Our shells are NOT store bought! Each shell has been hand picked from our island adventures. Shells are then disinfected, cleaned, sorted and hand placed into every item. Currently we have items made from shells on Molokai, Hawaii, Bermuda, Costa Rico and California (which is almost an island, just a few more earthquakes) and this summer we will be adding Puerto Rico and possibly Grenada to our collection. NO CREATURES ARE HARMED IN THE PROCESS OF CREATING OUR ITEMS!