Luckily, living in Florida, the ocean is just a short drive away...
Although I live on the Gulf of Mexico, my sanctuary is a small strip of beach on the Atlantic Ocean, just south of St. Augustine...it's called Crescent Beach.
Shortly after my family moved back to Florida, Big Brother asked me why I never used his condo. Of course, I asked, "Condo? Where is it?"
That very first trip began my love affair with this beautiful beach...
There is something special about this place...
Perhaps it's the wide, flat beach...perfect for skim-
boarding...
Maybe it's the waves...usually good for surfing... or for riding boogie boards... or for body surfing...
Maybe it's the beauty of the natural dunes...the sea oats waving in the warm (or freezing) breeze...
Maybe it's the wildlife that lives along the shore...in the dunes...in the bird sanctuary that abuts the shore...or the dolphins frolicking in the waves...
Or it might be the surf-fishing...at least that's what my husband loves...
Whatever it is that draws me, it's one of the few places I have found where I truly RELAX...
I sit here
...sometimes with my sketchbook and pencils
...sometimes with my Bible
...sometimes
...just with myself...and I dream.
...sometimes with my sketchbook and pencils
...sometimes with my Bible
...sometimes
...just with myself...and I dream.
I get back in touch with ME...
It's my sanctuary...
In honor of World Ocean's Day, I am giving away one of my original crab paintings...The winner will receive her/his choice of one of these three...
This is "Blue Crab". A kaleidescope of colors defines this more traditional lovely. (It's about as traditional as I get!) The cerulean blue continues onto all sides...She measures 8" x 10" and is ready to hang...
"The Patriotic Crab" has a lot of personality and is a perfect summer painting. Many of my customers have several "holiday" paintings which they switch out for each season...This one is July 4th, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, all rolled into one...It's painted on a 9" x 12", flat board canvas and can be framed...or just propped up on a stand.
To enter this drawing, all you have to do is leave me a comment, telling me what love about the ocean...and which painting you would choose to win. Tell others about my giveaway (and leave me a separate comment), and I'll give you a second chance to win! The drawing will be held early next week...post your comments, soon!
(This giveaway is limited to US and Canada...sorry to all my other international friends.)
I am linking with Shellbelle...for World Ocean's Day and Susan for Outdoor Wednesday. Come join the party!!!
Head to the beach...even if it's only in your mind!
Jane
Head to the beach...even if it's only in your mind!
Jane
52 comments:
Awesome post Jane..
awesome giveaway!!
What I love most about my gulf beaches is the hypnotic effect of the ever-changing colors of the waters in tune with the wave action..simply soothes my soul!!
I'd love to win any of the three..
but the cerulean is my favorite!!
thanks!!
warmest sandy hugs
I love the ocean because it is my home. I couldn't live anywhere else now. I love your patriotic crab. The American flag is a stylish beauty and it symbolises friendship and freedon for me.
Bes Carolyn
Sorry that was Freedom not freedon.
Who the heck is Don anyway? Who ever he is he needs to be free!!!!
Oh Jane, you made me want to pack up the car and head to the "other" coast to visit Crescent Beach. I've never been, but I know one day you'll give me the grand tour.
Thank you for joining us for World Oceans Day, of course for many of us, everyday is ocean day!
You know I love your crab paintings, I just love the bling!
Thanks again my ocean loving friend, you're the best!
Hugs
beautiful beach!
I love the ocean because the waves on the shore are so soothing...
I would love to proudly display your blue crab on our walls.
Fabulous paintings Jane!! I am a water sign (cancer) and the ocean seems to call out to me, to laze at her calming shores, to relax with the sound of the waves and to marvel at the treasures she holds.
I live near Chicago but vacation near the ocean when I can. I LOVE Caledessi Park and Honeymoon Island in Dunedin, Florida.
Ocean hugs!!
Silvia
Honeymoon & Crescent Beach.... that's what I would call the best of both coasts. You could always add Englewood and make it a hat trick :D
I love the colorful blue crab (with butter please)
Take good care,
Karen
I've always dreamed of living at the beach! You've listed so many great reasons!
Hi, stopping by from Shelle's. great photos, this area is my favorite. I want to retire in St. Augustine one day. The beach is my sanctuary, too. It refuels me. Your paintings are awesome, I'd take the patriotic crab!
What a lovely post. I have never been to crescent beach, but it looks gorgeous there. I have, however, visited St. Augustine, and I think it is a great place to visit. So much history! Your crab paintings are adorable. I would be so happy to win one! The patriotic crab is my favorite. Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!
