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Friday, September 10, 2010

A Super Sized Mason Jar coastal display.....

I love Mason jars...so when I walked into a thrift shop a couple weeks ago and spotted a really large one - approximately 20 inches tall and 18 inches around at the base - I immediately wanted it.  It turns out that it was a limited edition (so I was told) Mason jar made to celebrate the bi-centennial in 1976.  The owner of the shop wanted more for it than I wanted to spend so I left empty handed.  However, I kept on thinking about this jar because I had been looking for something exactly like it to display vintage seashells, coral and some beautiful driftwood.  Well - I couldn't get it out of mind, so I went back last weekend and we made a deal.  


So tonight, when I arrived home from a very long week on the road, I relaxed by putting together a coastal display of shells, coral, driftwood and the prerequisite starfish....inside the jar.  I think it came out great - my husband suggested that I add some sand at the bottom, but I am not sure....


I think this is the perfect place for it....

Love the robin's egg blue finial and pot - this is one 
of my favorite colors.  The fabric on my sofa and chairs 
is actually called Cherrio Robins Egg. 



Here is the empty jar - hard to see the size but it's big!!

Another angle

Love the driftwood pieces

Vintage style seashells




Close up of how nice the shells and coral
 look inside the bottom of the jar





I would love opinions on the sand - 
do you think it would look better 
with sand at the bottom?

I am linking this up to:

Flaunt it Friday with Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
Show and Tell Friday with My Romantic Home



15 comments:

"Cottage By The Sea" said...

Oh my stinkin heck! That jar was worth whatever you paid for it. My first daughter was born in 1976 on the bicentennial. Love the jar and what you've done with it. I would add a little sand at the bottom. Yes, that would make it just perfect!

Anonymous said...

Wow Debbie... that beautiful mason jar is the perfect piece to show off all of your fabulous ocean finds... gorgeous!
Have a great weekend!
Hugs ~ Jo :o)

Donna said...

Wow, that is one huge jar! I love it! I like your hubbies idea of adding sand to the bottom. And I like that cute little finial, too :) BTW, do you find all of those neat star fish, or do you purchase them? Have a great weekend!

Beach House Living said...

Sand might be a nice addition, but try it out the way it is for awhile. It looks just fine.

Handy Man, Crafty Woman said...

I love these old jars! So pretty.

Kaybe said...

That jar is the bomb-biggity. Instead of sand you might try the chunky shell crush that you can sift out of the surf line. It's a little bigger than sand and has more color. Or maybe some light blue marbles? Either way it is just beautiful.

Blooming Rose Musings said...

That's spectacular! I adore aqua and robins egg blue so I love all your colors. I think I would wait with the sand and see how you feel about it the way it is. A little sand might be a nice touch but I'd wait and give it a try just as you have it.
Definitely a WOW factor!

::cottage instincts:: said...

Well if that isn't Mr. Mason on steriods, I don't know what is. It looks great, but I say yes, add some sand. Love me some sand!

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

I love the jar. What a great big size! I have sand in some of my glass vases with shells. I like it. I also add a couple of small pieces of driftwood to the ironstone dish with shells in it. I need to go out looking for more. It's nice to mix them in. Oh the coral is really pretty!

NanaDiana said...

Love that jar! I'd say that is the Granddaddy of Mason jars! I love all the shells you have and that piece of coral is beautiful. I actually think the sand in the bottom might be nice....(and then you will have to tell your husband that the girls here agreed with him...yeah...I know that sucks but you gotta do it). lol I think you found the perfect piece! Diana

Simple Home said...

I have never seen a Mason jar that large. That's a wonderful find. I decorate with them too, (the smaller version) and I put sand in some and not in others. It looks pretty the way it is though, and it would be alot heavier to move with sand at the bottom, so I guess it would depend on how heavy it is now :-)
Blessings,
Marcia

Drawn to The Sea said...

I think we should arm wrestle for the jar ;-)

Debbie said...

Holey moley girl! that's the largest mason jar ever!!! so cool! I love what you've done with it....sand, or no sand, it's awesome!!!
Debbie@houseatthelake

Heaven's Walk said...

Holy Moley is right!!!! I've never seen one so big, Debbie! What in the world would anyone have ever canned in that ginormous jar....? Yup - put a few inches of sand in the bottom. It'll help 'ground' the piece and will show off your beautiful shells and driftwood!

Hugs!

xoxo laurie@heavens-walk

COTTAG3 said...

I saw a huge jar just like this yesterday and couldn't decide whether to get it or not. I passed it up but may have to go back now. I think sand would look great in it. I have a similar large pickle jar and I put pea gravel in the bottom before adding things on top and it looks pretty good (or it does to me).