Coast Chimes Home and Garden Creations Blog

Copper Wire

2011-11-09T14:15:00.002-08:00

250 feet of seven strand bare copper wire.

I use a lot of copper: copper pipe for chimes, heavy copper wire for hooks and loops and hanging stones, and slightly lighter copper wire for wrapping glass. I go through a spool as pictured above about every six months.

These spools hold 250 feet of seven strand, and I unwrap the strands giving me a total of 1750 feet.

I calculate over my wire wrapping career, I've wrapped well over 9 miles of wire!

You can see what I do with all this wire by visiting my website: Coast Chimes.

Wind Chime: Pacific Beach Stones. Naturally Beautiful!

2011-11-04T09:51:00.002-07:00

Pacific Beach Stone Wind Chime

Recently I bought 100 high-speed diamond bits. As you can see from the picture, I have been busy with them! I love beach stone, and I am happy that my beach stone works are becoming increasingly popular.

Stone is a great choice. There is the beauty, and also the durability. When they get wet from the rain, they look even nicer!

You can find a selection of beach stone wind chimes on my website: Coast Chimes, Gallery Page.

They are also available on the arts and crafts website: Etsy

Pacific Driftwood Large Wind Chime

2011-10-26T11:23:00.002-07:00

Very large, and Very beautiful Pacific Driftwood Wind Chime

See it on my website: Coast Chimes

It's not so often that I find really gorgeous driftwood, and the piece shown above is truly special. As soon as I saw it, I new I could make an amazing wind chime with it. It worked out even better than I anticipated!

You can see larger pictures on my website driftwood page: Driftwood, Coast Chimes

Or find it on Etsy: Coast Chimes, Etsy

Suncatcher, Windowsill Kaleidoscope

2011-10-03T11:39:00.005-07:00

Kaleidoscope Suncatcher

Perfect for a sunny windowsill.

I've been very busy making as many things as I can for the fast approaching holiday rush. One of my new designs is pictured above: I like it! When the sun comes out and shines through the glass, it really comes alive.

There are a number of these now on my website: Coast Chimes

They are also on Etsy.

Home Sweet Home

2011-06-01T15:54:00.005-07:00

Click on the images to see them larger

3094 Grauman Rd., Roberts Creek, BC, for sale by owner

We've enjoyed 16 wonderful years in this beautiful home on fabulous acreage. But now, empty nesters, it is time to move on. It's a difficult thing, as this has been not only my home where so many sweet family memories were created, but also my work site— my artist studio is around the back. But I am a firm believer that change is a good thing, so here we go.

I am selling this house myself. At the same time, I am doing the marketing for my friend and neighbour, who also has a beautiful home on acreage just down the street.

I know these are each some of the nicest properties on the Sunshine Coast. Very peaceful and sunny.

See lots of pictures and read all about these two properties on the website: Sunshine Coast Homes for Sale.

Savary Island Waterfront

2011-05-03T09:46:00.004-07:00

Every have a longing to get away from it all? Consider this amazing under construction post and beam waterfront cottage on Savary Island, BC. Savary is considered by many to be the finest Gulf Island, with its sandy beaches and warm, sunny days. This cottage is on the desirable south facing mid-island part of Savary. It is a double, subdividable, lot.

The cottage is under construction, and the owner would be willing to finish to your specifications. It has a full concrete foundation, loads of deck space, and 100% glass facing south views with 4 foot overhangs to keep the summer sun out. Enjoy year round use. $250,000

Visit the website for more information: Savary Cottage for Sale or phone Andrew at 604-885-4832.

There is also a completed, deluxe three bedroom waterfront cottage for sale. A spectacular cottage. See it on the website: Savary Cottage for Sale or phone Andrew at 604-885-4832.

Framed Kaleidoscope Suncatcher

2011-04-06T10:38:00.004-07:00

Framed glass with mosaic kaleidoscope section

I have been known to make a mistake or two with my business. Not being by nature the most organized person around, it is surprising I do not make even more. I try, I really try.

My latest mistake resulted in the creation of the above framed suncatcher. I had made a couple of that style back in late 2010, and a customer fell in love with one of them and asked if she could pay over several months. That was fine with me. Time went by, and she emailed that she was ready to make the final payment. That was great, except I discovered that somehow I had sold it to someone else-- I no longer had it! What a sad day for her, after saving and waiting. I felt terrible.

I offered a refund, or told her that I could try to make a similar one. She opted for the similar one, and I put together three, while I was at it. She was very happy with the replacement for her original one. And now I have two more in my Etsy shop, and on my website.

Happy ending to a sad story.

Beach Stones

2011-03-27T07:18:00.003-07:00

Click on the image to see it larger.

Natural Pacific beach stone wind chime: Naturally beautiful!

For more information, or to purchase, please visit:

Etsy

Coast Chimes

I love beach stones. I have incorporated them into my work for years. But recently I came up with a new design using these smooth, rounded, natural stones. I love suddenly dreaming up a brand new design, or a new technique. It keeps my job fresh; it keeps me eager to go out and work.

Coast Copper: Canadian Wind Chime Website

2011-02-24T17:24:00.004-08:00

Below, part of the homepage for Coast Copper—

a new Canadian website for wind chimes

Coast Copper has a nice selection of my wind chimes. All prices are in Canadian dollars.

It has been too cold here these past several of days for me to go out and do much glass, metal and woodwork. So I used the time to finally get my Canadian website made and launched. It has a great selection of my large wind chimes, and all prices are in Canadian dollars. It is called Coast Copper.

Coast Chimes Customer Picture

2011-02-19T10:35:00.005-08:00

I love when customers go to the trouble of sending me a picture of my wind chime hanging at their home. Here is a picture recently sent to me of three of my wind chimes. I think they look wonderful! Beautiful yard, too.

See all my available wind chimes at my website: Coast Chimes.

Bird Feeder Wind Chimes: Even Better!

2011-02-09T10:30:00.003-08:00

Click on the picture to see it larger.

Deluxe handcrafted red cedar bird feed with five antiqued copper chimes.

Visit my website, Coast Chimes, for more pictures and information.

I've made a lot of bird feeder wind chimes. I make them in series, usually for at a time. Each new series, I incorporate changes to improve them. Just yesterday, I finished my latest series, and these are the best ever.

They are a little larger than the last ones, and a little more elegant looking. They are also extremely well made. You can find them on Coast Chimes, and also on Etsy.

Back to Work, and Blogging

2011-01-28T09:34:00.003-08:00

50 Diamond Bits

50 new diamond bits. Lots of stone and glass cutting coming right up!

It's been a (l-o-n-g) while. Between a car accident that wrecked my back, and a winter break down in Mexico, time went by. But I am back, and back at work.

As shown in the picture, I just picked up 50 beautiful, new, diamond bits. I am excited to get out and cut a lot of beach stone, and soon, in the spring, lots of glass. I already got going on the stone. Here is a wonderful natural beach stone wind chime:

Natural Pacific Beach Stone Wind Chime

Three gorgeous natural beach stones with hammered copper. Five antiqued copper chimes with a beach pebble clapper and a hammered copper windsail.

Isn't that a wonderful wind chime? And it is extremely well suited to year round outdoor use— in fact, it looks even better wet than dry! Find it on my website: Coast Chimes, or on Etsy: My Etsy Shop.

Sun Catcher Chimes, Fancy

2010-11-09T10:08:00.002-08:00

Fancy Sun Catcher Chime

Beach Glass Inspired

Visit the 'Under $100' page of my website to see more.

Sometimes I need to go into our solarium, where I take the pictures of my work, and where it hangs until sold, and have a good look around. This is what I did late last week, and I realized that there were no more fancy sun catcher chimes! I have no idea how long I have been sold out of this style, but I got busy right away and made five new ones.

Sometimes I also find it useful and interesting to go back and look at pictures of my work from past years. I often see something that I used to make, and like, and have not made for a long time. So inspiration can also come from the past, if you keep a record.

Now there are some really nice, new fancy sun catcher chimes available on my website and on Etsy.

Framed Glass

2010-10-14T11:01:00.003-07:00

Click on the image to see it larger

Framed glass with natural Pacific driftwood

Visit my website, Coast Chimes, for more pictures and frame styles

It's been awhile. I used to make many frames, as there was a good store in Vancouver where they sold well. After making so many, I got tired and gave it a break.

After two years, I suddenly got the urge to make some frames. With renewed vigor, and perhaps improved skills, I have completed four, all of different styles. I even have one with a box of kaleidoscope mosaic glass imbedded!

I'm very pleased all four frames. You can see them on the Gallery Page of my website, or on Etsy.

Freestanding Large Double Wind Chimes

2010-10-08T09:03:00.004-07:00

Four new large double freestanding wind chimes

See them on my website, Coast Chimes, or on Etsy.

