Shell Wind Chimes
Another year, another trip to Florida and you know what that means...MORE SHELLS! This year, I wanted to try something new, something, of course, inspired by Pinterest...shell wind chimes! I had found all of these beautiful shells with perfect holes "drilled" in them as if screaming to be strung, so I did!
First step...ALWAYS wash and dry your shells thoroughly! We used Dawn dish soap and hot water and hot sun!
Next, I broke into my hubby's tackle box and found some 20 pound fishing line. I figured if it can hold a 20 pound fish, it is a great choice for a bunch of shells and beads! I then brought out all out my cleaned shells with holes, my beads, and even took apart a few necklaces that I never wear for additional touches! I always choose a LARGE, HEAVY shell for the bottom. As I tied the initial knot I realized that I am not a fisherman and I have NO idea if my simple knot would hold. My hubby was out of town on business, so instead of waiting for him to return, I thought...GLUE GUN! I thought I would reinforce the knot with hot glue. If it didn't melt the line, at least it would bind it, right? I would follow the knotted shell with beads in various colors and patterns. Every 4 inches or so, I would add in another shell, tied and glued. I did this for about a foot and a half. I repeated the same thing 6 times...
I ended up with 6 strings and I thought, what about attaching it to a STARFISH? My hubby had returned by now, and when I asked him, he said no way would it hold. He said I needed to work on reinforcing it somehow with either supports or a clear hardener. At the time, I worked for Home Depot and I asked everyone I knew what they would suggest. No one had any ideas. After a month of shells and beads laying around my family room, I decided that God made Star Fish and they are perfect. And it it breaks, well, then, I would try sticks.
I like to be resourceful and use what I have around the house (fine, call it cheap, I am good with that!). I really wanted 6 tiny "eyes" from hook and eye sets, but I only had one. I did find a bunch of picture hanging materials, so I used the smallest ones I had that had teeth. But very shallow teeth...I easily pushed them into the star fish but I was nervous...so, I topped each of them off with a nice dab of E6000 glue and let them sit over night (I did use the perfect eye right in the bottom center, with E6000). THe next day, I still was nervous, so I added some hot glue as well...
I then tied each strand to the circles (reinforcing them with hot glue, of course!) and threw a large cup holder hook in the top (adding glue)...
I think it turned out WONDERFUL! I love looking at the sea, while I sit up here in Wisconsin. I love the sparkle when the sun shines and the faint tinkling sound when the wind stirs...As far as durability? I won! It's been up 2 weeks, baked in the sun, got drenched in rain and last night, a HUGE storm hit our town! Everyone lost planters, trees were knocked down...but MY wind chime is still hanging!
