I have often wondered why shells are such compelling objects...and I woke up this morning, after painting this comfy yummy interior yesterday, and thought ooooh, it's like the ocean is just heaving up its treasure, its jewelry, onto the beach. And then we get to go on an endless treasure hunt! Shells embody so many things that fascinate humans: home design (creature dwellings), beauty, adornment, pattern, appropriateness, mobile homes, tiny houses!!! Shells remind us that sometimes you outgrow your home, or no longer need it, and pass it on to another creature. Who hasn't had the experience of picking up a seemingly empty shell, only to have a creature crawl out and (essentially say), "Hello! Someone lives here!! Occupied!" And don't get me started on fun barnacles. To me they resemble apartment buildings such as Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi would build! And I love to use a multi-barnacled chunk of coral as the perfect natural 'jewelry box' on my dresser. I can both display and store small earrings...and tucking my pearl studs into this multi creviced sculpture seems especially whimsical and appropriate! (It's a gift from the sea, inside a gift from the sea!)

• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO brightness: 104%
• Paper is sourced from Japan