Using the treasures of the sea

Shells are the jewels of the sea. Found on beaches all over the world, they range from fragile miniatures to imposingly large specimens. Their subtle colors and varied shapes appeal to children and adults alike.

To children they are playthings, to be collected avidly and indiscriminately on the seaside holiday, but probably soon forgotten at the back of a drawer once  they are back home.

The serious collector, on the other hand, looks for decorative pieces in perfect condition to grace a window-sill or a shelf. You can spot collectors as they walk along the beach, slightly stooped, raking the sand or shingle with their eyes. Suddenly they will swoop down, pick something up, walk to the sea to wash it, dry it carefully, and another piece is added to a prized collection.

But shells are not simply beautiful in their own right, they are ideal material for a host of handicrafts — some simple, others more elaborate.

If we look back at primitive peoples, we find that they not only made jewelry from shells but utensils like knives, spoons, axes and wind instruments. Some tribes used shells as money, and strung them together so that they could carry their "currency" around with them.

Shells lend themselves to a variety of uses, depending on their size and shape. Necklaces, pendants, brooches, ear-rings, cuff-links and buttons for a pretty blouse are all fairly simple artifacts. But they can also be used to decorate trinket boxes, and cigarette boxes, or to make intricate collages — even a "wind harp".

What are shells?
Shells are really the empty "houses" of mollusks — scallops, mussels, welks, cockles, barnacles, limpets — these are just a few of the creatures which have no skeleton and so form a protective outer coating.

One of the simplest in structure is the mussel shell which protects and encloses the familiar jelly-like creature.

Beautifully made, it opens and shuts firmly like the best made of little boxes. The "hinge" is the elastic closing muscle, made of a horn-like substance, which also covers the outside of the shells giving them their typical blue-black appearance. Shells are perfectly made with protruding and recessed surfaces which fit into each other, so they seal tightly all the way round. In some tropical species this closure mechanism is so complicated that considerable patience is needed to fit the two halves together again once they have come apart.

The serious collector looks for shells which are still whole, not only because they are in better condition, but also because the actual closing edges provide an important guide in identifying the type of shell.

Collectors look for undamaged specimens; they will examine carefully their structure, colors and the way the colors blend, before deciding whether the shell is worth keeping. The best and most beautiful shells are those of creatures which have died only recently. Empty shells which have been washed ashore and have been subjected to the battering of wind, sand and waves become dull and roughened in the process.

If you want to make a really serious study of shells you will need a detailed reference book. Most handbooks give only a superficial description of the various species, but this is adequate if what you are looking for is a rewarding hobby. There are many ways of storing and displaying your collection of shells. If you want to keep the species separated, then a very good way is to use a clear plastic tray with several partitions. Or you can use several small cardboard boxes, with the names of the shells on the outside.

But shells look delightful grouped in a basket, the species mixed so that the shapes and colors are shown to best advantage. Alternatively you can use small clear glass bowls so that the shells can be viewed and appreciated from every side.

A window collage
You need seven circles of clear plastic, six in the same size and a smaller one for the top; special plastic adhesive and strong clear nylon thread. Drill small holes near the edges of the discs so that you can run the thread through to tie the various discs to each other and to the window frame. If you want to copy the picture on this page you will need to drill three holes in each of five discs and four holes in two of them. Choose your shells carefully so that you have only perfect specimens. Wash and scrub them, and give them a thin coat of colorless nail varnish to bring out their colors.

Now make up your own patterns, either using one species or combining two or three varieties which go well together. Stick the shells down using plastic adhesive, and press them firmly in position. Now tie the discs together with short lengths of the nylon thread; make a strong knot and cut off the ends. If you are going to use your collage on the window, tie the top disc to the top of the window frame and the three rows of discs to the sides of the window frame.

A wind harp
In order to make the harp shown to the right you need to drill small holes on the insides of the shells you want to use. If you are working with small shells don't use a hand drill — this is too big for the job and will cause fragile shells to break. Choose a sharp instrument like an awl and work from the inside of the shells, lying them on a piece of wood so that they don't break. Ensure the awl penetrates very slowly, about 0.5cm (1½in) in from the edge of the shell. Drill two holes in a straight line at the top and bottom of the shells. If you are using a hard, thick shell then use a hand drill. To prevent the drill from slipping, first make a starter hole with an awl. Drilling the holes is the longest part of the job; once this is done the rest is quick, easy and fun. Thread the shells on nylon threads of different lengths, making a knot after each hole. Our design has eight shells on each thread, but you can make it longer or shorter. Once your strings of shells are complete, tie them firmly at regular intervals to a piece of wood. Hang your harp near a window or in a draught so that the wind will set the shells moving and "play the harp".

Scallop shell purse
Drill six small holes in the two halves of a large scallop shell. Four on the "hinge" side, two in each half, so that you can run a piece of string through to hold the purse together. Two other holes are drilled in the centre of the shell opposite the hinge.

Run string through each of these two holes, fasten with strong knots and leave enough string on the outside to tie together when the purse is shut. Children will love one to keep change in, perhaps to buy ice cream on the beach.