HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?????

What does “The Flying Monkey” have to do with “Gifts From the Sea” you might ask. Well, growing up I had a fascination with the Flying Monkeys in the movie “The Wizard of Oz”. They were supposed to be scary, ugly little monsters but I didn’t see them like that. I loved them! My mother had instilled in me a deep appreciation for nature and all animals.

I followed my passion for animals and became a zookeeper, where I was able to live out my fantasy as well as my mother’s! For the past 45 years I have worked with many species of animals, but my heart is always with the monkeys.

While working, my family and I took yearly trips to Sanibel Island in Florida. We all loved the ocean and the gifts that it left for us on the beach. These trips left me with tons of beautiful shells. What a waste I thought, so when I retired last year, I began thinking about how to repurpose them. I saw a tutorial on decoupage. I tried it with one of my shells and voila, my little business was born!

With this business I can focus on combining my love for animals, the flying monkeys and the ocean. I hope you like my Gifts from the Sea as much as I like making them. Please contact me if you have an idea for something that is not on my site. I will try to fulfill your request.