Wind chimes can provide a lovely musical backdrop for any porch or patio. Available in all shapes and sizes and from simple to sophisticated, they have price tags to match. With a bit of imagination you can keep your money in your pocket by constructing your own wind chimes to fit perfectly in the setting they’ll be displayed in.
Wind chimes can be made with a more orchestrated design in mind, or as a more whimsical conversation piece. Whichever way you decide to go, your handmade wind chimes are sure to provide music to your ears of a spring or summer evening.
Basic Wind Chime Construction
To make a wind chime of any sort, you’ll need three basic things: a top that you hang things from, several things to hang from that top piece, and fishing line or lightweight chain to suspend those items with.
Ideas for Wind Chime Covers
Many things can be used to be the top of your wind chime. If you have a theme in mind, you’ll no doubt come up with ideas of your own, but some generic things you might use are the saucer from a terra cotta planter, an embroidery hoop, or even a Frisbee.
Keep Me in Suspense
Most anything made out of glass or lightweight metal can be suspended to make the music for your wind chime. Glass slides (remember those from biology class?) could be hand-painted or left plain to reflect the light, and flowers from your garden would be especially pretty if pressed between two slides. Silverware is commonly used and makes a lovely, tinkling sound when caught by a summer breeze.
Garden Variety Wind Chime
A saucer from a planter or even the terra cotta pot itself can become the top of a gardening themed wind chime. Add tiny terra cotta pots and child-sized gardening implements, interspersed with seed packets or gardening gloves for a bit of fun. Bamboo is a green option, and you might even experiment by drilling several holes in bamboo stalks of various widths and lengths to achieve a whistling effect.
For the More Macho
Make a personalized wind chime for the backyard mechanic with small wrenches, nuts, metal washers and keys hung from an old hubcap. Tie on an old sparkplug or two, and perhaps dangle some old drill bits. For the backyard chef, start with a colander and attach various grilling tools, tongs, and silverware for a great conversation piece at your next barbecue.
Barnyard Fun
A wind chime hung over the barn door can be soothing to both man and beast. A shoe from a draft horse could become the top from which you might suspend bits, spurs, stirrups or irons, even horseshoe nails.
Sounds of the Sea
A wind chime with a seaside theme is perfect for the beach house or anywhere else you want to capture the lure of the sea. Drill small holes in a large conch shell and suspend various lengths of fishing line to which you’ve added scallop and other shells, sand dollars and dried starfish. Sea glass would be a nice addition if you want a bit of color.
With any of ideas I’ve mentioned above, you could add small bells, or bits of glass or aluminum between the other items on your wind chime that might not be as musical. The best part of making a wind chime yourself is that you can make it as unique as you are. Think of your hobbies and decorating style, and look in your closets, junk drawer and garage for things that might spark new ideas. Still stuck? Take a look at this easy redneck version of the wind chime.
More from Marie Anne:
Make Your Own Beads From Household Items
Ways to Recycle and Repurpose a Dog Crate
Easy Coasters Kids Can Make
