Transforming Ordinary Seashells into Extraordinary Jewelry
by Yaya Myers.
(California USA)
I’m sure that as a jewelry designer, you can relate to what I’m about to say.
No matter where we are or what we are doing, we are sure to find inspiration or use for things that seem trivial to the average human being.
Collected Seashells
This past summer, while I was on vacation, I was walking on the beach, and every so often would bend down to pick up shiny little shells. My family kept looking back at me as if to say “there she goes again, collecting junk”.
Aventurine and Seashell Pendant
I have to say though, that to me, every little shell that I collected held some type of appeal. I could see in my mind how I could transform that seemingly useless and discarded shell into something beautiful once again.
Please do keep in mind that working with seashells can be tricky. They tend to be fragile and even brittle. It is also important to make sure that the shell is completely cleaned out before transforming it into a jewelry piece (in order to prevent any fishy, unwelcoming smell).
Sterling Silver Seashell Wire Ring
When I got home from my trip, I soaked my seashells overnight in a mixture of bleach and water in order to help remove any leftover organic matter and sand. Please keep in mind that NOT ALL seashells can withstand the harshness of bleach.
After soaking the shells overnight, I use an old toothbrush and some good ol’ elbow grease to clean out the shells and remove some of the calcium buildup.
Once my shells were clean, I used my drill and its various attachments to sand down, polish, and shape my seashells. Additionally, I used my drill bits to drill holes where I wanted to set gemstones or crystals (such as in the case of my citrine seashell pendant) and to attach the pendant’s bail.
Citrine and Seashell Pendant
For the Citrine pendant pictured, I used sterling silver wire, while for the Aventurine Seashell Pendant I used Gold tone copper wire, but any type of wire can be used to create the pendants bails or the ring’s body.
Inspiration for your designs can come in many many many forms, from a shell in a sandy beach, to a shiny rock on a mountain, to a drawing or painting in a museum, to a movie or book. It is all about following your heart and your desire to transform ordinary things into extraordinary works of art.
Yaya Myers
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