Getting to know you . . .

Oysterments of the Sea written by Regan Hager

In 1995, Deb Stoltenberg started her creative business of Oysterments of the Sea.

“I use Pacific Northwest oyster shells and clay from Sweden,” Stoltenberg explained. “I hand sculpt the faces for the characters, fire them on the shells, and hand paint them.”

The idea started out to be kind of a Christmas joke, said Stoltenberg because they eat so many oysters in the Pacific Northwest, but she turned it into a business

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She now makes many characters: Santa, Mrs. Claus, an old fisherman in the sea, a mermaid (inside and outside the shell), an Indian chief, pirate, witch, snowman, fireman, and Betsy Ross.

Besides making her oysterments, Stoltenberg also does oil paintings, paints business windows for holidays, face painting at birthday parties, and Knotty People.

“Knotty People are made out of spruce knots, which are similar to Cyprus knees except harder just almost petrified,” explained Stoltenberg. “I paint the Knotty People as Santas.”

Stoltenberg plans on trying to paint gourds this season to see on top of the oysterments and Knotty People.

 

Oysterments of the Sea is ran out of the Stoltenberg home, where they can by their website www.oysterments.com or by e-mail at oystersbydeb@msn.com.