Hi Gal! Love all of your charming crabbies!! The bling is just too cute, but I would have to say the flag bearing crabbie is my fave!
I forgot about Ocean's Day! My post today has a beach shot, though! Hoping to get to the beach next week.
My fave strip of beach is on the Gulf side but in the panhandle. Just past Navarre beach to the west is a protected beach, no hotels or houses, that has amazing dunes, and beautiful blue/jade clear water. Simply sublime! Since it's a barrier island, the bay side is just across the road, and is delightful, too!
But "my" local beach is south Daytona beach. We park where there are showers and restrooms, when I go with Maddy, I definitely want a life guard around, and we go during the week, so there are no crowds!!
Hugs to you! I am beginning work on the tags! I'll give you a peek in the next few days!
Becky
Hi Gal! Love all of your charming crabbies!! The bling is just too cute, but I would have to say the flag bearing crabbie is my fave!
I forgot about Ocean's Day! My post today has a beach shot, though! Hoping to get to the beach next week.
My fave strip of beach is on the Gulf side but in the panhandle. Just past Navarre beach to the west is a protected beach, no hotels or houses, that has amazing dunes, and beautiful blue/jade clear water. Simply sublime! Since it's a barrier island, the bay side is just across the road, and is delightful, too!
But "my" local beach is south Daytona beach. We park where there are showers and restrooms, when I go with Maddy, I definitely want a life guard around, and we go during the week, so there are no crowds!!
Hugs to you! I am beginning work on the tags! I'll give you a peek in the next few days!
Becky
Oh and I LOVE this post, and hearing about your fave beach! It is beautiful indeed!!
:o)
I wish we were all meeting at your favorite beach today! We drove up to St. Augustine awhile back and stopped at several beaches along the way! I walked on this beach and enjoyed it's beauty! Thanks for your wonderful giveaway! It's perfect! I have a post up, too...hope you'll visit me! ♥
Hi Happy Outdoor Wednesday! I'm happy to have found you and oh those pictures of the ocean make me swoon! Best this about the beach/ocean... to me is the sand between your toes! If I were to win, I would pick the patriotic crab -- he's just lovely and I can see him cooking with me in my kitchen. I promise crab's not on the menu :)
Hello Jane
I'm visiting for the party today :) Happy Oceans Day! I loved your post. Your beach is gorgeous, I enjoyed hearing all about it and seeing your pictures. I love Florida and visited St Augustine Beach just a few weeks ago with friends. Your paintings are beautiful. My favorite is the patriotic crab.
Lindsay
x
I didn't really follow your directions! I'm so excited about the fun we're having today! I would choose the Blue Crab in the center painting! And what do I love...how the ocean fills up all of your senses at the same time and makes you feel euphoric! Enjoy your day! ♥
That stretch of beach sounds wonderful! And thanks so much for the chance to win one your wonderful paintings. I'm loving the traditional crab!! That sounds weird, haha.
I love the quiet. I love the charm. I love the cleanliness. I love that it speaks to me in a way that no person or other thing speaks to me. It allows me to feel. Feel ME. Feel my soul. And soothe me with a peace in that soul that allows me come back to reality and deal with it. But only for a while...you see? I have to be close to the sea often and I make it happen. Because that peace in my soul from the sea is what keeps me going on in this world!
I want ANY of your crabs...I need one of those to go beside cindy, charlotte and crissy crabs that I have already hanging in my lakehouse!! LOVE your work!!
Jane,
Stopped by to say hi and here you're having a giveaway! Thanks and I love the patriotic one best.
My favorite memory of the ocean is my daughter's first experience of the waves splashing against her. She started screaming...with delight!
Though we just live down the "road" from one another, and I do love our beaches here on the West Coast, I have to admit, I havent' been to the "other" coast in several years, but not only your beautiful pictures, but your words, make me ready to pack up and head over there for a nice weekend. Sounds so pretty, peaceful and a nice place, as with all beaches, to find our inner peace. All of your paintings are beautiful, though I know my daughter would love the "bling crab", I love the Blue Crab...the colors are beautiful. Thank you.
Joni
Oh..and I forgot to tell you Happy World Ocean's Day.....it's been so fun. Everyone is talking about it..YAY!
