Rocks, shells, driftwood, pine cones, feathers, fallen birds nest, sea glass, sponges, mosses...all collected from journeys, never purchased!

Here's the photo

If I brought anything in from outside my cats would think it was for them.

I hung a branch over my bed nearly 13 years ago just because I wanted to. No designer had done it. I'd never seen it done. No reason. I got the branch from my friends who had just cut down this branch from their peach tree. It has to be unwired from the wall to take it down for a gentle hosing off cleaning. Later came my hand drawn sketches of leaves and trees to form a border above the mighty branch.

Branches, shells, and fossils. Some of the shells and fossils were ones that my dad and grandpa found. I also have sand collected from the beach in Florida where I grew up and the beach in Oregon where my hubby grew up.
My hubby and I had to cut down part of a twisted willow tree for an elderly neighbor, he said I could keep the branches and now they're proudly displayed in my foyer.

Some fossils and shells in some of my bookshelves

I never come home from a trip without mementos such as shells, sea glass, driftwood, stick, rocks, sand, etc. Some is displayed inside and some is displayed outside. I've been doing it for years and can no longer remember where much of it came from but I know a fond memory of a trip is attached to each and every piece.

rocks & minerals, driftwood, sea shells. For the flat seashells they're not great looking so thinking of making a rain chain out of them.

Curt - I collected quite a substantial amount of very large scallop shells last year, both the flat bottoms and the curved tops. I've displayed them in a large blue/green bowl on my dining room table with small bits of driftwood and sea glass mixed in. Looks great! But you've given me another option when I'm tired of my centerpiece. I like it.

A Seahorse I found on Anna Maria Island Fl. after a Hurricane, a Bowlful of Spondylus , a Tiger Crown Brick in the shape of South Carolina I found going thru rubble from the Mills Mill 1892 Cotton Mill renovation to Condos in Greenville SC.

I have a collection of antlers that the deer naturally shed each year in our woods. They go all the way across the mantel.

Real Cool ...

I have feathers, seashells, sea worn glass in small pieces of pinch pottery I have made, many pieces of driftwood, birch bark and branches. I have used a long piece of birch bark as a holder for my bedroom curtains, a boa constrictor snake hide draped across the top of my large family room window (brought back from Africa by my brother) and pine cones from world travels that I bring out at Christmas and display with fresh holly. So much nicer than plastic!

This is my youngest daughter's collection of seashells from around the world. She has some real gems in this collection. Even the tiny drawers are filled with incredible shells.... some of which are now extinct. She never collected live shells in our travels.... only those which had already perished.

We always brought items home from walks when the children were young and now that we are retired and living on Cape Cod for the past three years, I still bring home stuff. From walks in the woods, I 've found moss, stones, pinecones, and birds feathers. Walks on the many varied beaches here have yielded, not only many different shells but seaglass, driftwood, bricks, pieces of fisherman's rope in blues, aquas, yellows, black. I use many of these finds on our bookcases shelves, in wreaths I make during the winter, and just as decorative pieces. Nature has been a joy and wonder for us (husband a birder) these past years.

My daughter that collected the shells above also brought many branches into her bedroom and covered her javanese bed to look like a tree in her bedroom. (very creative kid.) When we moved out of that house, I was appalled at the dirt that collected in her room from the dirt attached to the branches. It was a major job to sterilize the room!

This is a pic of her bed sans branches. : )

Deer antlers,nest, starfish, shells

This is what's left of a tree I cut down in my backyard. The death of this tree gave new life to an herb garden that was once shaded by these very branches.

I saw this idea the other day and loved it! ( http://www.curbly.com/users/craftmel/posts/11143-easy-art-idea-make-framed-branches)

This drawer is at the end of my kitchen island. When we were building the house and I was on overload I would take a walk on the beach and collect shells and sea glass. I would then drag bags of shells up the stairs (50 ft bank). My husband would shake his head and say "I could use a little help around here". Well between what I found here in Washington state and what my brother sent me from the Bahamas and a few wine corks. My husband built this drawer (shadow box) for my shells. The shells only take up about 2" in depth, and can be changed out if the mood should ever strike. The drawer is huge and can hold two large slow cookers.

We moved into an old farmhouse so I have brought in things Ive found left behind like an old bamboo fishing rod, livestock scale, horseshoe, and even the old sheep farm sign.

I had to cut down a small, dead aspen and I saved it. I didn't know why, until Christmas.

@jojomao, love the branch in the corner but especially like the shade of blue on your wall. I would love to know what you used!

@eaglenester..... you are extremely creative. I would have never thought of doing that, but it is stunning!

@joomao....... love the fish pic on the wall. I would have stood up an old cane fishing pole in the corner, complete with a fishing line and an old fashioned red and white cork bobber! : )

I am terrible because whenever I see a branch or a tree trunk or a rock or a pebble, I cannot resist taking it (as long as it is not protected and has been obviously discarded). I am currently creating a barrier around a second floor mezzanine using branches of silver birch. I have used branches to hang beads and necklaces on and even added them "decoratively"... just tree crazy https://www.houzz.com/photos/hallway-eclectic-hall-phvw-vp~2916811

@nancylou22 The blue paint is from Sherwin Williams - Gale Force.

I've acquired an addiction to found cement 'sculptures' around my neighborhood at construction sites and in vacant lots. They typically are embedded with old brick which makes them appear as large uncovered urban crystal formations. Here is one of my favorites.

Here's another one given to me by a friend for my birthday.

I collect stones from places I travel to and place them here and there around our cottage. These ones are from Stonehaven in Scotland.

Treasures from the sea...polished rocks, shells, evacuated creatures :)

Seashells and driftwood, recycled tumbled glass. Stones too. I've made a frame with shells that continues to get so many compliments. Collecting driftwood for a floor full mirror ... I've found similar frames in Anthroplogie for $1000.

I've found stunning large white, peachy shells (conchas) in Costa Rica where we are from, and gorgeous bluish purple mussel shells in South Boston. Other large ones in Ogunquit Maine.

Every camping and beach trip at least one tiny pebble makes it way home in my pocket.

I love it! ;)

@Anna Rhees : I have a small window I would like to do that to! Perhaps hung to frame the window for easy removal and cleaning? Love it!

I have a large piece of driftwood atop a shelf. I'm a bit of a rock hound so I have a bunch of gems and minerals around my apartment. :)

FYI: In the US it is illegal to possess feathers, nests, and eggs of any migratory bird. I'm thiinking there might be other regulations for other natural objects too. Decorate with photos of those objects instead - just don't disturb the animals to get that perfect shot!

My hubby is the real collector of nature's gifts. He used to love walking in the woods and he always spotted a treasure, a beautiful walking stick, piece of bark, something he found joy in. One of us found this lovely rock and it has special meaning to us because it is shaped like Virginia, but when flipped over it looks like North Carolina. Special to us because we have lived in both states.