John's mom, Nellie Hawley, has been a passionate shell collector since the 1970s, dedicating her time and energy to amass an extensive collection of seashells from around the world. You can witness her lifelong dedication at various booths we host at Farmer's and Arts Markets throughout the year. 

This page is a gateway to Nellie's unique seashells, crafts, and the events we attend. At these events, you'll also have the opportunity to explore John's coastal, nature, and commercial photography.

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Nellie's Shell Collecting Background:

Nellie's first memorable experience shelling was at the Mayport jetties, where she collected sand dollars during a family fishing trip in the late 1940s during her early teen years. 

 

After her father died in 1978, she was looking for more things to do with her mother, and making shell collecting trips with mom, her aunt Louise, and dear family friend Isabelle became a much bigger focus of her life. 

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They joined the Jacksonville Shell club in the 1980s, and Nellie became very active as a group leader, hosting events and pool parties and attending show-collecting trips throughout Florida, the Caribbean, and Central America. Lifelong friendships were forged on those trips and in those activities, and a tremendous number of shells and knowledge about them accumulated along the way.

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Over the years, the focus has shifted from shell collecting to education and conservation. Nellie has provided exhibits and talks to various schools on mollusks. We are happy to have Jacksonville Farmer's Markets and Arts Markets to continue that tradition.