Second on the 2nd: recycled wind chimes

In case this is your first visit to my blog, every year from April 1 through April 22, which most people call Earth Day, but I call bEARTHday, I feature something I recycle.  I wanted to do just that with this post, too.  Here from April 12, 2015, is a post I copied in its entirety.

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I have these wind chimes that had fallen completely apart.  I wish I had taken a photo of them hanging on my front porch, but I forgot until I had them down with the help of a step stool and into the basement.

This is all that is left from these wind chimes I purchased a few years ago.  Most of my wind chimes last a bit longer than these have, so I wanted to make sure I repaired them so they would last.


I have lots of old (but not vintage) silverware that I've either been given, or picked up for pennies at the thrift store.  I think at one time, spoons were going for 5 cents each ($0.05 USD).  Now I'm sure they are much higher in price, but at the time, I had considered making jewelry or some such nonsense that was beyond the scope of my grip abilities.

Nothing matched, and that was what I was going for.  Even though I've seen lovely art made from spoons and forks, if I couldn't make jewelry or other adorable recycled art, I needed to find a way to use these.  Somehow, I've collected a HUGE amount of these pieces and it was time to put them to good use.


It was time to deconstruct what was left of the original wind chimes.


As I removed the strings from the base, I noticed they were held together by metal bands.  I also noticed the eye bolt on the back of the base, which I assume was for the clanger.


I cannot tell a lie.  it took two days for me to get to this point.

I sorted and constructed a lot of beads during that time.  Then I wrapped the wires around the silverware (Edit: the wires were from deconstructed telephone cords).  No drilling, no punching, just a lot of wire wrapping.  And not anything especially good enough to write home about, either.  But these were for me, and they didn't have to be perfect.  They just had to be artsy.  The observant person will note that all three spoons have beginning and ending gold beads that are made from tyvek and embossing powder.  I made 100 of them for a swap one year.


When I strung the wax thread, I started doing it wrong.  I got a bit frustrated because I had already assembled one when I realized my error.  You have no idea how much I dislike rework!


Finally, I was back on track, and was able to assemble the unit correctly.  As I took the wind chimes upstairs, I realized the spoon I was calling the clanger, was too long.  So I shortened it, and now


I have some lovely artsy wind chimes I can be proud of.


Not only did I make them myself, for Day 12 of 22, I reused the "Welcome" base and recycled seven pieces of old silverware and a ton of beads, including six I made from used tyvek and embossing powder. 

Thanks again for your continued support of my projects.  It's difficult to recycle items and make them not look like some six year old made them.  But I'm trying and I appreciate all your comments that continue to push me through these days leading up to bEARTHday.

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Actually, this is Day 2 of 22 in 2017, and I recycled a blog post.  Now it's your turn to share your Second on the 2nd.  The rules are quite simple and everyone is welcome to join the fun look back.  All you have to do is bring back a post that you are especially proud of, or perhaps one you shared before anyone knew your blog existed.  It could even be a post that is as relevant today as it was when you originally posted it.  Any post, any genre, any artistic endeavor is acceptable.  Then link below (direct links only, please) and Bleubeard and I, along with other Second on the 2nd friends, will be by to visit.  I would also appreciate it if you would link your post back to Second on the 2nd.  Please be aware this link is only open for five days, so linking on the 2nd is preferred.