How To Make Sea Shell Jewelry

Ever stifle that inclination to be an artist simply because you dislike getting paint smeared all over yourself and the things near you?

If you have, you can stop stifling because Mrs, Lillian Land has come up with the solution. It's simple—just don't use paint. Use sea shells instead.

The local woman's wails are adorned with shell pictures. She favors bouquets of flowers, but sees no reason why other subjects cannot be portrayed with the same medium.

Before starting on the pictures, she recommends practicing by making shell jewelry. This practice period need not be considered a waste of time because the resulting brooches, lavalleres, and earrings are currently very popular feminine accessories.

If you're eager, you can make yourself a pair of earrings In two hours while you're learning. Mrs. Land can make a set in 10 minutes.

Here's the process:

First, obtain the shells and a tweezer. The shells should range in size and color. They may be purchased already dyed and are quite inexpensive, says Mrs. Land. Select two of them for the centerpiece, keeping in mind the kind of flower you want the finished product to represent. Place a drop of glue on each shell and then put them both on a glass plate.

If it's a rose you want to make, repeat the same process with five slightly larger shells and place these around your centerpiece. Seven additional sea shells surrounding this ring constitute the flower's petals.

In the next step, the flower is glued to a small plastic disc. Three pointed "vibex" shells, lacy in design, may then be placed at angles to set off the design. When you glue on little ear screw, your job finished.

The jewelry and the shell pictures make wonderful personalized gilts, in Mrs. Land's opinion. Making the pictures takes a little longer—an evening for Mrs. Land—but the result is well worth the effort. "One thing I can assure," Mrs. Land stated, "most everyone who takes up this hobby will find it fascinating."