Silverware Wind Chimes (Care for Cathy projects #5&6)

This Care for Cathy week is getting pretty darn long! 

Almost done.

I’m combining these 2 projects as they are basically the same.

At the 11th hour I had the bright idea to try my hand at making some wind chimes out of silverware…..I was really getting nervous at this point that nothing I had made so far would even get bid on.

So I decided to do something small to appeal to those not into repurposed furniture. 

I’d always wanted to make wind chimes, I’ve seen them around for ages and have collected a whole box of silverware pieces.  When shopping at the thrift store I’m always on the lookout for tarnished pieces of tea sets.  I’ve found a few odd pieces this way, always for less than $5.  Time to take action and actually use them!  And they fit into my theme for the projects; you use silverware in a restaurant, right?

So here I am 2 days before the auction and starting another project……glutton for punishment, aren’t I?

I did not remember to take any pictures of this before starting.  We’ll just have to skip right to the end….

Let me warn you, it was not easy to get pics of these due to the reflections off the silver!  (even without a flash) These are all very bad….break out your sunglasses before viewing!

     

This is one of the few shots I was able to get without a lot of glare.  I hung it in the sun porch and you can see the trees in the background…

This is not a teapot, rather a piece from a tea set.  A sugar bowl perhaps? 

I loved the handles and the petite size.

Full view with the flattened silverware and beads. 

All were pieces I had in my stash, the beads are from assorted necklaces found in curbed jewelry boxes.

I used a heavy duty fishing line to string the beads.

    

A roll of wire previously purchased for a dollar at Real Deals (my favorite dollar store) was used to make the spirals.  It was wayyyy too heavy of a gauge and very difficult to work with!  My fingers were sore for days after this.

In silhouette. 

The second one is an actual Teapot.  It’s pretty big, and heavy!

This is an early version, the knife in the middle (clapper) didn’t make much noise.  I didn’t like it much.

   

Went back and added some coiled wire and center beads to pretty it up.  Changed the clapper to a flattened serving spoon.  Much better sound!

 I added some crystals and beads to the top just for fun.

The big round and butterfly shaped beads in the center were from a dollar store sun catcher I had purchased last year.

Even without a flash I got the glare from the windows reflecting off these.  Oh well, they actually did come out cute even though you can’t tell here.

I used an old floor lamp to hang these from for the photos and at the benefit.   Drapery hooks worked as temporary hanging hooks.

Would you believe these got the most bids at the auction?  The teapot went for $110, and the sugar bowl went for $90!!!!

Holy Moly!  Who would have thought?

I had everything already on hand for these, collected over time.  I would guess that the total cost for both pieces was under $10.

There is just one more item in the ‘Care for Cathy’ project series. 

I promise I’ll finish up tomorrow! 

Gotta go now, it’s trash day somewhere!

Rose

Linking up to the Make it Yours party at My Backyard Eden