I enjoy the challenge of making large works, and only wish that Canada Post would allow even bigger items to ship. It is easy to get carried away and go beyond the maximum size or weight for shipping. How I would love to make a truly giant sculpture!

Well, these most recent works are pretty big. One of the beach stone bases is still downstairs cluttering up our living room, as I just have not felt like lugging it upstairs. At fifty pounds, it's an armful!

Although there are beaches here with many, many stones, it is surprisingly difficult to find a stone that works well as a base. If I wanted to cheat, I could take any nice large stone over to my friend's place, and have him cut the bottom off so it lies flat and stable. But I prefer to keep it all natural, so I search, and I search, and eventually I find an attractive stone that works.

Bending the copper is also tricky. I find this is one job where I truly have to be in an excellent frame of mind: relaxed, feeling good and confident. It's easy to kink the copper, or to end up with a mess.

As always with these large works, I offer free shipping to anywhere in the USA or Canada. I bet some of these will cost around $150 in postage, so that is quite a good deal. The postage is only a part of it, of course, as packing these tends to be a half a day job, at least.

Why not take a few minutes and check these out on my website's Large Works page, or on Etsy? Also, if you click on the picture above, you can see them a bit bigger.

Bird Feeder Wind Chime: New Design

2010-09-24T17:37:00.004-07:00

Click on the image to see it larger.

Deluxe Red Cedar Bird Feeder Wind Chime

I stopped making bird feeders for a while, as they were so time consuming and I had to charge so much even to make a minimal hourly wage. But they were beautiful, and I was proud of them.

Recently, I decided to simplify the design somewhat, but keep all the beauty. So instead of a four-sided feeder I am now making a two sided one. It still looks amazing, and it is in fact better, as it is much more solid. Best of all, I could reduce the price, since these are a little faster to make.

You can see them on my website, with more pictures, or on Etsy.

One of the neatest things about this bird feeder (aside from the super cool design!), is that when birds land or take off the chimes will chime alerting you to the feeding birds. The birds do not seem to mind the chimes at all. Who knows, maybe they enjoy them.

Shipping Record Exploded

2010-08-31T09:51:00.003-07:00

21 kaleidoscope wind chimes, 1 huge double freestanding wind chime, and 6 beach stone chimes. The largest one day shipment in the history of Coast Chimes.

It's been a fabulous, busy month. In fact, yesterday I shipped more works than ever before in one day. These were not all ordered on the same day, and most I have been working on for the past month or longer. It just happened that they were all ready to ship at the same time. Still, it is sweet to see the popularity of my work appearing to grow nicely. People still appreciate handcrafted, high quality, works with soul, as opposed to cheap generic stuff.

It's been so busy, I am a little concerned about making ample stock for the fast approaching Christmas rush. So I have temporally closed the large wind chime section of the wholesale page of my website. Suncatcher and suncatcher chime packages are still available.

Now, time to go and make some wonderful new things!

That's a Pile of Chimes!

2010-08-23T06:37:00.004-07:00

16 of the 21 chime bottom sections set to ship.

I've all but finished the large order (21 sets of kaleidoscope wind chimes). And that feels great! It will feel even better when they are all completely done, and shipped (and the check arrives!).

I am so pleased that the customer opted for my brushed and polished chimes, instead of my antiqued finish chimes. I am not sure I could have coped with applying that labor intensive finish to this many chimes in one sitting.

I am also pleased my oldest son was home just at this moment to do all the double brushing of these chimes. It was good for him to make some money, and excellent for me not to have to do that. Back in the days when I used to only make this style (double brushed), he was the one who did all the brushing, so there was no training involved. He is a fabulous worker, really putting his back to the chore, and doing a great job.

The top sections are also all done, but I need more eye hooklets and the store is sold out (I wonder who bought all those!). Once I get more of those, and my copper shop gets around to cutting sales for me to finish, the job will be done.

Right now, I am looking so forward to starting work on my own projects, building stock for the Christmas rush. Yesterday I spent four hours cleaning my workshop: it was a mess! All is ready now. All is good.

Back from New Mexico

2010-08-14T06:32:00.002-07:00

New Mexico met and exceeded my expectations: Fabulous!

Back from a three week drive down to New Mexico and straight to more work than I have ever faced before. Busy!

The trip to New Mexico was fabulous. We camped the whole way (except for one night). As usual, I was so impressed by the USA campsites: far better than almost any I have been to in Canada. In the USA, they get it-- many people like to camp in tents. In Canada, almost all the sites are set up for vehicles. You get a hard patch of gravel that is usually almost impossible to pound tent stakes into. You see many more people camping in tents in the USA than in Canada, and I suspect that providing these tent friendly sites is one reason.

Anyway, New Mexico was even more amazing than I had hoped, and I had high hopes! Oregon was as always top notch, too.

When I came back, I had some orders lined up from things that sold while I was away, and then more and more came in. There is a corporate order for 21 wind chimes that I am currently working like crazy to get done, and also a wholesale order that I need to get done ASAP.

So work, and more work, and it 's all good, because the weather is great, the days are long, and it's all going to get done.

Back from New Mexico

2010-08-06T09:34:00.004-07:00

Back from a wonderful, amazing trip down to New Mexico. Loved every minute of it— especially what I saw of New Mexico, and Oregon is always a treat, too.

Below, the wall of an Earth House seen in New Mexico-- another use for old bottles (and cans).

Oh So Blue

2010-07-07T07:29:00.002-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

Cobalt Blue Glass with Five Antiqued Brass Chimes

Sometimes I am actually amazed by what I put together. The wind chime pictured above is a case in point: gorgeous! Everything just works. I love the colors, the design, the copper, the antiqued chimes. Sorry to brag, but, I am proud of this!

Visit this wind chime on my website (Coast Chimes) or on Etsy.

Wind Chime: New Design

2010-07-01T11:03:00.003-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

Shorter Wind Chime: as requested

Visit my website to learn more, or to purchase: Coast Chimes

Over the years, quite a few people requested a shorter version of my wind chimes. Finally, I put on my design cap and figured one out. And I think it is a real success!

It features five mini-chimes suspended from a glass roundel. The chimes are cut from bronze, and they have a most attractive antique finish. Just like with my large chimes, this has a beach stone clapper. Instead of measuring 43-50 inches long like my large chimes, this sweet one measures just 33 inches long.

It can be found on my website, on Etsy, and in my Facebook Shop Now store, where fans receive a 10% discount.

Suncatcher Hanging

2010-06-20T06:47:00.005-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

Suncatcher Hanging

Visit my Facebook Shop, my Website or Etsy

I just got my yearly order of plate glass from Vancouver. It's enough to cut 200 pieces for my kaleidoscope style wind chimes, and 30 of the framed pieces as pictured above. At first I was mildly taken aback, because unlike in past years this time the glass is not all cut to size. But then I realized it is easy to cut, and this gives me more options.

I plan to make some things that I have not made in quite a long time, like diamond shaped kaleidoscope hangings and windowsill suncatchers.

Another bonus having the glass uncut is that I have been using some of it to put windows in the door of my workshop. Brighter and nicer. An easy improvement. Little things can make a big difference.

West Coast Artist Carol La Fave: I like!

2010-06-16T08:25:00.018-07:00

Cliff Gilker Park, Carol La Fave, 48 X 36 inches

Along with abundant natural beauty, one thing the Sunshine Coast has is gifted artists. Recently, the paintings of Carol La Fave really caught my eye.

I first saw Carol's paintings several months ago, and I believe my jaw literally dropped. When I saw the price labels, it dropped some more. After expressing my absolute awe over her paintings, I told Carol that her prices were way too low. You should head over to Carol's website and check out her work before she heeds my advice!

Carol's work captures not just the beauty of British Columbia's West Coast, but somehow goes far beyond that, to the spirit. There is information about Carol on her website, but, really, her paintings say it all.

Whiskey Slough, Carol La Fave, 24 X 20 inches

Giveaway: Handcrafted Copper Earrings

2010-06-07T06:11:00.013-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

Beautiful handcrafted copper earrings giveaway!

(Click on the image to see it larger)

Winner Announcement:

I have just drawn the name, and it is Robyn, of Potomac River Creations who has won- Congratulations Robyn! Sorry to everyone else, but thank you very much of entering. Robyn, I have emailed you through the email address on your website, and hopefully you get that fine. Otherwise, please contact me.

I am giving away up to four sets of my handcrafted copper earrings (approximate combined value is $80), as pictured above. These are really nice. People love my earrings!

This giveaway is open to everyone 18 and older in Canada, the USA, South America and Europe. The purpose of the giveaway is to publicize my Facebook page, and to increase my fan base on Facebook. It is being held off Facebook to comply with Facebook rules.

Rules:

— To enter for the draw, leave a comment on this blog posting, right here on the Coast Chimes blog. The winner will be able to pick one set of earrings from those pictured above.

