What is Marine Day you ask?
Marine Day, also known as "Umi no Hi" in Japanese, is a national holiday in Japan that celebrates the ocean and its importance to the country. It is observed on the third Monday in July each year. Marine Day was established to promote appreciation for the ocean, raise awareness about marine resources, and encourage conservation efforts. It serves as an opportunity for people to express gratitude for the ocean's bounty, enjoy various maritime activities, and reconnect with nature. The ocean connects everyone in several ways, transcending geographical boundaries and playing a crucial role in the interconnectedness of our planet.
How can I help conserve our oceans?
Conserve water: Freshwater is connected to the ocean, and conserving water helps maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems. Use water wisely at home, fix leaks, and consider installing water efficient fixtures. Consider taking a shorter shower once or twice a week. That helps reduce runoff and waste water.
Reduce plastic waste: Plastic pollution is a significant threat to marine life. Minimize the use of single-use plastics such as bags, bottles, and straws. Go for the reusable alternatives instead and make sure to recycle properly.
Wear more natural fabrics: Cotton, linen, or wool are chic and sustainable options! Microfibers are one of the biggest contributing factors to microplastics in our oceans. Studies have found microplastics in a lot of mollusks (clams, mussels, oysters etc.) because they are filtering creatures. So, if they have these microplastics in them when you eat them, you are essentially eating plastic and no one wants that!
The ocean has always been a big part of my life. Growing up in the Seattle area has helped me stay close to the ocean, which brings some much-needed peace to my life. The PNW has some of the densest marine populations on the planet due to the high concentration of plankton in our waters. That gives me the opportunity to see a lot of different types of marine life to draw inspiration from in my work. It is really fun for me to mimic the shapes and textures from our waters!
That is why when my friend, Sarah Simon showed me a little seashell trinket dish she discovered in her travels we were inspired to make one of our very own! We came up with the Venus Shell Dish. This is a wonderful piece for any artist to add to their collection as a beautiful little paint pot that matches your palette. It is also a perfect piece to use as a special trinket dish to keep a favorite pair of earrings safe or store a ring on your nightstand.