I love so many things about the beach, and the ocean, I can't pinpoint just one! I love the smell, and the taste of salt water...I love digging my toes in the sand, I love beach combing, and all of the wildlife we see. I love the crash of the surf, and the ebb and flow of the tides that bring shells to shore. The beach is my favorite place on Earth!
Of course I love your she crab in her bling, she is wearing pearls after all ;)
I love the beach because its so peaceful and view, I also love to go and take pictures of all the animals there!
I'd love to win the blue crab!!!
I came over from Shellbelle's blog and it looks like I'll be back to check out even more of your blog. I love Sanibel Island and have been going there on and off since 1974. All I have to do is breathe the salt air and hear the waves crashing against the shore and I can feel the tension slipping away. I need the water, I crave the water, it's a part of my soul. I love your blue crab and that would look great on the wall of my lake house. Thanks for hosting a giveaway.
I love Crescent Beach so I know why you love it so much. I went to college at Flagler College in St. Augustine. And my sister lives in Flagler Beach a little south of Crescent Beach. Love it there! I like all three crab paintings. Would be very hard to choose. So I guess I would take the normal crab. But really - any of the three would be great. What I love about the ocean is watching the waves roll in. There is nothing better than that!
What a lovely post, Jane. I love the smell of salt air, listening to the crashing waves, feeling sand between my toes...yep - I love it all.
Have a good one!!!
Hugs,
Marie
What I love about the ocean is that all you have to do is hear it or see it to relax... I can be in the car with my two little ones screaming and the sight of the ocean is relaxing... or I can close my eyes at home and listen to a recording of the ocean to relax during nap time.
If I won, I would pick the bling crab because it is just a perfect way to integrate a personality/lifestyle and beach theme into one painting!
You are truly talented... love the paintings!
PS. Louie loves the waves of the ocean... he loves to chase waves and bark at them while at the beach!
Love Crescent Beach...it's truly awesome for its width...the flatness, as you say.
I miss my spot on Casperson Beach where the dogs are allowed to roam...they have SOOOO much fun running along and catching their frisbees. Further down the line, there's more privacy, plenty of space to spread out the chairs and build castles in the sand.
I like the Chanel crab the best :)
Becky
Being a crab myself, I love your artwork! The beach looks perfect and I completely understand like one area more than another. We live at the Jersey Shore, and I grew up on Long Island, next to Jones Beach, but my happiness is in Wildwood Crest...it is just the most beautiful, calm beach.
I grew up near the beach and your pictures made all of the sounds, and smells come alive to me again...
My favorite thing about the beach is the sound of the waves gently crashing in rhythm. That's my favorite part but I LOVE it all!!
I really like the second painting but since I live in central Oregon I would choose the third. I have an Americana theme in my home and I would LOVE a flag waving crab!!
Blessings, Debbie
Your beach is gorgeous! I would spend lots of time there too. there are so many things that I love about the ocean, the creatures, the waves the feeling that I get just being there. I love all the paintings that would be hard to chose. :)
Your blog is wonderful and thank you for sharing this for World Oceans Day!
xo
We usually go to the beach in October, but this post has me "chomping at the bit" to go now! Beautiful! Linda
Great post! We also love the ocean and my family, when they still lived at home, would pick an ocean vacation every time, too. I love the middle crab and would love to be entered in your giveaway.
I would LOoooooove to win that traditional Blue Crab!
Jane, you know my love for the ocean. I did a post about it sometime ago....I will share here:
http://lbratina.blogspot.com/2010/06/reclaiming-our-ocean.html
It is where I am truly myself. Where I feel closest to God, where His word is much clearer and audible in everything. I was born with salt in my veins, no matter where I might be, my heart and soul is with the sea.
I found your blog through the Polished Pebble, and am now following! Ciao from Newport Beach!
I love the beach also. Grew up going to the SC coast for 2 weeks every summer......now we go down to the panhandle and there is nothing like it. I love going in the fall and winter. That is my favorite time to be there, when the colors seem to be more muted. I am hopeful to be the winner of "blue crab"....since I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland.
First off thanks for the heads up on Cresent Beach !!! I will for sure check it out. Your paintings are delightful Jane. I would love to win the patriotic crab since I am a Cancer and the crab is my symbol --- and I was just shopping for festive Fourth of July decor.
Love your beautiful blog! I just discovered your blog and I am now a regular! We both share the love of the ocean, I hope to live there someday!
Thank you for stopping by my blog- i love visiting you as well. Stop by anytime- Smiles & a sunny day to you!