— If the winner is a fan of my Facebook page, they can choose two sets of earrings from those pictured above. If you are not yet a fan, to become a fan just click the 'like' button on my Facebook page.

— Tweeting or sharing is not a requirement for entering this contest, but is much appreciated. So if you share or tweet my Facebook page, or this blog posting (easy icons upper right side), you will receive the bonus gift of two additional sets of earrings, for a total of four sets, as pictured above. This will be on an honour system: I will simply ask the winner if they shared or tweeted, and if yes, they will receive all four sets of earrings.

— This contest will close at 4:00 PM PDT on Monday, June 21. The winner will be randomly drawn from all those who have left a comment on this page. The winner will be announced on this page within 24 hours after closing.

Thank you, and good luck!

*NB, no information will be collected or shared from this contest, other than the winner's name, for announcement purposes.

Wind Chime, Glass, Copper, Most Recent Creation

2010-06-04T07:21:00.003-07:00

Click on the image to see it larger

Beach glass inspired art wind chime with lots of hammered copper.

See it on my Facebook page: Coast Chimes

I've received so many compliments about the new style of hammered copper antiqued windsail I now make, I decided to make a wind chime with lots of copper. The result is pictured above.

The entire wind chime is shown on the far left. The other images are detail images of one of the glass pieces, one of the hammered copper pieces, and the antiqued copper chimes. For copper lovers.

Freestanding Large Double Wind Chimes

2010-05-30T06:35:00.003-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger.

Large Freestanding Double Wind Chime

Intertwined copper supports

Natural Pacific beach stone base

I love large freestanding double and single wind chimes. I think they look great and that they are very different and cool.

I do not love packing them! They are amongst the most challenging of the works I ship to box up. And certainly the most expensive to ship, with postage often exceeding $100.

I have several in my Facebook Shop Now store, where fans get 10% off my usual prices, and where I hold periodic sales. There is a 25% sale coming up, probably this week, to celebrate hitting 200 fans. Just visit my Facebook page, click the 'like' button, and start saving on all my Shop Now stock.

Copper Wire Wrapping: If Practice Makes Perfect...

2010-05-27T05:34:00.004-07:00

75 meter spool of no. 2 bare copper wire, 7 stranded

I've been wrapping glass with copper wire for fifteen years now, and I just figured out roughly how much copper I have used: A lot!

For wrapping, I use bare copper wire no. 2, 7 stranded, and I buy it in 75 meter spools. So the 7 strands means each spool has 525 meters of wire. I use two spools a year. Not counting my early years, where I did not use as much, I calculate that I have used at least 14,000 meters (28,228 feet). That's 9 miles of wire!

I still have a few of my early copper wire wrapped pieces around, and I can tell you that while maybe practice does not make perfect, it will take you in that direction. Below is a recent wrapping.

Bears, Sunshine Coast, British Columbia

2010-05-18T06:13:00.004-07:00

A little black bear in my backyard.

Several days ago, my wife was out in our backyard painting a stool when she heard a branch crack. Around here, when a branch cracks you look to see why. This time, it was a small black bear coming out of the brush right behind her, about ten feet away.

My dog chased it up that tree for a few minutes, just enough time to take a few pictures. But bears here are used to dogs, and people, and it soon assessed the situation, and decided to come down and waddle off. Not much concerned.

I said at the time that given the size of that little guy, it's mother was probably not far off. Well, late yesterday afternoon I heard frantic barking just outside of my workshop. Sticking my head out the door, I saw six feet away my dog absolutely face to face with a HUGE bear. Hello Mom!

It was quite a scene. Even though my dog is large at over 100 pounds, the bear was easily three or maybe four times larger, and clearly not impressed by my dog. The bear moved an inch towards my dog, and he jumped back about six feet! Having made its point (ie, I am king), the bear slowly turned and trudged off.

That was something else. I wish I had had my camera, as a picture of those two face to face would be a keeper. However, I am mostly just glad there was no bloodshed. Henceforth, I will try to keep my camera with me more often. And I will also be keeping my bear spray handier!

Wind Chimes Garden Art 25% off Sale

2010-05-14T08:54:00.004-07:00

To celebrate achieving over 100 new fans in a week, I am holding a 25 % off sale on all the items in my new Facebook 'Shop Now' store.

Now you can shop right on Facebook: easy, fast and safe. My new Shop Now store is up and running, and you always receive a 10% discount. Even better: right now I am celebrating with a 25% off store-wide sale! The sale ends at 6:00 PM PDT, so don't delay.

Why not rush on over and pick up something beautiful for yourself, or for a friend? To receive your discount, all you have to do is click the little 'like' icon at the top of the page. Click Here to see the store. Enjoy!

Facebook ShopNow

2010-05-09T10:09:00.005-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

A screen grab of my Facebook ShopNow shop

10% Discount! Soon, a 25% off sale!

I've been adding stock to my new Facebook shop, and sprucing things up with larger pictures too. There is quite a large selection available.

In one week I have climbed to 83 fans-- people who 'like' my shop. By clicking the little 'like' icon, you automatically will receive a discount on your purchase, and also stay up to date with Coast Chimes news.

As soon as I hit 100 fans, I plan on a surprise sale. I'm going to increase the fan discount to 25 % (!) for one week to celebrate-- my way of saying Thank YOU! Why not visit my Facebook page now and click the like button, so you will be notified when my sale starts? Just click on this link: my Facebook Coast Chimes Page.

Chimes: Freestanding Double Wind Chime

2010-05-03T19:58:00.008-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

Freestanding Double Chime

Natural Pacific beach stone base

Antiqued handcrafted chimes

Visit Coast Chimes by clicking here.

Lately I have been working with beach stones. They are great to work with. The only problem is shipping. Even fairly small ones are very heavy, and large ones like the one pictured above are extremely heavy.

That means shipping the above item in two boxes, and also means expensive postage. It will probably cost nearly one hundred dollars to ship. I don't make my customer pay for all of that directly (who doesn't run when they see $100 for postage?), but I do have to take it into consideration, so as not to take a loss.

As usual, the more you do something the better you get at it. I have made many of these freestanding works, but the intertwining of the copper supports is just how I like it in the above one. I think it's gorgeous.

Coast Chimes Facebook Shop

2010-04-30T08:27:00.005-07:00

My Coast Chimes Facebook Shop

There is a new feature for Facebook: Shops. I just opened mine this morning. Easy to set up. Easy to shop.

What I like is that I can offer a discount to my FB fans. To become a fan, all you have to do is be a member of FB, visit my Coast Chimes page, and click on the thumbs up, like, button. Then when you visit my shop (Shop Now tab found on the Wall of Coast Chimes), you will see the discount automatically applied. You can also shop without that, but you will not get the discount.

The only problem I see so far is that the images are kind of small. My images are made to be viewed large, as they always show the entire work, and then details of the various components. So this may be a problem I'll have to consider.

You can visit my Facebook Shop by clicking here.

Hooks and Connections, Copper, Handcrafted

2010-04-21T08:21:00.003-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

The handcrafted copper hooklets and connectors for the beach stone clappers on my wind chimes, five sets. The two simple tools shown, and my hands, are all I use to make these copper works.

I have many tools, including many expensive ones like my saws and my drills. I like them all. But I take the most pleasure in my very simple tools, such as the wood spindle pictured above. With that simple, oversized pencil (and the pliers), I make all my copper hooks and connectors.

Shown above are five sets of small copper systems for attaching the beach stone clappers to my wind chimes. I string it all together with fine copper wire, and add a hammered antiqued copper windsail.

It 's time consuming to make each chime section— very labor intensive, with great attention to detail. But that's what makes it special.

Etsy Collection: Most Popular

2010-04-15T08:28:00.004-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger.

Natural Pacific beach stone wind chime with five antiqued copper chimes. Click here (Etsy) for more information.

I was having a look at my statistics from Etsy, the art and crafts site, this morning, and noted that out of my 113 listings, the one above has the most 'hearts.' A 'heart' means someone likes and marked the listing. I can see why: I also really like my beach stone works.

This one being on sale for a very good price may also have something to do with the number of hearts it has received. In fact, the price is so good I am surprised no one has grabbed it yet.

Wind Chime, Freestanding, Copper, Beach Stone

2010-04-06T08:55:00.003-07:00

Click on the image to see it larger

Freestanding large wind chime, with a smooth, rounded natural beach stone base.

I really like beach stones, and I like working with them. I have made quite a few large freestanding wind chimes incorporating beach stones for the base, but just last week I had a new idea.

In the past, I searched for stones with rounded, smooth tops, and flat bottoms. Suddenly, I saw that a rounded bottom might work even better, and also look even neater. My theory in practice works perfectly. The stone is very heavy, at about forty pounds, and the gently rounded bottom means that although this base can nicely wobble, even if you bend the chime all the way to the ground it self rights. Very cool! So this style turns out to be impossible to tip or blow over.

