Frances Song turns shells and beach glass into intricate creations

Treasure hunting at the beach is a daily activity for Frances Song. The retired AT&T technician searches for shells and colorful beach glass to incorporate into her art projects.

Song said she first became interested in beachcombing and crafting after taking a class at a Kahuku store about a year ago. She estimates she has accumulated thousands of shells and pieces of sea glass, all carefully sorted into jars at her Waialua home.

“I spend hours and hours bending over and looking for shells,” said Song, 63. “I can be in the water, look down and just grab them. I find a lot of the itty-bitty shells at Alii Beach Park … Sometimes I only get bits and pieces but I can still use them.”

It’s not always easy to pick out the keepers. “Some of the shells are so small. My eyes get tired looking for them. But it’s so neat to find the whole shells, even the teeny ones.”

Song also treasure hunts at Ross Dress for Less and thrift shops for sculptures and vases she can use as base forms for her projects. Working on her Mount Kaala-view patio, she has used shells to decorate block letters, a mirror, a cross and a wreath. She also created a school of fish, a pair of owls, sea turtles and a snail — all completed in the past six months. (She relies on Loctite heavy-duty adhesive to attach her collected bits to the bases.)

>> First piece? A mobile of driftwood and sea glass that Song made in class. “After that, I started collecting big time and planning my own projects. I was accumulating so many shells, it was crazy.”

>> Where do you find materials? Song said she visits North Shore beaches — “If you’re willing to take the time to look, you can still find whole shells” — and collects driftwood at Dirty Beach, so called because there’s no sand, just dirt.

>> Biggest challenge? “Sorting whole and broken pieces and organizing them in containers. It’s the only way to formulate an art project. Everything needs to be organized.”

>> Favorite piece? A snail adorned with shells and sea glass. “I used all of my puka shells to make his face. It was fun making his face. I tried incorporating lots of glass.”

>> Most recent project? An “aloha” plaque; her next project is a frog and lily pads.

>> Wish list? Finding cobalt blue or turquoise glass. “I love it when I can find something other than the brown, green and clear glass.”

“Possessed” is an occasional series featuring Hawaii residents and their unique or facinating collections. Tell us about your collection by calling 529-4778 or emailing features@staradvertiser.com.