There are an awful lot of trees in our new house. Sammy recently made a birdhouse with his Papa, and it made me think about this most from last spring. I think it is time to make some more wind spinners with my wild child. Here is my original post, in case you would like to make some wind spinners too:
I set out to make a wind chime with Sam yesterday. I had a vision – and so did Sam. I thought we would use metal washers and metal paper clips and fasten them to some string and then a tree branch. But this little boy of mine has ideas of his own. He is certainly my free spirited, wild child. My little one who’s strong will is at time exhausting, though at other times exhilarating.
Today, while I was gathering up supplies to make a wind chime, my Sam decided we should first paint the washers. Simple enough, no problem – and I am always up for a splash of color. Next, he thought we should turn those washers into flowers – using colored paper clips as the petals. A beautiful idea – however then, I explained, the wind chime wouldn’t chime, because of the plastic coating on the paper clips. No problem he said. No problem — I suppose — we will make a wind chime that doesn’t chime.
So we sat on the deck for a very long time putting paper clips on washers. I suggested we put blue paper clips on the blue washers, pink on pink, and so on. Sam thought we should just do whatever we wanted. So we did. A multi-colored wind chime that doesn’t chime. But once we started adding the paper clips to the washers, I realized that it was looking very pretty. Beautiful really. I told Sammy so, and he told me that he knew it would.
Next we strung the washer flowers onto some string, and I was about to tie them to a stick when Sam decided we should paint the stick first. I couldn’t blame him on this one – painting sticks is great fun. Truly.
We then hung the washer flower strings onto the painted stick and put it in our biggest tree. And it looked beautiful. And then, the wind began to blow, and wouldn’t you know that these little washer flowers started to spin and spin and spin. And they looked stunning.
I said to Sam that we created a wind spinner instead of a wind chime. He then told me, actually, that HE created a wind spinner – but he thanked me for my help. And I was thankful I let him do it his way. My wild child.
They’re gorgeous, Sarah! We’re all about colourful wind chimes and spinners these days. LOVE these ones!
Thank you Jackie – yes, we are all about bringing back colour right now!!
My three year old and I spent a lovely morning making one of these. We added bells and beads, too. Thank you for this idea, Sam!!!
Oh so wonderful! Thank you for sharing – bells and beads are a great addition! Sam will be thrilled to hear this comment 🙂
LOVE!!!!!
This is such a pretty craft. I be is looks wonderful dancing in a breeze.
Thank you! And they do look lovely all the time. I smile whenever I glance at them, my Sammy … Thanks for taking the time to comment!
LOL how he corrected you. At least he thanked you for your help! 😉 These are lovely, whether they chime or not!
Thanks Emma – they really are pretty. And thank you for taking the time to comment
I make wind spinners to take to the cemetery all the time. My Father passed away, and my special needs daughter likes to take things that we can hang from shepherds hooks by his tombstone. It may seem depressing, but it helps her heal from his loss. Letting her know that even though he is gone, he is not forgotten. This looks like something that would be beautiful to make!
That sounds like a lovely and peaceful way to handle the grief you must both be feeling. Thank you for taking the time to share this idea with us – you never know, it might reach just the person who needs this suggestion the most!
Beautiful!!
Hi Sarah,
what type of paint did you use for the washers? Thx
Cheers
Stephn
Hi Stephan, we used acrylic paint and it worked very well. Thanks for reading!
i love this idea! has it gotten wet at all? how does it-the string hold up in the rain?
Hi Amy – we had it hanging at our old house for a long, long time in a tree which gave it some shelter and it held up fabulously. We moved and I haven’t put it up again but think we will make another 🙂