Zen wind chime

Here is a wind chime hubby and I made.  I had the vision, and he figured out how to make my vision reality.

A neighbor had a trampoline damaged in a storm, and being the re-cycler aka hoarder I am, I brought some of the frame home to use in projects.  Here is a section we turned into a wind chime that stand about 4 1/2' high.

Here is how we made it.

The part you see at the top of the picture is in the ground, and we trimmed off the curved part in the bottom right of the picture, making an L shape.


I cut 5 pieces of scrap copper pipe in graduated sizes.

We drilled holes in the top of each copper pipe.

And holes in the bottom of the trampoline frame.  We threaded fishing line thru the holes in the trampoline frame to hang the copper pipe.

Hubby used cotter pins to make hangers in the pipe pieces.  (see next two pics)

We hung them by the fishing line and installed in the ground in a flower bed.  It sounds mellow and sweet when the wind blows, as the copper pipes collide with each other.

If this inspires you to try something similar let me know.

Myra

 

Shutter Angel

Here is a garden angel that I have enjoyed in my garden this year.  She is was out of an old window shutter, a brass candle bowl, wings made from pieces of an old barrel, and rebar for legs.

I laid my shutter on my workbench and started laying different boards, spindles etc. behind it for wings.  I originally made this to display at an Eco Fest last fall.  So, it needed to be made entirely of recycled objects.  That's right up my alley!!!

I had a window shutter about 36" tall.  I decided to use boards from an old barrel for the wings.  I love the rough texture and curve of these pieces.  I used the adjustment pieces of wood that came with the shutter as arms.  I decided on the angel I wanted and cut the top to fit the shutter.  I then cut them to the length I wanted the arms.  They were as long as the shutter and I don't know about you, but my arms aren't as long as my body.

I added a brass candle bowl for a head and rebar for legs so the shutter doesn't sit on the ground and wick moisture.

Here's the finished angel when I added it to my garden in early spring.

The rebar legs allow me to push it close to the ground but not touching the ground.

Here it is amid my hosta.

It's outside my kitchen door by the cornzebo where I see it every day.  I have enjoyed it this summer. 

If this project inspires you to create something similar please let me know.  And if you need more info I'll be glad to share more details on how I made it.

Myra