I love the rounded smoothness of this stone. A detail picture of the stone is at the bottom of this posting. More information is available on my website, Coast Chimes, or on Etsy.

Click on the picture to see it larger.

iPod Touch Product Review, Apple

2010-03-30T13:54:00.003-07:00

About a year ago, shortly after buying my iPod Touch, I reviewed it on these pages. It’s time for an update.

With the exception of a lot of copper and wood and tools for my work, I have bought almost nothing aside from food in the past year. I’m not much of a consumer.

That said, I do love books, music, films and art— and, yes, I have spent some money on those. And for all of that, the iPod Touch is wonderful.

After a year with my Touch, I actually like it more, and I am more amazed, more pleased and more impressed. It’s that good.

The iPod Touch strikes me as something as close to having tumbled out of the sky from another planet, superior aliens, as I have ever encountered . Holding the smooth, slim gizmo in your hand, it feels like something beyond what man could make. Did Steve Jobs swipe the design from Martians? Could be!

As explained in my previous review, my primary intention when I got it was to use it as an eBook reader. I still like it very much for that. Because it is always in my pocket ready to go, I have read far more in the past year than I would have without it. But my iPod Touch turned out to be much more than an eBook reader.

Something I don’t miss: going to the video store. I hated going to the video store! I love being able to check film reviews through Rotten Tomatoes and Flixster, and watch trailers on YouTube or Apple, and then click a button and get the film. Once downloaded (usually about forty minutes), it takes a couple of minutes to transfer the film onto my iPod Touch, plug it into our TV, and away we go.

The same goes for music. It’s great to listen first to a short clip on iTunes, and then flip over to either YouTube or MySpace and watch a video of the musician(s) playing before investing.

Over the past year I have discovered that the iPod Touch is great to have when traveling. Free WiFi is seldom difficult to locate (there's an app for that!), so you can stay in touch with your emails, check on restaurant and accommodation reviews, grab maps, get a weather report and so on.

Also when traveling, you can use Skype to call people. Yes, with a microphone enabled set of headphones, the iPod Touch serves as an excellent telephone.

So when traveling, I don’t need our laptop. I don’t need a cellphone. I don’t need heavy books. Lighten your load: get an iPod Touch.

As a lover of film, books, music and art, I would call the iPod Touch pretty darn close to the perfect gizmo. What about art, you say? Well, two things. First, I consider the iPod Touch itself to be a work of art: it is beautiful. Second, I have pictures of my art on my iPod. Previously when I told people what I do, so many would say they wish they could see my work, and now they can.

Finally, in my experience Apple provides excellent customer service. When dealing with corporate customer service, it’s rare to find real people who have real understanding, and real power to resolve issues; but I have found this to be the case with Apple. When my son had an issue with his laptop, they went far beyond what they needed to do (they didn’t actually ‘need’ to do anything, since it was six months beyond warranty), and promptly resolved the issue. When I had a small snag with my iPod, likewise it was taken care of immediately.

Five stars out of five for Apple customer service, and five stars out of five for my iPod Touch.

*This is an unpaid review.

Back from Friendly Manitoba

2010-03-15T13:37:00.004-07:00

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There is a lot of long road that looks like this on the way to Manitoba from the West Coast

We hopped in the car and shot off to Manitoba during last week's Spring School Break. It was a wonderful trip! I had been back and forth across Canada a couple of times before, but always traveling in the summer. Winter is a different trip altogether. There are not many people in the summer, I have found, but even fewer in the winter. Of course, the biggest difference aside from the climate is that we could not camp (too cold, and sites closed). We got to see a lot of crummy motels. I didn't mind (much)-- that's all part of the adventure.

While I find pretty much all of Canada beautiful and interesting, one thing I that really stood out for me was that the slogan on the Manitoba license plate ('Friendly Manitoba') is true. Spending two nights and a full day in Stonewall Manitoba, where my oldest son is doing the second stage of his Katimavik volunteer program, I was blown away by just how friendly Manatobians are: total strangers waving cheerfully from their cars, as though you are a long lost family member. Nice.

Due to not camping, we ate all of our meals out. I'd say one of the things I like most about traveling like that is not having to cook or do dishes. Paradoxically, one of the things I least like is having to eat relatively unhealthy restaurant food all the time!

Early Spring on the Coast

2010-03-04T08:54:00.006-08:00

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Salmon berry blossom, March 3, 2010

I love the first bright salmon berry blossoms that appear each year. The forests are always lush and beautiful year round on the Sunshine Coast, but for me the green and brown and more green becomes a bit tiresome by winter's end. So I rejoice when the first purple flowers appear. A little color!

Since I like that so much, I posted a picture of one of the first last year, too. I see that was on April 13, 2009. I must have seen the first one opening this year nearly two weeks ago, in mid-March, so it would seem to be much earlier this year. That makes sense, as it has been such a warm winter, and there have been several nearly T-shirt afternoons in recent weeks.

I was so pleased to have my camera along on my daily hike yesterday for the blossom picture, because as I moved deep through the woods, suddenly there was sunlight, and it was filtering through the trees and morning mist in a most attractive way. The picture is below. Enjoy.

Coast Chimes, Work from the Past Year

2010-03-02T07:17:00.004-08:00

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Some of my work as it appears on Flickr

Back earlier last year, I added a Coverflow page to my Coast Chimes website. The way it works is I upload pictures of recent works to my Flickr account, and the fifteen most recent works automatically appear on my website on the Coverflow page. So I use Coverflow to show what I have most recently made.

The process is automatic, so I had not recently actually gone to my Flickr account much. But the other day I was there, and I was struck by the thumbnail directory of my uploads, as shown above. That's a lot of work I did! Anyway, I thought the thumbnail directory looks kind of cool, so I share it with you.

No More Free Postage

2010-02-27T08:03:00.004-08:00

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Cobalt blue beach glass inspired art wind chime

Visit Coast Chimes for more information

After several years of offering free postage on my website, the time has sadly come to stop. Due to a strong Canadian dollar (or a weak US dollar depending on how you look at it) there is about a 30% decrease in income from the sales on Coast Chimes over the past months.

Coupled with that is a substantial increase in materials cost.

So for the first time I will be having customers share some of the postage costs. For large works there will be a $19 postage charge, and for smaller works a $12 charge. Extra large works and earrings will still ship for free.

The good news is that this is below the actual price of postage, so you still get subsidized postage. The other good news is that it is going to take me a little time to implement these changes on my website, so if you have been thinking of buying something, if you act now you will save those charges. I probably will not have the changes set to publish before late Sunday, February 28, or Monday, March 1, 2010.

Wind Chimes: New Look for 2010

2010-02-12T06:19:00.004-08:00

Click on the picture to see it larger.

Beach Glass Inspired Kaleidoscope Wind Chime

Now with Antiqued Dark Chocolate Copper Chimes

Visit my website for more information, or to purchase: Coast Chimes

My chimes are always evolving and new designs are also always surfacing. For me, that is the difference between a craft and art.

Most recently, I decided to change my brushed and polished copper chimes for a hand rubbed antiqued finish. I love the look, and so for now I will be concentrating on this style. It's a warm, dark chocolate color that I find goes better with my glass.

Please visit my website to to see more examples, or my Etsy shop, where I have some great sale prices right now.

Diamonds are not Forever

2010-02-01T08:59:00.005-08:00

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Diamond Ball Bits

I laugh every time I hear this advertisement on the radio for jewelry where they say 'diamonds are forever.' Any stone or glass artist who uses diamond bits will tell you diamonds are far from forever, unfortunately.

The prices vary widely, as does the quality. Cheap retail usually means extremely poor quality, which means the diamonds all fall off after just a few stone cuts. And cheap retail does not mean all that cheap. The retail prices vary for my style of ball bit from around $7 to $35 each.

One of my unhappy days was when this great source I had in the USA went AWOL. I used to order ten bits at a time for about $30. They were very high quality, and the service was good. I bought hundreds of bits from this fellow, and then one day he was gone. Fortunately, the price had been good enough that I had many bits that I had put aside that were still pretty good. So for several years I have just been getting along with those partially worn bits. However, the end was here: all those old bits were cutting way too slowly and hopeless for stone.

One of my happiest days was when a local fellow was over buying a wind chime, and when I was showing him around I mentioned my diamond bit problem. He asked if I did not know of the local 'bit lady.' Huh? On this lightly populated Sunshine Coast, someone deals in diamond bits?

Eventually I tracked this woman down (way under the radar), and this weekend went to see what she has. Unbelievable! She must be one of the biggest bulk dealers in Canada, perhaps North America. She has thousands and thousands of bits. And the price? The best I have ever seen: a dollar each!

How odd that something I so needed and was just prepared to start a big Internet search for should be found ten minutes away from my house. That's simply wonderful.