Beautiful post... I pray I can get up to that beach this summer.. it does look beautiful. We are so very blessed to have the privilege of living in Florida..arent we? I moved here from the south 4 yrs ago due to spinal cancer... and love it... never thot this northern gal would turn southern... but honestly, I feel like I was born and raised here!... I lvoe the balmy palm breezes, the salt air, the sound of the sea... all of it!
I wouldnt want to live anywhere else... and I have traveled the world... Truly the sea is a gift from God to us in so many ways! I thank God that since He has allwed this dreadful disease in my life, that He uprooted me and sent me to a place where He can bless me with the surroundings of the sea!
I would love to win one of your little crab paintings.. I would choose the bling one - think that was 6x8"-, but maybe change the bag to Tiffanys( from here in Florida) and no big ring... just a couple classy bracelets... Thanks for a fun giveaway!
Cathy B
pbprojecthope at yahoo dot com
http://palmbreezeliving.blogspot.com
http://operationblessingbrigade.blogspot.com
@projecthope7 twitter
Hi Jane,
I know just how you feel about the beach--it is truly my church. And I am in landlocked, in very dry Texas! In August we'll be traveling to Longboat Key to visit friends. The thought gives me a daily boost. Will journey to Crescent Beach someday--your effervescent description is contagious!
I like your crabs. My 9 year old daughter, Honor, and I are both Cancers, and the patriotic one reminds me of her, because I had her on July 3rd, and she thinks the 4th is *her* holiday!
Thanks for the beautiful photos! ;-)
To Sunny...
Your daughter and I share a birthday! My dad always called me a firecracker without a fuse (not in reference to my temper - LOL) When we did celebrate my birthday, it was usually on the 4th. Longboat Key is a beautiful beach...just about an hour from me. (and I lived in "landlocked Texas" for 7 years. Thankfully, we headed back home to FL...and have stayed here ever since. Be sure to check with AG to see if you and your daughter won the Patriotic Crab.
Jane
Ohh exciting! :D I truly love your art. I would choose the middle BLUE one. It is beautiful and happy.
There is no other person who makes me WISH I could be at the ocean, more than you do. You have made me want to plan a vacation with my family to the ocean. The boys have never been! I'm highly interested in this Crescent Beach you shared about. I'm googling it in a bit. Your words about the ocean and the area you live really MOVE me.
Thank you for offering this giveaway. I hope you had a super weekend.
Lisa
What a lovely post!!! I love everything about the ocean....I love the salty smell and the fresh ocean breezes. The ocean makes me slow down and just relax:)
I LOVE your paintings!! I love the blue crab the best:)
I am off to tell my facebooks peeps about your give-away:)
Holy cow! So happy I found your blog today. Love, love, love your crabby creations! I think the blue crab is my fave, but they are all fantabulous!
What I love about the ocean...my list is endless! I love waking to the sunrise on the Atlantic and ending my day with a beautiful sunset on the Gulf. Shelling and searching for seaglass- well let's just say...I have a sickness! It's just not summer without sand between my toes...I'll leave it at that!
P.S. I'm your newest follower : )
This is a fabulous post for loving the beach/ocean. We enjoyed Crescent Beach and St. Augustine very much. The weather was fantastic! Your paintings are very cute. Love the patriotic crab. I love the beach because I used to visit this area every year as a teen and it wouldn't seem like summer if it didn't start off with a visit to FL. My Grand dad and Mom were born around the Palm Coast area. Thanks for coming by!
Sherry
Me too! I love the gulf for fishing too and St Augustine sure is hard to beat.Beautiful photo's, having fun that's what it's all about.
Love the paintings! Amazing giveaway!
Hey I'm having my first giveaway June 15th!
Sure hope you can join us(HappierThanAPigInMud),we are having a cookalong with the Pillsbury Doughboy and I'm giving away a Pillsbury cookbook and a doughboy.
~JO
Lazyonloblolly
Oh yeah, I love the patriotic crab,he rocks!!
Got to love a flag tote 'n crab!!
~Jo
Lazyonloblolly
This post reminded me of my childhood summers in the Outerbanks - the photos look a lot like it, especially the boardwalk to the beach! I love the ocean because it has always been a part of me - it's where I feel most at home. The blue crab is my favorite :)
I love that beach too! It is so beautiful! I live in southern Cali but we have family that lives near by Crescent city~~
Happy Outdoor Wednesday!
Kay Ellen
Wow, that looks like a great place to get in touch with yourself.
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