selecting the shells

We spent a couple of hours at the Art Centre today and there was a buzz of activity.
A group of women were gathered on the wide spread deck sorting shells collected from an island beach for necklaces, earrings and perhaps to weave into the 'ghost' baskets.
A gentle eyed man sat cross legged,working on a stunning painting of a Macassan boat in cross hatched ochres and white and at morning tea time the groups sat apart while all the while listening to each others conversations and chuckling.

I sat with the 'girls' while they chattered in language and on their i-phones (my old brick doesn't work up here) and sat comfortably crossed legged while I shuffled to get comfortable (unsuccesfully!).
They were very gracious about me taking photos and identifying the shells and seeds as they sorted them into tiny piles.