'Handmade from Home' is a series that will focus on creating pieces made entirely from what's on hand in your home. No going out and buying. Even if you don't create every project, my wish is that you will start to think toward looking at the things around your home in a different way.
Remember this quote in Les Miserables by Victor Hugo?
The beautiful is as useful as the useful. . .and perhaps more so.
Our homes are packed full with 'stuff'. How can we turn practical into beautiful? That's what our grandmothers and great-grandmothers did many years ago when they created aprons and little girl dresses from the bags the flour came in.
Oh I have enough ideas to fill a book, I'm so excited! So let's get started...
I call this my "Junk Windchime" because it's made from, literally, old junk from around the farm (except for those lovely old chandelier crystals). And even if you don't have the same junk as me, you likely have plenty of items to use for this project. Here are some more photos to help you as you construct your own.
Easy to make (not so easy to photograph), all you need are several lengths of chain and a few pieces of old metal (forks, keys, canopeners, etc.). Go rummage through your craft stash and you'll find something, I promise. If you want to make the sound really pretty, include a crystal piece--the sound is beautiful!
Your best friends for this project will be two pair of craft pliers. They make it easy to connect everything with jump rings. The 'base' at the top is an old cabinet piece. Anything sturdy and longish will work. If you have something that doesn't have the two holes, you can drill them (if you haven't already, start learning how to use power tools!).
Improvise as you need to. Yours won't look exactly like mine. The key is to find old junk-drawer stuff and make something that looks pretty (and sounds pretty). And yes, it will rust after a while if you keep it outdoors. If you can't stand the thought of that, just keep it inside. Hang it in front of an open window.
Let me know how yours turns out.
Handmade from Home {session 02} coming soon.
EDITED WITH A GREAT IDEA BY HEATHER! If you complete any of the projects in this series, please send a photo to my email address. Thought it would be fun for everyone to see. Whether I set up a Flickr site or just show them here, let's share the wonder. Thanks for the idea, Heather!
Driftwood as the base -- I've been collecting that for years from the riverbank. An assortment of these will look great hanging around my old general store tinkling in the breeze. What a great way to start a day -- coffee and inspiration!
DJ
Bay City General Store
Posted by: DJ | 02 June 2008 at 07:36
oh. my. goodness! this looks simply amazing... something that others might pay a fortune for if it was found in a "vintage" shop. all I can say is... wow.
Posted by: Michelle | 03 June 2008 at 17:33
What a creative idea! I will have to give this a try, just beautiful!
Posted by: Hannah | 04 June 2008 at 09:50
I love this idea! Seems simple enough. Thanks for sharing. xoxo, Joanna
Posted by: Joanna | 06 June 2008 at 10:28
it's beautiful! I wish I had peices like that laying around
Posted by: Casey | 06 June 2008 at 12:09
Love this. So happy to have found your blog.
Laura
Posted by: Laura Walker | 26 October 2011 at 05:52
I love it! That is so amazing Junk! I believe in using what is around my house so this tinkled me pink. :)
Posted by: ShoreyAlys | 26 October 2011 at 10:12
Hi! I'm your newest follower and am so excited to start going through your postings! Great job on the wind chime - I am working on a junk Christmas project right now and will be back to show you when it's finished!
Posted by: Elisa | 26 October 2011 at 10:35