Local Crafts, Art and Even Specialty Foods Can be Found There
By Jon Chown
There are more beautiful, fascinating things in Alyce Shepardson’s Capitola Village store She Sells Seashells and More than can really be described; the talents of more than 50 local artists are represented.
And these are not just painters or photographers, but crafts of every type. There are hand-painted scarves, hand-blown glass beads, mermaids created from recycled metals, handmade soaps and even locally-made specialty foods — things like gluten-free, organic beef jerky and strawberry-jalapeño jelly, flavored sea salt and much, much more.
“There are so many kinds of different things in here, I just feel blessed … and the artists are happy too,” Shepardson said recently on a busy morning as artists brought items for her to look at and shoppers poked around in wonder in the background.
She Sells Seashells and More offers a variety of unique handcrafted gift items, most produced locally. Located in the Capitola Mercantile, you will find handmade earrings, necklaces, and unique charm bracelets made by the shop owner herself.
Shepardson, who has a partner in the business Cecil Hodges, started her shop in the Mercantile Building on San Jose Avenue in August of 2012. It was just 300 square feet in the back corner, but in August she moved into a larger 800-square-foot space to accommodate all the interest from local artists.
“It was just a small tiny shop and we’ve expanded quickly,” said Shane Gomes, who works for Shepardson at the counter and also creates jewelry out of sea glass that sells at the store.
“His jewelry is gorgeous,” Shepardson said. “He finds the sea glass himself along the beaches from Sand City to Santa Cruz and then makes the jewelry. It’s beautiful. People really like it.”
Shepardson makes her own jewelry as well. She is also a photographer and her work is among several others on display.
“At first I wanted only my own work in the store, but everyone has a different eye, and you have to be there to get the shot,” she said. “Now I have about 10 different photographers in here.”
Her business partner, Hodges, is also an artist. He creates fine pens and boxes.
“There’s something for everyone here — as long as they like beautiful things,” she said.
•••
She Sells Seashells and More, The Mercantile 115 San Jose Avenue Capitola, Phone: 831-359-7311. Hours: Mon-Fri: 10-7 Sat: 10-8 Sun: 10-6