Abalone Top Questions!

[XMermaidMarinaX]

I was inspired by Ionas beautiful top she made, but I want to make everything I wear, except the tail, so I can add and remove things and give it my personal style. Maybe a Merbellas top one day.. but that's the only stuff I might buy. I also am going to be buying a 5.5 inch resin megaladon tooth, so I can make a choker sort of thing.
Any tips for keeping the shells in good shape, or anything directed towards top making in general? I have a bandeau sorta thing downstairs on a bust right now to start sewing plants onto for a 'seaweed' tube top sorta thing.

http://i989.photobucket.com/albums/af19/WolfGirl28/Abalone_zpscca4927d.jpg (http://s989.photobucket.com/user/WolfGirl28/media/Abalone_zpscca4927d.jpg.html)

[MerEmma]

I heard someone coated their shells in craft/epoxy clear resin...might be an idea to do some Googling on that, but I'm pretty sure someone tried that?

[Winged Mermaid]

Epoxy resin is good for clear coating them. I didn't on mine because I thought they were strong enough, and a corner on one of mine chipped off :/ I use Clear Cast epoxy resin from Michaels for my abalone coating. I wrote a few tips on the Accessory Making FAQ (http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?6472-%E2%98%85-The-Accessory-Making-FAQ-%E2%98%85) about tops and such, including what to look for in a bra and what glues to use :)

[Mermaid Galene]

I used Clear Cast on my abalones, both white and Paua shells. It really does make them a lot stronger and quite shiny.

[XMermaidMarinaX]

Thanks so much! :) I really want to get some real progress on either one of these tops by the end of the month. I have a Michaels in my area, so I can easily drop in and get some stuff I may need and the resin. Ahh! I just have to think of what I'm going to do. This is going to be my fancier top.

[Ashton]

Where did you get your shell? it looks really nice.