About What the Shell?!

Our mission is simple: bring the calm, joyful feeling of the beach into your home through art and décor that feels personal, coastal, and meaningful.

Every piece in our shop begins with original watercolor artwork created by my late mother, Barbara Schwan, who discovered painting in her 60s. Her work carries a sense of peace and playfulness that defines our entire collection.

Prints and décor items are produced using her original designs, and any item labeled handmade is crafted by hand — never mass-made or outsourced.

Whether you’re decorating a room or gifting something coastal, you’re choosing pieces rooted in real art, real craftsmanship, and a story worth sharing.

About the Artist

Barbara Vernon Schwan spent most of her life as an adult who put others’ first, from her beloved firstborn with Epilepsy, to her parents as they aged, to the son she and her husband adopted and adored. She loved sports, chocolate, and her Bruce Willis flicks, but she loved the beach most of all. After being diagnosed with Lymphoma, Barbara found healing in the power of watercolors. Little did she know that she would go on to sell items in 3 shops and have her work on display in dozens of households. These works - most of which are hers or inspired by her artistry - are now available to share with the world.

She may be gone in the physical, but her spirit lives on through her art forever. Barbara, a grandmother of 4, transitioned earlier this year after a 14 year battle. Her positive outlook, strength and laughter were contagious to those who knew her, just like the peace the beach brought to her.

 Shop Barbara’s Paintings