When poet John Masefield wrote, “I must go down to the seas again, the lonely sea and the sky,” his wandering spirit yearned for a life on the ocean waves and completely overlooked the joy to be found on the sandy shores. 

 

 

Collecting shells is one of life’s purest pleasures and going on shell hunts at the beach is a childhood pursuit that has brought happiness to generation after generation. But where once you may have washed your haul of beach bits in a bucket of sea water then transferred them to a glass container – usually destined for display in the bathroom – there are many more elegant ways to use these gifts from the sea.

 

The decorative possibilities of the humble shell are endless. And the best part is that we live in a part of the world where they can still be found in abundance. It’s not just the kids who’ll enjoy making them into little animal shapes (the pointy ones make great noses), shell-on-driftwood nameplates for their bedrooms or shell-bedecked photo frames – adults can get involved too.

 

Stylist Louise Hatchard remembers collecting shells on the surf beach at Mt Maunganui as a child. She created shell mice, using plasticine for the ears, eyes and tail. Later, in her bohemian flatting days, shell mobiles adorned the garden.

 

Louise believes that the beauty of shells is twofold: they’re versatile and they are accessible to anyone who heads to the beach. Follow her step-by-step instructions to make sand candles (page 99). It’s the easiest way to bring the spirit of summer indoors and keep it alive long after the holidays have passed. 

 

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Let there be light

Sand candles, studded with shells, are easy to make; add some shell legs for interest. The kids will love to get involved: the more wobbly and bulging the sand candles the better!  Shells from Crystal Cave; wax and wick from Spotlight; christening gown and other items stylist’s own.

 

You’ll need: Sand (a child-sized bucketful will do), shells, 500g wax pellets (for a candle 9cm in diameter x 10cm high; available from Spotlight), 20cm wick, metal wick holder, twigs.

	1. Wash and dry a used tin and squeeze the top to make a spout. Fill it about three-quarters full with wax pellets and put it in an old pot. Pour hot water in the pot and heat it on a very low heat. Keep an eye on the wax until it has melted. Keep it warm in the water.
	2. Make a hole in the sand (use a glass or bottle if you like). Press shells into the sides of the hole quite firmly (if you wish to see the face of the shell, push the shells into the sand face first). Tie a knot in the wick and thread it through the metal wick holder. Tie the other end around a straight twig or kebab stick. Balance the stick with the wick on two forked twigs. Centre it over the middle of the hole and make sure the wick touches the bottom.
	3. Slowly pour the wax into the hole, right to the top. Adjust the wick if necessary.
	4. Wait at least an hour for the wax to cool and harden. When the wax is hard, pull the candle gently from the sand, loosening the sides first. Dust off any excess sand with a soft paintbrush.

Safety note: Wax is highly flammable. If it catches alight, smother it with the lid of a pot or a wet towel – not water. Sugar, baking soda or a chemical extinguisher may also be used.

 

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Salty art

Frame an arrangement of different shells to make an inexpensive artwork perfect for a beach house. Frame made from a French cheese crate painted with Porter’s Milk Paint; shells from a selection at Spotlight and The Warehouse.

 

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Beach bunny

A shell necklace with a difference gets an outing in the garden. Shells from Crystal Cave; wooden beads from Spotlight; rabbit sculpture by Karen Dennis stylist’s own.

 

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Edge of the sea

To achieve a coastal feel, trim lightweight blinds or curtains with shells. White linen curtain fabric from Martha’s Furnishing Fabrics; cotton tape from Spotlight; shells, glass jar and vase stylist’s own.

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Pretty embroidered jug and sugar bowl covers can be modernised with the addition of shells to the edges. Doilies from a selection at Salvage; jugs and table stylist’s own.

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Beyond the pail

The humble shell makes a charming votive candle holder. Linen from Martha’s; crushed shells from Stone and Water World; shells from Crystal Cave; wax and wick from Spotlight; bucket stylist’s own.

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The shell garland is a novel wall decoration. Raw linen from Martha’s; cowrie shells from Buanu Satu; shutter and jar stylist’s own.

 

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Where the heart is

This linen-covered coin purse with shell motif makes a great gift. Purse frame from Spotlight; raw linen from Martha’s; cowrie shells from Buana Satu; small brown shells and book stylist’s own.

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The right note

This covered diary with its shell-bedecked fastening makes a lovely holiday keepsake. Hessian, calico lining and cotton tape from Centrepoint Fabrics; embroidery thread from The Ribbon Rose; shells, pen, pencil and reels of thread stylist’s own.

 

How to make a journal

 

You’ll need: A journal (ours is by Windsor and Newton 207mm x 142mm); 25cm x 52cm pieces of hessian and unbleached calico, 40cm x 12mm white cotton tape (we soaked ours for an hour in an eggcup of espresso to antique it), six strands of embroidery thread in colours of your choice, shells for decoration and two to add to the end of the ties, pins, needles, scissors, iron, sewing machine.

 

	1. Put two pieces of fabric together and sew right around the edge with a zigzag stitch. Fold the shorter edges in 12mm; press and hem with a straight stitch. Fold these edges in 8cm (right sides together) and pin and stitch together, making a seam 12mm from edge.
	2. Turn right side out and press. Fold the top and bottom edges in; press and either hand-hem or machine-stitch down.
	3. Decorate the front of the journal. We used chain and back-stitch. Slip a light piece of card into the pocket to stop you stitching through all the layers of fabric.
	4. Cut cotton tape into two 20cm lengths. Fold one end in 10cm and hand-stitch it to the inside of the cover, positioning it in the middle. Tuck the card in again. Thread the other end of the tape through a shell and tie a knot. Trim the tape.

 

Top tips Drilling into shells can release toxic dust, so wear a mask. When you’re making sand candles, recycle old candle stubs and melt them down. If you don’t have time to beachcomb, bags of shells can be bought from places such as The Warehouse and $2 shops

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