Thread: Using Seashells?

Hi All-
I've been moved into an apartment that's a ten minute walk from the beach (woo-hoo!), and my morning walks have got me thinking that I'd like to create a cossie using the seashells I've picked up...however, I know nothing about cutting or drilling seashells. Does anyone have any suggestions? ..g.:
Thanks!
-Muneera

I started making a seashell costume that's been a constant work in progress since, well, since I graduated from college 3 years ago ,r:; You can actually see it if you click the link in my siggy to my website - it's the huge header photo, hard to miss!

I took the lazy way out and used a hot glue gun to attach the shells. It was quick and easy, but my biggest regret is that I didn't take the time to drill and sew the shells on. The shells aren't really staying on and it's hard to make design changes once the shells have already been glued on. For these reasons, it's been a great cossie for photo shoots, but I'd never trust it for a performance!

When working with real shells, I'd recommend cleaning them good so they don't get stinky:

Cleaning Seashells- how to clean seashells

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

I started making a seashell costume that's been a constant work in progress since, well, since I graduated from college 3 years ago ,r:; You can actually see it if you click the link in my siggy to my website - it's the huge header photo, hard to miss!

u made that costume?? wow!

ooh, seashells ^^ who can resist the urge of making a costume with them :D

cover the shells with clear nail polish (i've been told hair spray works too but never tried) to give them the same colors they have when wet (you know how when they dry they seem to become paler..) and make 'em shiny :)

another tip: depending on the shells you wanna use and the region you're in, some might already be "drilled" by whelks and such, like this:



yay for not having to drill! ^^

Originally Posted by zfejzic

u made that costume?? wow!

Yup! It's a constant work in progress. Perhaps, I'll find some new crap to glue onto it when I visit Cocoa Beach this week ,r:;..l;,

Amazing costume, Carrara. It's gorgeous. As for cleaning the shells, that is one thing that's stayed with me since I was young...we drove out from the midwest to visit our cousins in Vermont, and on the way back driving down the east coast, we stopped at a beach and I picked up some shells - only to throw them out the next day because they were SO stinky!

How do you recommend drilling them? Is a dremel tool okay? I'm kind of afraid of breaking them.

I am making a seashell costume. I also hot glued.

I didnt feel like sewing and just for sh*ts and giggles I thought I would slap one together. It is good therapy after spending dozens of hours painfully making a full blown beaded costume to make something like this.

I spent about $15.00 at Michaels for cheap bags of seashells, they were $2.99 each and I had a few strands of shell necklaces that I picked up at thrift store.

I also got some cool starfish for accents!

The bra is mostly done, I'll try to take some pics tomorrow and post them.

FYI, I have heard if you collect your own shells from the beach, that soaking them in a bleach/water solution will remove fishy/sea smell, I do not know the ratio of bleach to water though.

Audra, I still have the huge seashells you gave me. Do you need them?

Originally Posted by Azhia

Audra, I still have the huge seashells you gave me. Do you need them?

no, that's OK but thanks for offering!

If you choose to drill them, make sure to do so in water. It will keep the drill bit from getting too hot and breaking the bit or the shell. Also, it will keep the dust particles from flying around and getting into your lungs. Abalone, for example, generates hook-shaped particles that will snag into your lungs and cause nasty, nasty infections.

Oooh - thanks Omchantress. I knew it couldn't just be as simple as grab the drill and away we go, and I didn't want to use hot glue, simply because I've had bad experiences with it.