feeqM:&imgrefurl=http://facedownftw.tumblr.com/page/2&docid=SuY7lqeo1WwCtM&w=500&h=375&ei=BVxETo_EDoeimQXV0ZnKCQ&zoom=1">planking</a>?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFeCfWAmLYcvngcaJSuY5JNOfqiJvaWCLyanHnCum4YZhzxv5BO_TKv7vHEMOjlJ6izFk4bqR3st9gCq4Mouz8K71SxHPsYgLzkEfP0HiwAmvpuqe1OZyDhIJ096lU9T5T1q7BbQJM-h_/s1600/tumblr_l8sgr95Qvg1qzlagho1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrFeCfWAmLYcvngcaJSuY5JNOfqiJvaWCLyanHnCum4YZhzxv5BO_TKv7vHEMOjlJ6izFk4bqR3st9gCq4Mouz8K71SxHPsYgLzkEfP0HiwAmvpuqe1OZyDhIJ096lU9T5T1q7BbQJM-h_/s400/tumblr_l8sgr95Qvg1qzlagho1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85794/shatay01/57292ae3db79c6d939a1f2a85508a076.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0 !important;" /></a>

From the sublime, to the...well, you decide

Next time someone tells me to clam up, I'll take them literally. I've always loved the use of giant clam shells in decorating (as lo...

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