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| Atlantic Whelk Conch Shell Top, What Can You Do With It? |
Doyle came into the RV and threw this beautiful Conch Shell Top on the table in front of me and told me he has used every part of the shell he had cut up with no waste, except he couldn't figure out what to do with the Conch Shell Top itself. It was too beautiful to just chop up into drops or pendants and too thin to make beads from and WAY too big for a pendant at over 4" across.
I took one look at it and knew immediately what it would become. I was feeling a bit sad about having to leave Florida and head back up North. Granted, it's lovely up there too and we have many friends there, but how can that compete with the Sunny, Windswept Beaches of the Atlantic Ocean?
Most of all I would miss the magical, musical sound of shells tinkling as they were rolled up on the beach by gentle glassy waves. I needed that sound to go with me in a tangible way and this shell top provided the foundation for a Sun Catching Wind Chime that would serve to soothe my longings to be Seaside during the long hot Summers of the Midwest.
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| Rustic Beach finds really add character |
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| Tying the REAL Red Coral Beads On |
Starting out I began with Olive and Marginella shells as the basic design structure.
To make it even more special I used vintage dichroic glass with embedded copper flakes, copper spacer beads and cloisonne glass beads to add a sparkly sky, water and beach feel.
I then topped it off, (or bottomed it, if you like), with two ancient red coral beads from an antique necklace, petrified coral and whelk spiral core.
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| Catching the Sun |
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| In My Window |
This was a labor of love and I hope to enjoy it for the rest of my life. I would even say that if there is some kind of nursing home in my future old age, this would be one of the personal items I would insist on taking.
It does catch the breeze nicely and makes the expected musical tinkling that I love so much.
Although I would never consider selling this one, (I would have to ask hundreds just for the glass beads alone!), I do look forward to making more of these as Conch Tops become available and even selling them in my etsy shop.
Until then you'll just have to be content to look at these pictures and imagine the beautiful sound they make, twirling and dancing in the slightest breeze.
If you've never tried making a wind chime, find a suitable top, coconut shell halves work great and are available everywhere, as well as driftwood. Try this easy and enjoyable project made out of memory items for a lifetime of enjoyment. You won't regret it!
If you make Wind Chimes, let me know and I'll feature them in my future posts!
Happy Crafting!
UPDATE! The response to this Wind chime has been so tremendous I have decide to let it go to a Good Home! Visit my Etsy Shop at: Conch Shell Wind Chime and this Beautiful Wind Chime could be on your deck or in your window this week!
that is so pretty!! I love conch shells, how cool to get just the top part!
ReplyDeleteOh that is so lovely! I absolutely love it!
ReplyDelete