We found the inspiration for this week’s Craft Corner in one of the many craft and home decorating magazines that we browse through on a regular basis.
Unfortunately, during one of our more ruthless house-cleaning moments, we tossed the magazine. Although we remember the project, we can’t recall the name of the publication in which we spied it.
At any rate, the idea is to make wind chimes using a glass doorknob set and a half-dozen or so antique brass keys.
We found the keys in a mail order catalog from Van Dyke’s Restorers, a company that specializes in fixtures and supplies for restoring vintage furniture.
The keys can be ordered individually – and there is a wide selection of styles and sizes – for between $1 and $3 apiece, or on a ring containing 15 keys for $12.99.
Keys vary in size, with the ones purchased individually running a little bit smaller than the ones on the ring.
A couple of finishes are also available: burnished brass or pewter. The base material is apparently the same, making the sound and cost consistent.
We could have ordered the doorknobs through the same company, but they were a bit pricey, so we decided to take our chances at local hardware stores.
For once, it was a good call. We found a glass doorknob set at E&E Lumber in Marysville for $5, about half the price of one knob from the restorers’ catalog.
To make the wind chimes, begin by assembling the doorknobs according to the directions on the package. This involves putting a knob on each end of the metal shunt included in the set and securing each in place with little screws, also included.
Leave the knobs as far to the end of the shunt as possible so you’ll have more room to work with when attaching the keys.
Next, select the keys you want to use for the chimes, between six and 10 keys as desired.
Cut a generous length of cord or heavy thread for each key, folding the length in half, and attach the key by looping the ragged end of the thread through the center fold and eye of the key.
Attach the keys to the shunt between the knobs at regular intervals by tying the end of the cord, shortened to the length you desire, and securing with a couple of tight knots.
To cover the shunt and the tied-off cord ends, wrap a length of heavy cord – color coordinated to your chimes – around the shunt and secure in place with hot glue or quick-dry tacky glue.
For our sample, we added a little bit of beaded fringe, but that’s purely optional.
Make a hanger for the chimes by tying a length of heavy cord around two of the groves created by the knobs and shunt.
That’s all there is to it, and we were pleasantly surprised by sound the keys make when they strike one another.
We expected just a clink, but the result is a musical jingling sound that is actually quite charming.
As always, we had a backup plan in case our original idea didn’t work out. It might happen, for instance, that we’d be unable to find the right doorknobs.
In anticipation of this, we purchased a couple of inexpensive wind chimes, removed the chimes that came with them, and replaced them with the keys.
This worked well, and provides an alternative project for those who want to use the keys but who don’t care for – or can’t find – the doorknobs.
E-mail Jonetta Coffin at jrocoffin@aol.com.
What you’ll need
* Glass doorknob set with shunt
* Old-time brass keys
* Cord or heavy thread
* Glue
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