New Crafts

The use of shells for both practical and decorative purposes is one of the oldest and simplest arts. The variety of textures, shapes, sizes and shades found in shells made them a popular medium for decoration, particularly in Victorian times when shell grottoes and embellished boxes were fashionable. This appealing book presents 25 exciting projects that make use of natural shells, each accompanied by stepby-step photography. The easy-to-follow format allows you to create beautiful and functional objects, from a simple necklace of small shells and a shell-and-driftwood mirror, to a grand chandelier and a child's playhouse. Following an introduction to the history of shells as a craft medium and an inspiring gallery of contemporary shellwork, the next section describes the basic materials, equipment and techniques that you will need to make the projects.With its achievable projects, this book is the perfect introduction to a fascinating craft.