Years ago, my Mom gave me a handbag that was basically a muslin pouch covered with shells.
I looked at it and thought, "Yup, here's another gift that I will never, ever use."
A major standout of the considerable number of never, ever used gifts were the ski overalls in orange, yellow, pink and green plaid.
Did I ski?
No.
If I skied, would I ever, ever wear orange, yellow, pink and green plaid ski overalls?
No.
Oh well.....
I set the handbag aside thinking that the shells could maybe be repurposed in some kind of project.
Once I was sure that my Mom had forgotten about the handbag, I cut off the shells and put them in a jar for safekeeping until the right project came to mind.
As is often the case, the idea of a project can take some time to form, and more than six years later I finally thought, "Yes, I know what to do with those shells!"
The smooth, concave side of each shell seemed like it would be a good surface for......for something.
Each shell was already drilled, so I knew that I would be able make easy wire wrapping connections.
I pulled out my 1920's book of poetry by John Keats, selected short passages that would fit on the shells and attached them with liquid medium.
Once the medium dried, I coated the surface with a 2-part resin.
Wire wrappings were made with annealed steel.
One necklace has been completed using sterling chain and wire, pearls and prehnite.
No, I never did use the handbag.
My Mom loved poetry, so I don't think that she would mind.