Freestanding Large Double Wind Chime

2010-01-23T08:17:00.004-08:00

Click on the image to see it larger

Freestanding double wind chime with a natural beach stone base and intertwined copper supports. Two handcrafted sets of chimes with beach stone clappers. For more information, or to purchase, visit Coast Chimes by Clicking Here.

It was a challenge to get back to work after that fabulous holiday on Maui, especially with the very heavy rains we have been having here on the Sunshine Coast, and high winds. But last week I did buckle down and get a lot accomplished.

Finally I have some new stock of the very large freestanding wind chimes. These are great! Each one has a nice, smooth natural Pacific beach stone base, my smooth with mat finish beach style glass, and handcrafted copper wind chimes. The double ones have intertwined copper supports. There is only one thing I do not like so much about these: packing them to ship! But that is not your problem, and for the USA and Canada, I ship them for free!

Why not visit my website, Coast Chimes, and see more of these amazing wind chimes? Soon there will be four different sets available.

Hawaii, Maui

2010-01-05T17:04:00.006-08:00

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North of Kapalua, Maui. Not your usual laid back beach scene.

Back from a most excellent ten days on Maui, Hawaii. I had been there about thirty years ago, and had fond memories. That rather concerned me, because sometimes going back to a place you enjoyed can be a disappointment. Things change, and often not for the better.

I had heard and read that Maui had become much more developed and a much busier place. True enough, there certainly were many more large resorts. But I found it still easy to get away from it all, and even the main beaches not very crowded.

What a beautiful, beautiful place. I actually found it much nicer than my memories, which says a lot, since I had such great memories. The weather was perfect; it was not as hot and humid as I recalled— just a delightful warmth. And there were no bugs etc. (I recall sand fleas being a minor issue last time). Everything was so clean; there was almost no garbage or litter around, and especially the beaches were spotless-- I remember more trash around last time.

In short, an absolutely ten out ten little holiday. Now back to work.

Wind Chimes Happy Customers

2009-12-16T09:36:00.003-08:00

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Large freestanding double wind chime with two sets of copper chimes, and a heavy natural beach stone base. Intertwined copper supports.

One of the very nicest things about selling through the Net is direct contact with customers. If you sell through a retail store, you rarely get that. What is particularly nice is being able to hear what the customer wants (for the wind chime pictured above, the customer wanted blue and very light blue glass instead of the glass as pictured), and even better hearing praise from a happy customer. I work very, very hard to make the best works I can, and it is wonderful when emails come in brimming with enthusiasm and happiness. I have recently received many delightful thank you emails.

Here is what the customer who just received the above large wind chime wrote:

Dear Tim:

I am writing to you to let you know that the double free-standing windchime sculpture is magnificant, to say the least. As an artist as well as art collector myself, I can only praise your aesthetic usage of line, curve and negative space. This piece evokes a timeless quality that does not assign itself slavishly to this artform or that artform, etc., etc.

The sea glass inserts are lovely shades of seafoam and midnight blue, both prominent colors for Middle Atlantic East Coast sea glass. The chimes themselves, attuned to abstract spectral tones, are calming, refreshing and sonorous in an almost unearthly way. This is the most unique sculpture as well as the most unique windchime set that I have ever owned.

I shall continue to follow your work and look forward to the time when I shall obtain more pieces from you.

Yours truly,

(name withheld for privacy)

Must be Christmas

2009-12-07T17:32:00.004-08:00

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A Very busy day of packing -- it must be almost Christmas!

The orders flowed in this weekend and Monday morning: Christmas shoppers. It's a big job packing my creations, because there is a lot of glass, and there are sometimes things like large beach stones that have to go in the same box. Although after ten years of packing I know a trick or two, it is very time consuming.

The first impression my customer gets (or the person to whom they are having me ship the gift) is from the look of my boxes. So I make a real effort to have sharp, clean looking boxes with neat labels etc.

The second impression is probably not that great as they remove the shipping paper, since I use recycled orange juice boxes, and then inside are recycled newspapers for padding. The newspapers are clean though, and I make sure to get the sort that do not have ink rubbing off.

Then they find all the actual items neatly wrapped in sill foam. The sill foam I buy new, and it is expensive. But it does an excellent job-- nothing has broken in over seven years (knock on wood).

The last impression hopefully knocks their socks off, as they remove the sill foam and see the actual item.

In the last twenty four hours I have received three emails similar to this one that I quote here:

"Tim!

You are such a lovely man! I got the suncatcher. It's a thousand times more beautiful than I expected. It's really nice to have the print up of where everything comes from and your inspiration for it too. It's an extraordinarily meaningful piece of art and I can't wait to give it to my mom and stepfather (especially because I hold the sea and everything that comes from it so close to my heart, since I grew up near the beach). And thank you so much for the copper earrings!!! I can't wait to buy from you again."

It has been so unusually freezing cold here, but emails like that warm me all day long. I love it!

eBay Blues

2009-12-04T08:31:00.004-08:00

If you had told me several years ago that I would today be thinking seriously of quitting eBay, I would have laughed. I would have thought you had a screw loose. But today I am thinking seriously of totally quitting eBay.

When I first started on eBay about ten years ago, it was an amazing place. Back then, I could put a wind chime on auction for 99 cents, and I would typically get more than I thought I would, and often a lot more.

Not so long ago, an auction would attract somewhere between 250 to 500 views. Often within the first couple of hours of listing, there would be a bid, or multiple bids, and perhaps nearly a hundred visits.

Welcome to the new eBay. Here is an example of what a dismal place it now is. I listed three auctions at around 5:00 PM yesterday. This is still during prime Christmas shopping days. This morning, two of them have had one (one!) visits, and the third has had two visits. Unbelievable! Back in the good lo' days, I expect those same auctions at this same time of year would have each have had over a hundred visits, not to mention multiple bids. What in the world has eBay done? Whatever it is, it is wrong, wrong, wrong.

In a nutshell, eBay now stinks.

Thank goodness I listened to a friend who saw this coming, and I set up a good website (Coast Chimes), and I also researched many other sites out there, and finally determined that one stood out (Etsy). I now get most of my sales through these two venues.

Yes, I would have laughed two years ago at the idea of closing down my eBay store and auctions. But sadly this is now what I will be doing. Because eBay no longer works for me.

Wind Chime and Suncatcher Sale Continues

2009-11-20T09:23:00.004-08:00

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Flowing Copper

Beach Glass Inspired Wind Chime

Five Copper Chimes / Hammered Copper Windsail

Last week my first BIG sale went so well, I decided to continue it for a while. The exchange rate is so unfavourable right now, I need to sell more works than previously, just to meet my material bills.

I have a number of really great sale prices on Etsy (an excellent arts and crafts website). For example, the flowing copper beach glass inspired wind chime pictured above is on sale, marked down from $179.50 to just $139. You can find it on this Etsy Page. I have about fifteen items on sale on Etsy, some marked way down.

There are different sale items on my own website, Coast Chimes. I have one of my kaleidoscope beach glass inspired wind chimes on sale on the Carousel Page. And there is also a super beautiful wind chime with three nice large glass pieces and copper wire wrapping on my Gallery Page.

These are some great deals; excellent for the early Christmas gift shopper. Most of these sales will end soon. Enjoy.

Wind Chime Sale

2009-11-04T07:13:00.004-08:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

On Sale

Beach Glass Inspired Kaleidoscope Wind Chime

With Five Copper Chimes and a Beach Stone Clapper

Reg. $177.50, now on sale for $135 incl. postage to the USA or Canada

Late October and November are the slowest times of the year for me, which is kind of a good thing as it allows plenty of time to get ready for the Christmas rush, to make a lot of stock. But it is also kind of a bad thing, as for some odd reason the bills keep coming in. In fact, since I make so many things during this relatively quiet period, the bills come in faster and larger than usual, since materials cost a lot of money.

From the eco-friendly excellent tung nut oil finish I use ($38 a quart), to the copper for the chimes, it all adds up. Then there are the tools. My sort of work does not just involve investing in a lot of expensive tools like a table saw, but constantly repairing and replacing those tools. For example, just last week my soldering iron burnt out, and my air compressor fried. The air compressor took along a hundred dollar extension cord as a special bonus.

In anticipation of some particularly eye-popping bills soon to arrive, I have decided to run a few sales. I have a number of beautiful works over at the excellent arts and crafts site Etsy (eleven beautiful works on sale). And I also have a few items on my website, including the stunning kaleidoscope wind chime pictured above.

Wind Chime, Mixed Media, Beach Style Glass with Marbles

2009-10-28T10:43:00.002-07:00

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Mixed media art wind chime

Five copper chimes with a beach stone clapper

Hammered copper windsail

Visit the Carousel Page on My Website for more information

I finally got around to making some more of the ever popular mixed media kaleidoscope wind chimes. These are like my regular kaleidoscope wind chimes, but with the addition of some colourful marbles. They look really nice with the sun shining through from behind, especially in the morning and late afternoon, when the sun is low in the sky.

