I'm a big fan of the various walking/motorcycling/horse-back-riding groups that march in Muses and other parades, and you can't really talk about oyster shells without talking about the Bearded Oysters, famous for their hand decorated oyster shell "throws" (I use parentheses to indicate they are gently handed rather than thrown, not to suggest they are somehow lesser in any way than other throws). Neat Nola Defender article on the decorated shells here. I'm assuming this gorgeous photo depicts a lucky oyster recipient.
New Orleanians may also be familiar with Valerie McCreary, who paints oyster shells with nail polish and incorporates the beautiful dark eye of the oyster into the design. Here's another NOLA oyster artist (etsy seller NOLAOysterArt)...I wonder what kind of paint that is? It's so luminous!
Anyways, I've been doing a bit of research into both (1) preparing and using oyster shells for crafts and (2) saving some links in case I wuss out and want to just buy some clean shells:
Martha Stewart Oyster Shell Dish
http://www.seashellmarket.com/cleaning.asp
http://goflorida.about.com/od/beaches/a/shells_cleaning.htm
Etsy supplier #1 (more pearly and less oyster-y than the gulf oysters I'm picturing, but it would still get the effect across)
Etsy supplier #2 (more traditionally oyster-esque, though I would want to make them snazzier)
Another etsy seller
Another useful supply site for ordering shells (especially if you want to buy shells by the 1 lb case)
Not shoe-related, but oyster related:
- Evangeline the Oyster Girl (warning: link isn't exceptionally naughty, but definitely NSFW)
- New Orleans Oyster Festival
- Edible chocolate oyster shells
- I love oyster plates so much, y'all. So much.
- Eat oysters, love longer
- Oyster beads: here and here
- After all this oyster talk, aren't you in the mood for some charbroiled oysters at Drago's now?
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