Capiz Shell Chandelier or Wind Chime

Way back around Christmas time I had been seeing some chandeliers made of wax paper circles in the likeness of capiz shells around various blogs.  I loved the look and wondered what it would be like to make a real capiz shell chandelier.  Then while browsing around a local decor store I found a capiz shell wind chime that was broken.  They ended up giving it to me at half off (score!) so I took it home with plans of remaking it.

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Piano Wire

I started out by making two new circles with piano wire (putting two circles together to make it double thickness), wrapping it with a very fine gauge wire, then wrapping it entirely with brown floral tape. 

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Then I cut four equal lengths of jewelry chain, wrapped it around the wire circle and used a thick gauge jump ring to secure it. 

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I cut four more lengths and gathered them at the top with a metal ring for hanging.  I cut off the strings of capiz shells and, hanging it from the light in our dining room, started tying them on the new frame. 

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After much cutting and tying this is the result...

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The chandelier is now for sale in my "Cat on a Limb Accessoriz" Etsy shop. (See my sidebar) I had some leftover capiz shells that I will be listing for sale as well.

Have any of you done any capiz shell or wax paper "shell" projects?

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