These measure about 45 inches long, from the top of the handcrafted copper loop hanger to the bottom of the hammered copper windsail.

Driftwood Necklace Earring Set

2009-10-24T07:25:00.004-07:00

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Driftwood handcrafted necklace with beach pebbles and copper and matching earrings. The final set on my new jewelry website: CoastCopper.com

My new website, Coast Copper, is now finished. It consist of a small selection of unique artist-made necklace and earring sets: each completely handcrafted, entirely one-of-a-kind. These are not made with commercial beads etc., and merely assembled: I made all the primary components by hand.

And the best news is that I have drastically reduced the prices on most sets. I decided I would rather sell a few more sets than make more per set, and also, why not give people a good deal? It's nice to offer such unique, handmade works for such a great price.

That said, the prices are introductory, and may change (read, go up) as the site becomes more popular.

Why not check out the neat Coverflow Page, where you can see all the sets quickly. If you see a set you like, or want more information about, just click on the coverflow image and you will be taken to the description page, where there is also a larger picture.

Necklace and Earring Set, Hammered Copper

2009-10-20T10:46:00.006-07:00

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An example of the stunning handcrafted artist-designed necklace and earring sets now available on my new website: CoastCopper.com

I've almost finished (until the first major revision!) my new website, Coast Copper, and I have enjoyed some very nice feedback. This is a small collection of unique handcrafted copper and beach stone necklace and earring sets.

Recently I added a Coverflow page to make browsing a snap. If you have ever used iTunes, you probably are familiar with Coverflow. Each image on my Coverflow page is linked to the page where you will find a larger image, a description, and a secure buy button (through PayPal).

If you have already had a look at the site, you may like to check back to see the new, (hopefully) improved color scheme. All prices include shipping and insurance, and satisfaction is completely guaranteed.

Coast Copper, New Jewelry Website

2009-10-11T06:42:00.006-07:00

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Flowing Copper Necklace with Matching Earrings
Visit Coast Copper for Handcrafted Artist-designed Jewelry

A sister website to Coast Chimes is now up and running: Coast Copper.

Artist Tim Kline has created a very limited edition of necklaces with matching earrings. Using his years of experience working with copper and stone producing original designs for the home and garden, he now offers some astonishing, one-of-a-kind necklace and earring sets.

Like his home and garden creations, these are not to be found anywhere else. This jewelry is completely handcrafted, totally original.

To see seven unique necklace and earring sets, visit Coast Copper.

Amazing Rain Chain

2009-10-03T17:03:00.004-07:00

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Special Order

7 Foot long Blue Glass and Copper Rain Chain

Pacific Driftwood top Section

Visit the Special Order Page of my website for information.

I enjoy doing custom work, special orders. Especially when the customer is super nice (most are), and even more so when they allow a great deal of artistic freedom. Making the above pictured rain chain was labor intensive (my blue glass is the hardest to work with), but pleasure too. The customer described in general terms what she was thinking of, and then told me to use my skill and imagination-- there was no looking over my shoulder.

The real pleasure came when I completed the piece, because my wife, who is rather use to my work after fourteen years and does not get too excited about it most of the time, went on and on about how beautiful this one was. Then, after emailing photographs to the customer, her reaction was very sweet-- so excited!

Custom designs can really be rewarding, when you manage to fulfil the customer's dreams, or, in this case, go beyond those dreams, as she said.

Wind Chime: Amazing Driftwood

2009-09-25T15:04:00.002-07:00

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A truly amazing Pacific driftwood wind chime.
Visit the driftwood page on my website for more information or to purchase.

Anyone who has wandered the beaches of the West Coast of British Columbia knows that there is often a very large amount of wood. So it is odd that it is actually pretty difficult to find decent pieces to use for art and wind chimes. Most are way to large, and the smaller ones are frequently very beat up. So when I find a good piece, it makes my day. When I find a great piece, like the one pictured above, it makes my week.

The piece above is the most interesting I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Intriguing would be the word.

Why not visit my website to see all sorts of neat works? From huge freestanding wind chimes to small suncatchers, there is something for every taste and budget.

Coast Chimes: Prices Going Up

2009-09-11T08:58:00.004-07:00

Click on the image to see it larger.

Beach glass inspired suncatcher chime with

hammered copper dividers and aged brass chimes.

Visit Coast Chimes for more information, or to purchase.

Prices are going to be rising on almost all of my wind chimes, suncatchers and other works.

This partially reflects the decline of the US dollar, and the increase in the cost of materials.

But mainly this is because I have reached a stage where my work has never been better. It is simply a finer, higher quality product. Despite increased skill, I am also spending more time on each piece. The care and attention shows, and it's just common sense to see this reflected in the price.

So if you are thinking of investing in a Coast Chimes work for a special Christmas gift for someone, I suggest you buy now. Over the next several weeks, most prices will increase by between 10 and 20 percent.

Buying now is also a good idea because, while most shipments go through to the USA snag-free and fairly fast, once in a while they do take a long time, getting caught up at the border.

So why not visit Coast Chimes today, and do a little early Christmas shopping? And remember, there is still free, expert shipping on all orders to the USA and Canada.

Amazing Driftwood Wind Chime

2009-09-09T09:34:00.006-07:00

Click on the image to see it larger

Natural Pacific Driftwood

Five Handcrafted Copper Chimes

Visit my website for details or to purchase: Coast Chimes

Driftwood is so beautiful: I love it! But it is challenging to find really nice driftwood around here, on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. The tides and waves can treat the wood harshly, so while there is tons and tons of wood, it is often too beat up.

When I find a particularly gorgeous piece, and everything clicks together, the result can be striking. For example, the wind chime above. One word: Beautiful.

I could not decide whether I liked it best with copper chimes, or with iron chimes, so I photographed it with both. It's a personal choice.

Research and Development, Coast Chimes

2009-08-20T07:55:00.003-07:00

Click on the image to see it larger.

Cobalt Blue Glass with Aged Brass Chimes

Now with vastly improved sound.

Visit the 'Under $75' page of my website by clicking here.

You would think after fourteen years of making wind chimes, my research and development would be pretty much history. Not at all.

About a month ago I made several significant changes to the large copper chime section of my big wind chimes. This resulted in a more elegant look, improved sound, and less soldering.

For many years I have struggled with the small chimes on my suncatchers. Originally I used massed produced aluminum chimes, but I did not like using something mass produced, and I did not like the aluminum. I then spent many hours thinking about and experimenting with small diameter copper, with mixed results. I went back and forth between copper and aluminum, and was never satisfied.

At last I determined that I simply could not tolerate the aluminum chimes with my beautiful copper and glass. For a short while I thought I had a solution, which was simply taking enormous care crafting the mini-copper chimes, and getting my son to tie them onto my handcrafted copper hangers with heavy nylon line. Sadly, the line tended not to hold up, and that obviously would not do. Back to the drawing board.

Next I decided to use kidney ear wires to attach the chimes to my hangers. They looked wonderful, and they were clearly on for life. The one snag was that the sound was not very good, but I rationalized this, thinking three chimes in a row are never going to make much sound, anyway. I was not happy, but I thought they were good enough. I went for looks and durability above sound.

I got a wake up call when some drop-in customers came with a young boy. The boy was hopping around playing with all my work, and he was commenting as he went. Several times he made a comment about not much sound from the mini chimes. Children are so honest!

So I determined to slay this monster once and for all — back to research and development. I bought a lot of different types of materials, and decided to work on this until I was 100% satisfied. That's what my customers deserve, and that is what I expect of myself, too.

I am pleased to say that I have finally found the perfect solution. My new system to attach the mini-chimes is very strong, and the resonance is as good or better than with just plain nylon. Win, win.

Coverflow Page on Coast Chimes

2009-08-04T09:52:00.004-07:00

Click on the image to see it larger

Coverflow presentation of my 15 most recent works.

Visit the Coverflow Page on my website.

Always having my eyes open for ways to improve my website, the Varsis Studio Coverflow plugin for RapidWeaver web design software caught my eye several months ago. But it was not until a new website project came along ( Click Modular ~ innovative modular homes), that I found I could justify the expense-- reasonable as it may be at $14.99.

Since the Click site was really basic, being mostly images, I thought this would add a little intrigue to the site. A way to present pictures without producing yawns.

It's neat, because you can navigate several different ways, and also you can click on the middle image and open a Shadowbox show. Pretty cool.

Now I put the same Coverflow style of page on my own website. I have it linked through a Flickr account, and I plan to upload all my most recent works to that Flickr account. This will thus be a gallery of my 15 most recent works.

Blue, Beautiful Blue

2009-08-02T08:12:00.004-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

All Glass and Copper

Cobalt Blue Glass

With Aged Copper Chimes

Wind Chime

I'm particularly proud of the two blue glass wind chimes I just completed.

