I'm getting this year's summer exhibition up much later than I intended, but then again, summer is no time to stress about such things!  While I'm forever inspired by mermaids and the sea, I didn't want to repeat last year's theme.  So for 2013 my inspiration was more land-based - sand, seashells you find washed up on the beach, and color-wise, more bronze/warm-toned than aquatic hues given all the delectable bronzers that were released this season.  I am quite taken with the seashell beads I photographed for the exhibition poster (and I do intend on making a necklace with them and some other beads before the summer is out!), along with this 1953 ad for Sun Bronze tanning lotion.

(image from hprints.com)

So, bronze and shells are the main ideas behind the exhibition.  I was going to sprinkle some shell beads on each shelf, but I didn't have enough and it looked a little sad, so I left them as is.  I did try to choose a sandy-colored paper for the exhibition labels, however - I think that worked well.  And keep your eyes peeled for some bath and body products.  I believe this is the first seasonal exhibition in which they've appeared.  I did include some Philosophy products in the Sweet Tooth exhibition, but that was a special, non-seasonal exhibition.

Enjoy!  (And click to enlarge any of the pics).

Top shelves, left to right.

Stila Living the Life in Laguna, Stunning in Sayulita and Fabulous in Fiji travel palettes:

Chanel Lucky Stripes palette:

Fresh Soap trio:

OB for Shu Uemura cleansing oils:

Second row, left to right.

This was a shame.  Paul & Joe's pressed powder from the summer 2013 collection was not for sale in the U.S. (I have no idea why not) so I had to order it from Beautybay.  Unfortunately it didn't arrive in time for when I had planned on shooting the exhibition so all that's on this shelf are the dolphin blotting sheets.  While those are adorable, I would have liked to have the pressed powder as well, especially since I included it on the label - I was so sure it would be here in time.  The powder just arrived a few days ago but I really didn't feel like putting it on the shelf and re-shooting...so this is a little incomplete.

Armani Bronze All-Over palette.  I couldn't win with this from a collector's standpoint - the first one I ordered from Nordstrom arrived slightly crumbled, and this one isn't shattered but the color is off.  I guess you could argue that it's got a sort of cool ombre effect, but that beautiful deep bronze color towards the right  should be across the entire palette.  I would have just gone to a store to pick it up in person so that I could see firsthand whether it was collectible quality, but there are no Armani counters near me.

MAC Sundressing postcard and To The Beach items:

Chantecaille Les Dauphins palette:

Third row, left to right.

More Chantecaille goodness with the Save the Sharks palette:

Clarins Splendours Bronzing Compact:

Statement Soaps! Seaweed Soap and LUSH The Mermaid Bath Bomb (the date for which I have just realized is incorrect on the label, sigh...it should be summer 2013, not summer 2012.)  Again, I didn't want duplicate last year's ideas but I couldn't resist putting this little mermaid in the exhibition - she's just too cute!  And she made the room smell really good.  :)

I bought this particular bar of Seaweed Soap a few months ago, but the product was initially released somewhere around 2008.

Benefit catalog and Paul & Joe Loose Powder:

Bottom row, left to right.

Laura Mercier Moroccan Bronze palette:

Guerlain Seashell Bronzer - I was so happy to track this down after missing out on its initial release in 2009!

Too-Faced Tropical Tease Quickie Chronicle palette (lord, how I miss those!) and MAC Honey Light Highlighting Powder:

Guerlain Terra Ora Bronzer...I thought the Benefit catalog fit in well with the goddess theme of this piece.

What did you think of this year's summer exhibition?  Did you like it more or less than 2012's?  While I think this came together slightly better than the spring 2013 exhibition (and the fall and holiday 2012 exhibitions, for that matter), I think I still liked 2012's summer exhibition better...mermaids and the ocean will always have my heart!