Friday, April 6, 2018

Creating a simple wind chime


Everything today came straight out of the recycle bin (or my rust bucket), except the electricity!  That's why I am once again joining Try it on Tuesday where their theme this fortnight is Recycle Something.

This etcher may be older than me.  Seriously.  It did a good job, though, and I wish I had some of my calligraphy friends' skills.

Five lids, cut with my can opener that safely opens cans were used as "substrates."  The nail came from my rust bucket.  The hammer is one I broke one year and it now lives in my studio for performing small jobs.  

The wire hanger, the bane of anyone who has ever had dry cleaning was paired with colorful telephone cord wires in which I had previously removed the outer sheath . 

I love these wind chimes.  I wasn't sure it would actually make noise, but it does.  Since I have no place to put them on my front porch, I wanted something to hang out back.   That is when this idea took fruition.  It was perfect for my rusty clothes line.

It jingles and jangles and sways in the wind.  And boy, do we have wind!

Can you read my bit of humor?











"Wash, rinse, dry, fold, repeat."

This is Day 6 of 22 leading up to bEARTHday, and I recycled five rusting can lids, one rusty wire clothes hanger, and several yards of deconstructed telephone cord.  It may not be beautiful, but it sounds great and all it cost was the time it took to create it and a bit of electricity.  Today, you will once again find me at Try it on Tuesday.

Thanks for your continued support of my recycled art leading up to Earth Day.

20 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Wonderful project, have fun listening to the sounds of the tin lids in the wind. Valerie

pearshapedcrafting said...

This is such a fun piece Elizabeth! I know you will get to hear it lots! Thanks for joining us again at Try It On Tuesday (and I forgot to Say Thank You for your 'fabulous' box!!!) Looking forward to seeing more! Hugs,Chrisx

froebelsternchen said...

This is an extraordinary super recycling project dear E.! I am in awe of it and would love to hear it's melody in the wind!
Happy weekend, sorry about your key- board issues! All the best for getting fixed it!
oxo Susi

Gibby Frogett said...

Oh brilliant Elizabeth - I do love the sound of windchimes and those can lids were a great idea. The etching was very clever too :)
You've reminded me about the half started (like lots of other things) windchimes I started last year made from a cane looking stem I need to finish. Somewhere I have a lovely windchimes my late father made from brass plumbing pipe but they are loud and it sounds like a bad renditioning of Mike Oldfield's 'Tubular Bells' so I took them down.
Have a great day and lovely weekend.
Gill xx

CJ Kennedy said...

What a clever idea and I love the words you etched on them. Fun!

My name is Erika. said...

I do like your sense of humor, and that makes a great wind chime. You take recycling to the the top. We have a teacher at school who is all into recycling-or she says- but wears only designer clothes and drives a Range Rover. We think she is such an enigma-and not really an environmentalist. She is a nice lady but she is a bit wacky and I cant see her doing real recycling at all. You are an inspiration. happy Friday. Hugs-Erika

froebelsternchen said...

Me once again to say ♥♥♥THANK YOU ♥♥♥♥
for joining Try It On Tuesday again my friend! You make us happy with your inspiring entries!
oxo Susi

aussie aNNie said...

Brilliant and fun. I love wind chimes and have several outside. Wonder what this one sounds like, musical or tinacle???? Is that a word...hugs.x💖 [Aussie aNNie's Blog]
❣️



sheila 77 said...

Oh you are so clever and different, Elizabeth. Imagine finding a good use for these awful wire hangers, the curse of wardrobes everywhere (although not in mine). Love that you have etched a little saying on the lids. Gosh even the hammer is recycled.
Now what do the boys think of the noise they make? Any comments so far?

Meggymay said...

Wow another fabulous recycling idea. I did smile at the words you etched on each piece and how you placed them on the line. With the wind rattling these they would perhaps stop the birds getting close to precious plants.
Thank you for another great idea at TioT's.
Yvonne xx

Rita said...

Great little recycling project. Love wind chimes. :)

Dortesjs said...

Absolutely fun post , soon we will have spring in Denmark

Let's Art Journal said...

What wonderful windchimes! They looked such fun to create and I'd love to be able to hear the noise they make 😁. I like the fun words you etched on them too, I think I may accidentally lose the "repeat" one ...lol 😉. Wishing you a happy weekend! J 😊 x

Let's Art Journal said...

... Thanks so much for joining us at Try it on Tuesday! J 😊 x

kaybee said...

Genius! and fun too, especially the words! Is there anything you don't recycle ...

Divers and Sundry said...

I have always enjoyed wind chimes but have never made one that I liked the sound of. This idea might work for me, thx!

Marfi-topia said...

Love wind-chimes and this one is so special..its so great that it's all recycled material!
I love using wire hangers..I used to have tons of them at my dad's house but can't find any here, not even at thrift stores:(
I made a wind-chime a few years ago out of spoons I'd found at yard sales, it made the loveliest sound. I'd love to make another to hang here at the new house.
Great post, my friend:)

Rike said...

This is an outstanding idea for wind chimes! The best recycling ever! I can hear them jingling and jangling and see them swaying in the wind ...
GREAT!

Cindy McMath said...

Fun project! I like that it uses so many recycled items that would normally get thrown out or recycled (in the blue box sense). I have never seen a ‘safety can opener’ before but how cool that it leaves such a smooth edge.

Jeanie said...

VERY clever! And you are SO right about the wind. We've been moaning and groaning that it has been the windiest winter/spring we've recalled in a long while. Those must just be jangling!