Blue glass is the most challenging to work with, as it tends to fracture and is difficult to form into pleasant shapes, and even tricky to drill the holes in it. When I have a really nice piece, I pretty much hold my breath when drilling!

I figured it was well worth taking extra trouble for the entire wind chime, and used a glass roundel for suspending the chimes. This means that the chime is entirely glass and copper: nothing to wear out or require refinishing. I also treated the brushed copper chimes to antique them, as I think this color really compliments the dark blue glass nicely.

You can view the other all blue wind chime, and get more details on the one pictured above, by visiting the Gallery Page on my website.

Large Freestanding Double Wind Chime

2009-07-18T06:28:00.004-07:00

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Driftwood with Double Chimes

Freestanding Wind Chime

My large works do not fly out the door, as they are pretty expensive. The one pictured above features a massive Pacific driftwood base, copper intertwined flowing supports, beautiful glass and two sets of copper chimes. It sold yesterday.

I used to be really happy when one of my large works sold. I still am, but that initial thrill is now overshadowed with dread: these are a chore to pack for shipping!

It used to be even more work to ship something like this. I used to actually cut plywood and build a special box for the copper support. Now I just use big sheets of cardboard, lots of tape, and shipping paper. Those poor collectors who received their order in a big plywood box probably did not appreciate having to dispose of the packing materials.

I have a page dedicated to large works and there are still two available on my website. They are really nice on a sundeck, or out in the garden. They can also be used indoors, in a home or an office, as kinetic art.

Colorful Wind Chime

2009-06-19T08:56:00.004-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

Colorful glass, beach glass inspired art wind chime.

Visit the Gallery Page of my website for more information.

For fourteen years I have been limited in colors to primarily greens, browns, blues and yellows for my glass. But a couple of weeks ago a friend dropped by some really stunning glass. The result is seen above: a radical deviation from my usual.

People frequently ask if I can't make something red, or purple. Since I don't usually have glass in those colors, several years ago I started making double-sided reverse painted wind chimes and mixed media wind chimes, where I try to put in lots of reds and purples. Purple and red, yes, but a far cry from the glass above.

This is the first time I actually have really bright colors in a beach glass inspired wind chime. Something different.

Wind Chime, New Design

2009-06-13T19:13:00.003-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

New design!

Beach glass inspired wind chime with a large copper hoop.

For more information, visit Coast Chimes

Often new ideas are triggered by customers asking for something. A customer wanted my very large, heavy iron chimes with one piece of glass. I didn't like that idea very much, because first the look would have been unbalanced (bottom heavy), and second, even my thickest glass might have been challenged by the weight of those big chimes.

So I thought about it overnight, and in the morning I had a solution that pleased the customer, and me. I decided to make a large copper hoop. I put the glass in the hoop, and the hoop supported the weight of the chimes. This solved the weight problem, and also made for a much more balanced looking wind chime.

After I made the special order, I liked the look so much I decided to make another one. This time I put two nice pieces of glass inside the hoop, and used my copper chimes. Above, you can see the result. I like it. Be sure to click on the picture to see it much larger.

Wind Chime, Beach Glass Inspired, Blue and Green

2009-06-04T10:46:00.002-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

Wind Chime

Beach Glass Inspired

Blue and Green with

Copper Chimes

Visit my Coast Chimes Website to learn more.

It's been remarkably busy. Remarkable, I say, because of all the details about the rotten economy on the news every five minutes. My wind chimes are not cheap, but people still seem to recognize that there is value in quality, and they are willing to pay a little extra for something unique, well made, and beautiful.

I finally got time to make a few specialized kaleidoscope style wind chimes. I almost always have some with mixed colors in stock, but often run out of those with select colors. This week I put together two with blue and green glass, a mix I find very refreshing on these hot days. I also put together two with what I call earth colors, which is a mix without any blue.

I find I am spending even more time making each chime. I have always paid close attention to every detail, but now I see more details. After nearly fifteen years of making wind chimes, the eyes get pretty sharp. It's important to me to do everything the best that I can. The funny thing is, as I become more and more of a perfectionist in regards to my work, I have less tolerance for the sloppy work of others. There is too much poorly designed, poorly made stuff. In fact, it is hard to find something that is well designed and well made. That's just not in the cards these days. No wonder people appreciate my work!

Wind Chime, Mixed Media

2009-05-21T09:12:00.006-07:00

Click on the image to see it larger

Beach Glass Inspired Wind Chime

with Colorful Marbles

Visit my website for more information, or to buy.

I ran out of my mixed media colorful wind chimes about a month ago. It turns out to be not so easy to track down really nice, colorful marbles.

I'd had a local source before, but that was gone. I was hesitant to buy marbles online, as it is hard to know how good they are without holding them up to the light. I did finally get some, and they are gorgeous! The colors are lovely, and they are a little smaller than those I have used in the past, which is great since that means I can set my glass plate closer together, which lets more light through.

I buy online whenever possible, and I find I do so more and more often. Since I sell almost all my work online, it just makes sense to support the online community. Almost always the service I receive astounds me. It certainly is not only me who works very hard to give great service.

Wind Chime, Hammered Copper

2009-05-19T19:58:00.004-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

Copper Lover's Delight

Hammered Copper Wind Chime

With Five Copper Chimes

Visit my website for more information (Click Here)

The idea for this hammered copper wind chime came to me the other night as I was dozing off. This is often the case for my inspiration. I usually plan out what I am going to do the next day, and if there is nothing too urgent then I try to dream up some new ideas.

It would not be much fun to just make the same thing day in and day out. So I'm pleased that even after fourteen years I still have flashes of inspiration.

I really love this all copper wind chime. It looks elegant, beautiful, and unusual. It looks like quality, and it is.

Wind Chime Sale!

2009-05-11T09:12:00.004-07:00

Beach Glass Inspired

Sculpted Cedar Wind Chime

Five Copper Chimes - Beach Stone Clapper

(Click on the picture to see it larger.)

On Sale for $137 (reg. $177.50) including postage (USA / Canada)

Click Here for more information or to buy.

I rarely place my sculpted red cedar style of wind chime on sale, as they are very labor intensive to make. But I decided to put one on sale this week. It's beautiful!

There are lots of beautiful wind chimes (and other works for the home, yard, garden and office) on my website. It's worth visiting and looking around. You are sure to see things you have never seen before, as all my designs are original, unique and, of course, very well made.

Celebrate spring with a stunning art wind chime, or surprise a friend with a special gift. I am happy to include a gift card with a personal message.

Suncatcher, Beach Glass Inspired

2009-05-06T17:26:00.004-07:00

Suncatcher, beach glass inspired stained glass hanging. So pretty! So well made!

Visit my website 'Under $100' page to learn more, or to buy it.

What a shock. I expected things to get a little busier with spring in the air, but it suddenly got crazy busy. In fact, I don't believe I have ever had a week with so many sales.

Of course, it happened just after I accepted a large wholesale order. I promised the store that I could have everything made and shipped by next Monday, at the latest, and then someone opened the flood gate on orders. Even the pre-Christmas rushes in the past have never been this busy. Go figure.

So I pack and ship and pack and ship, and in between I try to get out and make something for the wholesale order. I could use a few more hours in the day, right now. Up at 5:00 AM and working right through until it's time to cook dinner. No complaints, I'm thrilled to have this success.

Peanut Butter Pie, Blog

2009-05-01T08:59:00.002-07:00

Peanut Butter Pie Blog

I've had the pleasure of several bloggers emailing to ask if they could feature something of mine in their blog (Yes! Thank You!), but I don't recall anyone going to so much trouble and care as Tami over at her PeanutButterPie blog. She's really gone out of her way to do a fabulous job.

She first wrote about two weeks ago, and later sent some questions for me to answer. She then put together a long posting with lots of nice pictures.

Her hard work shows, so check out her blog and see what a nice job she has done. Thank you Tami!

Wholesale Wind Chimes, Price Reduced

2009-04-29T06:55:00.005-07:00

Beach Glass Inspired

Kaleidoscope Wind Chime

Wholesale packages available.

A popular style of my handcrafted glass and copper wind chimes. Visit my wholesale page by Clicking Here.

Due to the Canadian Dollar being so much stronger against the US dollar than it was a few months ago, I have been able to reduce the price of many of my works. Today I also reduced the price of my wholesale packages. So while pretty much everywhere you look, prices go up and up, my wind chimes are becoming more affordable. Nice!

Entering my fourteenth year of making suncatchers, wind chimes and other works for the home and garden, I am happy to report that the quality, always high, is higher than ever. I am always on the lookout for ways to improve, and seldom does a week go by without my thinking of some way to tweak my designs. Lower prices, improved designs!

I've also just dropped the price for many of my wind chimes for the casual shopper, too. As always, free shipping, and free cold forged copper earrings with every purchase. Enjoy.

