We visited Sanibel Island in June, and I brought home quite a few seashells. One of the more common varieties was a clam called a Buttercup Lucine (Anodontia alba). I love the color yellow, so the gold edging on the interior appealed to me, and I collected about three to four dozen of these clams in different sizes. Happily, they were easy to transport back home as they stack together nicely for traveling.
I probably wouldn’t have brought so many back home if I didn’t have a specific project in mind, a wind chime. We found a piece of driftwood on the banks of the Delaware River that resembled a bird’s beak and head. It was just the right size to create a mobile with the Buttercup Lucines.
I was glad I had extra shells because one out of every three cracked when I drilled it with the Dremel tool. I had success with many and had enough to create the chime.
I left the beak a natural color for contrast and added a graphite and colored pencil eye. I painted the rest of the bird-shaped driftwood a golden yellow to match the inner colors of the shell.
As far as ease of making this project, I’d give it a five out of 1-10. The painting and the stringing into screw eyes were fairly easy. The hardest part of the project was drilling the seashells. Whenever I look at my project, I remember the joy of collecting shells on Sanibel Island.
I used waxed hemp thread/cord for the stringing material. It is sturdy and very easy to knot and tie off.
PS My husband made a keen observation that I had to agree with: the chime is more of a clacker than a chime, but hey, it sings the song of the sea, and that is definitely music to me.
Your wind chime with shells turned out so pretty! Nice you found a perfect shape driftwood to use with them. 🙂
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Thanks so much. I haven’t been crafting as much as I once did in the past. I’m hoping this will pull me back into creating a bit of art and fun.
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How beautiful is your chime… I love it. and patience in drilling each tiny hole to thread. I think the piece of driftwood in the shape of a birds head, looks just the thing to remind you too of the seabirds..
Wonderful project and excellent results, and a great reminder of your time collecting seashell on the sea shore.. 🙂
Have a lovely week xx
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Thanks, Sue, I can see if from the window of the room where I am sitting right now. It’s funny how something small and perhaps silly can bring me so much joy. Thanks for stopping by and the comment.
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❤️🤗❤️
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You did well with your prize find..both the drift wood and the shells.
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Thanks so much. I enjoyed the collecting and the crafting.
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What a great idea. It must sound lovely.
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It does…a beachy sound. Thanks for the comment and for stopping by the blog.
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This was such a fun project – and had to smile to think of it being more of a “clacker than a chime” that also sings the song of the sea- oh how nice!
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Clacking can be invigorating when I’m weeding in the yard. It’s a bit like the cadence of a drum.
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