Yes, I realize we are at the lake not the beach… and some people find it tacky to decorate a lake house with beach décor, so call me tacky! But my ‘tacky’ will be mostly relegated to my new She-Shed, currently being transformed into a finished, decorated space that I will enjoy using as a craft room and seashell art project studio, as well as a ladies’ hang out space. The definition of she-shed in Wikipedia cracked me up, actually: “A small building separate from the main home, reserved specifically for the use of an adult woman, in which she can relax and pursue her interests.” – Perfect! Everyone should have one!

My fascination with seashells began at an early age, as I would always scour the beach for any shells in decent condition, but let’s face it, Virginia Beach didn’t really have much to offer me. As a child, I recall one trip to Sanibel Island, Florida where the seashells are plentiful, but didn’t get back to the area as an adult until a few years ago. In December of 2020, after helping a client relocate to Bradenton, Florida, I discovered Siesta Key, Florida (just off of the mainland of Sarasota), also on the Gulf side, about two hours north of Sanibel Island, but with the same plentiful shells. My boyfriend, Tom, and I bought a condo there in December of 2021 to enjoy as our “other happy place” – not only because of the seashells – but also because of the beautiful white quartz sand, Caribbean-like blue/green water, and the overall chill vibe of a wonderful place to vacation and also rent out. But, the seashell missions do become a priority when we visit, right down to researching the most extreme low tides during our stay to take advantage of the very best seashell treasure hunting.

But I’m not the only one fascinated with seashells… did you know that throughout history, seashells have had many different significances to various cultures?! The ancient Egyptians buried their dead with seashells, seeing them as a tool to ward off evil spirits and aid the journey into the afterlife. Seashells also symbolize fertility, love, good fortune, re-birth and celebrate the cycle of life. Other ancient cultures even used them as a form of currency, with the more rare ones being worth more.

Speaking of currency, some people compliment my seashell art and suggest that I should sell some of my creations. My response to that is that I enjoy my treasures too much that I’d rather not, but I have definitely enjoyed making things and giving them away as gifts for family and special friends. Some of the seashell projects have included: conch mirrors, seashell-filled lamps and seashell picture frames. I actually have a commercial baker’s rack currently organizing them all so that I can take into account my “inventory” when I sit down to do a new project.

The She-Shed will be a perfect craft room and entertainment space, inspired by tropical colors and adorned with collectibles from my travels, and special things that friends and family have given me to be a part of it. So far in the 10 x 20 palace, we have: electrical, insulation, walls of beadboard and plywood (currently being painted), and flooring I got on sale at Ollie’s. Next steps will be cabinets painted and hung (I plan to do fun colors I wouldn’t have the nerve to do in my real house!) Then comes furniture and decorating.

Tiffany Hazelwood

Tiffany Hazelwood has a degree in Journalism from the University of Richmond is a full-time Real Estate Broker with Lake Homes Realty, a lake-focused real estate firm, where she serves as the Anchor Agent for the Lake Anna market. She has been a licensed realtor since 2008 and has been specializing in real estate here at the lake since 2016. She has enjoyed writing the real estate section for the Lake Anna Breeze™ since 2019. In her spare time, Tiffany enjoys jet-skiing and boating on the lake, traveling with her boyfriend, Tom, and time with their 3 dogs.