Two Fun, Simple, Bottle Projects Completed By Husband & Wife

16 years ago

Hi everyone! My wife is having knee surgery tomorrow so we've been trying to complete various projects we've started this summer. Today, we finished the following two bottle projects.

The first is a hummingbird feeder made with an old, green beer bottle we've had forever...the kind with the ceramic topper. We found a site on the internet that sold hummingbird feeder corks. We attached copper wire and had a feeder! My wife had a neat idea she learned in a stained glass class. Take 2 long pieces of copper wire; insert in a drill; hold the other end with pliers; turn on the drill; and the wire wraps together in a really cool way! Here's the hummingbird feeder:

Here's the other bottle idea. We made a windchime with cut blue wine bottles, hanging it in a sheltered location outside our kitchen window where the breeze blows softly. I bought Carol, my wife, a bottle cutter for her birthday. She cut the tops off the blue bottles for the chimes. (The bottoms we're using as candle holders on our deck.) For the weight on the chime, our 7 year old daughter gave us a beautiful, solid, hand-blown glass, tear drop which she had bought at a craft fair. The windchime is simple but so pretty in the sun and makes a beautiful sound. Don't worry...the windchime is not as close to the window as it looks in the picture! :o) I hope you enjoy our "together projects"! Kirk

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Comments (24)

TwoMonths
16 years ago
wow, those are both great ideas. I love the blue bottle wind chimes. You know you have to share how you spaced them apart and did you use leather cord to tie together. Again, beautiful....you and DW do make a great team. June
kirkus
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks June! You made my day! We inserted rubber wine corks into each bottle from the bottom, cut them to the length where they allowed the bottle below it to move. We knotted the string at the bottom of each cork. We used thick, crochet, nylon craft string (4mm)...it has a bit of a bounce to it which is nice for the chime. My wife and I REALLY enjoyed these "together projects"...although we did drop and break one of our blue bottle tops in the garage as we were making the chime and there were tears for a moment...thank goodness we had another!!!! :o) Kirk
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ausaicmosaic
16 years ago
I love the two projects Kirk - and what fun for you to do something together.
Are bottle cutters expensive and hard to find in the US because I can't seem to find any here in Australia.
I hope your wife's surgery goes well and that she will soon be back to her usual self

Best wishes from Wagga Wagga Australia
Beth
kirkus
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for the well wishes, Beth! I say I bought the bottle cutter for Carol's birthday, but (Ha!) she actually picked it out and ordered it and gave it to me to give to her!!! LOL Anyways, we paid about $35 for it through an internet stained glass company. I checked Ebay, and I bet you could find one there too at a good price. We've sure enjoyed using hers! Good luck! Kirk
cindiloo
16 years ago
Wow..How very pretty they are! I LOVE the blue bottle wind chime! Good luck to your wife on her knee surgery and recovery.
njtomboy
16 years ago
Now that's a perfect relationship! lol creating together!!!!!!

T's & P's for your wife's operation & recovery!

Keep on crafting!
craftylady-2006
16 years ago
Awesome Kirkus, just beautiful. I love both of your projects. (You just know that blue bottle feeder is my favorite, that blue is striking!)

Best wishes to your wife in surgery. Here's hoping for a quick recovery.
Bright199
16 years ago
Beautiful...Just love them both. You two are awsome!! Hope the surgery goes well..it has been a hard summer for her. Please keep us posted.
shysue
16 years ago
Great projects! I love them both, but the blue wind chime is my favorite. I wish I could find those blue bottles around here. My DH and I make a lot of things together, too. I hope your wife does well through her surgery and her recovery. I know you will take good care of her.
lilith_moonbeam
16 years ago
What great ideas! My mother is a bird fanatic; she has feeders all over her yard! I can't wait to show her this!
wired
16 years ago
Love your projects and it's neat you and your wife did them together. My DH is very supportive of my 'junk habit' but doesn't get into the crafty part. But at least he lends a helping hand and is my best/worst critic :-)
It's so special you hung your daughters crystal on the chime!

Best wishes to your wife and speedy recovery from surgery. Guess you'll be 'Mr. Mom' for a few days, huh?
nonacook
16 years ago
Love all the things you have made together...I never could get my bottle cutter to work very well for me. Now it is at least 30 years old and I don't even know what building it is stored in-LOL. It was one of those TV sales things. so you know it wasn't as good as yours.
nonacook
16 years ago
I started a post on the conversation side about Carol's surgery-so we can keep up...
Dottie B.
16 years ago
Those look great and so professional looking! Good luck with the surgery!
goldenpond
16 years ago
Really uniquely awesome stuff! Love the three cobalt bottles/bell?
Make sure wifey has a special spot outdoors or near a window she can admire your garden while she recoups.
Of course she will need a tablet and pencil for writing down new ideas!
kirkus
Original Author
16 years ago
Gosh! Thanks everyone for your nice compliments! You should have seen the bottle projects in the early morning sunshine today! We had blue light dancing in our kitchen! I shared your postings with Carol! Made her day and mine! Thank you! We love our Garden Web Junking friends! Kirk P.S. As soon as I post this, I'll update you on the Conversations side about Carol's surgery! Thanks for caring...and for your thoughts and prayers!
countrygrl
16 years ago
Kirk, I love the blue windchime you made with Carol. You've inspired me to ask my mother if I can have hers, since she no longer uses it. There's nothing more romantic to me than doing a craft project together with my DH! I wish Carol a speedy recovery, and hope she comes up with more great ideas while she is recuperating!
katladie
16 years ago
Great projects, love them both. Thanks for the tip on the wire, that is cool. Prayers and best wishes for a successful knee surgery and speedy recovery. Please let us know how it is going.

Sharon
cindee11461
16 years ago
Wow those are great projects!!! Love the windchime the best(-: That is so pretty!!!!! I hope Carol gets through the surgery without to much trouble and is back crafting in no time(-: I will be thinking of you both tomorrow(-:
luna_llena_feliz
16 years ago
Awesome projects! I have seen the bottle cutters at Delphiglass.com for $34.95. You have sure inspired me to drink more wine and beer! he-he I hope DW has a speedy recovery ... and she should with a supportive and fun DH like yourself at her side! I am looking forward to seeing more of your projects. :)
kudzukween
16 years ago
Beautiful projects,love the green glass and the blue glass,what great ideas:)
nonacook
16 years ago
You can sometimes get hummer corks at the larger pet stores.
shrty411
16 years ago
Great projects! Thanks for that wire tip!!

I'd Like to know about the bottle cutter. I haven't heard of anyone having success with one ( even the one from delphi)

Hope she feels better soon!!

Maria
kirkus
Original Author
16 years ago
After reading all of your posts, Carol and I are going to make the blue bottle windchimes for Christmas presents! Shysue, we find the blue bottles at a local import world market store and some at liquor stores. Maria, Carol said she ordered the bottle cutter from Delphi but she practiced and practiced and practiced on ugly wine bottles. She also took a class on cutting bottles. She has the patience of a saint (She has to...she's married to me! LOL) and is really good at cutting the bottles now. We grind the edges to smooth them out after they're cut. Again, thanks for encouraging us everyone! You're the BEST! Kirk

Two Fun, Simple, Bottle Projects Completed By Husband & Wife

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