Last weekend we took the Hudson line train up to Beacon, NY just like we did last time around this year. Normally I love the fast pace and jittery vibes of NYC, but sometimes it feels so good to get out and slow down a bit.
While upstate I took some photos of the necklace I just finished. The shells in the necklace are actually from the beach in Santa Monica, California when I was out there last May. I filled my pockets with shells from the beach and finally got around to finishing something with them. 🙂
I started by cutting a crescent collar shape out of some purple leather I bought off of Ebay. Then, I washed the shells, wrapped them in a dish cloth, and hammered the shells to break them.
After I broke the shells, I used E6000 superglue to glue them to the leather. I wanted to make a dark vs. light motif, so I glued the darker shells on one side and the lighter on the other. At first, I was a little scared that the shells would start to break a bit once they were glued in place so I also glued some fabric Mod Podge on top of the shells on the leather. It worked incredibly well– so well that I was surprised. Using both the fabric Mod Podge and the E6000 superglue keeps everything in place and makes the shells and leather seem like one item. 🙂
After all of the shells dried, I started stitching charcoal beads between the shells to add another dimension.
The finished necklace. 🙂
It was such a good day bopping around Beacon in this necklace. We went to this famous museum called Dia: Beacon where there is a lot of strange art and incredible interactive sculptures.
This exhibit by Richard Serra was my favorite. He created these gigantic barrel-like structures that remind me of a ship belly where you walk around and watch the light change. Technically you’re not supposed to take any photos, but how can you resist an image like this? 🙂
After the museum, we explored the town and got some burgers. Then we got some ice cream and ate it by the waterfall at the end of the town.
Pumpkin beers, colorful leaves, crisp bonfire air… Days don’t get much better. 🙂
And then it’s time to take the train back to the city for another week of work. (And necklace-makin’ at night. :))
love this necklace, looks like a fun day! xoxo sydney
Beautiful!
I love your statement necklaces. I made my own version of the West Coast Shells necklace with a bunch of abalone chips I got at a powwow in northern California where I live, in the Sierra Foothills. It came out great. As soon as I find the cable to my scanner or manage to photograph it otherwise, I'll send you a pic. I am originally from Westchester County, NY and miss it, so love seeing your pics of NYC life. My bead biz is called Wild Beads of the Sierra.
I loved. I live in a island I have a lot shells.
i thought you had used 1 of those foam hat brim thingies, might work with this as well so that you dont have to cut it at all
that is such a pretty necklace. I cant wait to try one. I’m in the so. cal. desert so to see your pics were great. I love to go back east during the fall.