Apple iPod Touch Review: e-Book Reader and More

2009-04-27T09:02:00.004-07:00

Click on the images to see them larger

Apple iPod Touch: Awesome

After dreaming of owning an e-book reader for several months, I finally snagged an Apple iPod Touch a couple of weeks ago when they went on sale.

When thinking of an e-book reader, an iPod Touch is probably not what comes to most people’s mind. But having researched readers extensively on the web, I was impressed by how many favorable reviews I came across.

I chose the Touch instead of a Kindle because the Kindle is not available in Canada, I find it unattractive (ugly), and it is too big for my pocket— I might as well drag along a book.

I couldn’t be happier with my choice.

While there are several book reader apps available for the Touch (including Kindle), Stanza (free) is the one I have so far been using. It’s wonderful! With the touch of a finger you can change the size of the font, colors, background, and all sorts of other stuff to make the page look just right for you, and for the current light conditions. There are a ton of classics available for free, and some contemporary works too. Connected via WiFi, it takes just a couple of seconds to download any book.

While I had been skeptical that the small screen size would provide a good reading experience, the sharp screen means the letters are very clear, so you can use a small font, and, besides, simply touching the side of the screen turns the page— not exactly onerous. The iPod Touch is a far better book reader than I ever imagined it would be. It remembers your place in a book, and just takes a second to turn on, so the upshot is I have been doing a lot more reading.

Stanza on the iPod Touch. Click the image to see it larger.

Bonus: I got the Touch to use as a book reader, but it turns out that I am using it for far, far more.

I had no idea of all the cool stuff you could do with an iPod Touch. There are about 30,000 apps available. Granted, the majority of those are games, which hold no interest at all for me, but there are also many that I have found very useful. Here are a few of my favorites.

Email. Being a compulsive email checker, the Touch is saving me tons of time and energy. I used to wake my computer far too often to check. Now I pick them all up on my iPod, where ever I am, even all the way out in my workshop.

Internet Browsing. The Touch comes with Safari, and again I find the small screen oddly non-bothersome. You just pull your fingers across the screen, which expands any website for easy reading. And with an app called Instapaper (free), you can save web pages to the iPod to read later when not connected to the internet.

News and articles. Being something of a news junkie, I am thrilled at the numerous apps dedicated to various news services and magazines. My favorites (so far) are the Huffington Post, Maclean’s, and the Globe and Mail (all free). You can update these before leaving home and then enjoy catching up even out of a WiFi zone.

Skype. I’ve used Skype for several years on my home computer. It turns out it works even better on the Touch. (I am guessing this is because of no interference from whirling hard drives etc.?). To use it on the Touch, you need to buy earphones with a mic— about $30 from Apple.

There are around a dozen other apps I use frequently. Everything from movie reviews and trailers (Flixster) to shopping lists (ShopShop).

Aside from all those cool apps, after a several year hiatus the iPod Touch is turning me back onto music. There are many fabulous podcasts (free), for example I have become quite addicted to the NPR Live Concert series.

Also, I have found that I can borrow audio library books online~ pretty sweet!

One final real benefit of the iPod Touch. I love watching films, however I do not like going to the video store, especially to return videos. For quite a while I have been renting videos online. Previously this meant lugging my iMac downstairs and watching on its barely adequate 20 inch screen. Now I just transfer them over to my iPod and plug it into our large tv (requires an adopter). The picture quality, by the way, is great.

My iPod Touch? One word: Awesome.

Suncatcher, Beach Glass inspired, Hanging

2009-04-24T10:35:00.004-07:00

Click on the image to see it larger

Suncatcher, Beach Glass Inspired Window Hanging

Visit my website for more information, or to buy.

It's been busy. Putting together a fairly large wholesale order always takes more time and work than I anticipate. The thing is, while I put together something like that, I also build some stock for my website.

For example, the wholesale order included two hanging suncatchers. While I was building those, I built another three for my website, too. In the end, that's a more efficient way of doing things. They all came out really well, as you can see from the one pictured above. You can view the three extras on my website right now.

I feel lucky today. My son came home from University the other day, and asked if he could take my car to drive to Kamloops, BC, to visit a friend of his. How funny. I had just been getting into some serious head scratching over how to ship my huge driftwood birdbath to the customer. Well, she lives in Kamloops! This works for everyone. I can ship pain-free, my son gets his gas paid for, and the customer gets her birdbath express delivered to her doorstep. Sometime things just work out.

Suncatcher Chime Fancy, Inspiration

2009-04-11T11:19:00.004-07:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

Suncatcher Chime, beach glass inspired, cold forged

hammered copper diamond connectors. Three handcrafted copper chimes.

To learn more, or to purchase, visit the website by Click Here.

After all these years of making suncatchers, I still come up with new ideas. Having left over heavy copper sheeting from the patching I had to do on the hammered copper sink for the birdbath I made, it occurred to me that I could use this to make some neat new decoration on my suncatchers and wind chimes. Above, the results: the hammered cold forged copper diamonds between the glass pieces.

Inspiration is a funny thing. I find it has to come to me, that I can not go to it. It comes in a flash, from (as far as I can tell) nowhere. It seems most often to be triggered by materials: a piece of stone on the beach, a stick, a scrap of metal. Sometimes, it comes from a question someone asked (i.e, 'can you make a birdbath?'). Where ever, and what ever, I feel grateful that I do get ideas, and that often those ideas do seem to work out.

Wind Chime, Freestanding, Beach Stone and Copper

2009-03-27T09:45:00.002-07:00

Click on the image to see it larger

Wind chime, Freestanding

Natural Pacific Beach Stone with Copper

for more information, or to purchase, Click Here

I have a passion for beautiful smooth rounded beach stones, and for copper. So it is only natural that I love creating freestanding wind chimes from these materials. I just finished making the one pictured above, and consider it a real success. It's an organic, lovely piece.

The only problem with these is that they are large, and heavy. That's a problem because I not only make them, but I ship them; trust me, they are not so much fun to pack and the postage is not so much fun to pay.

Whenever I get a notice that one sold, first my heart soars with the thrill of another sale, and then sinks with the realization of the task ahead. But over the years I have perfected the art of packing these, and it's not all that bad anymore. Bad, but not that bad.

And from the enthusiastic emails customers send after receiving this style, the effort is worth it.

Bird Feeder Art Wind Chime Makeover

2009-03-23T09:40:00.004-07:00

Click on the pictures, to see it larger

Deluxe Bird Feeder Wind Chime

Delicious

I've made a lot of deluxe art bird feeder wind chimes over the years. They are without a doubt one of the most labor intensive creations I make. So many precision saw cuts! About a year ago, when I made several, I thought that I had perfected the design beyond further improvement. Wrong.

I'm not sure that the room for improvement ever completely vanishes. While the look is almost the same, this latest design incorporates several significant enhancements.

For example, instead of resting on top, the cover now actually fits over the feeder. This is not only more secure, but also more water tight, and more attractive. The perches are a little longer, and I am sure the birds will be sending plenty of thank you notes for that one. Also, the seed bin is larger. So my 'perfect' design got a considerable makeover, and is that much closer to actually being perfect.

You can find the feeder for sale on my website, right here: Feeder

It is also available with impressive iron chimes, right here: Feeder Iron Chimes

You can also buy this amazing feeder without any chimes at all, if you like. Just scroll down the website page, and there is that option on the PayPal submit form.

Another Birdbath

2009-03-14T18:08:00.005-07:00

Click on the pictures to see them larger.

Above, reflection in the bath. Look at that beautiful old copper!

Below, the medium-size birdbath.

My last posting showing the large driftwood birdbath drew a number of enthusiastic comments. So I though I would go ahead and post a couple of pictures of my other birdbath creation.

I like them both, but if I had to choose I would pick the great big old fellow. This smaller one is neat, though, in that there is a big stainless steel threaded fitting up into the wood, and then right through a big natural beach stone. It's bolted to the stone. So you just bury the stone in your garden, and that's a nice stable bath.

The big root bath is now featured on the special order page of my website.

And that reminds me! I just invested in a sparkling new template for my website, and after working many hours I've now uploaded everything. New, and hopefully improved. You probably will not notice too much difference in appearance, but things should work even more smoothly. Why not check it out? Besides, I lowered a bunch of prices!

Birdbath

2009-03-12T13:57:00.008-07:00

Click on the pictures to see them larger.

Pacific Root Driftwood
With a Large Old Copper Sink
Birdbath

I mentioned a while back that I was working on a birdbath, as a potential custom order. I'd never made one before-- the idea had never even occurred to me. And when a customer asked if I could make a birdbath, my initial thought was to say no. However, I suddenly remembered a big old pounded copper sink someone had given me last summer, and realized that maybe this could be the bath.

Driftwood is always a passion of mine, and so that aspect of the bath was a natural. It was not so simple or quick to find the piece of wood that matched my plans. Then, all the technical aspects of fitting the bath into the wood, and securing the wood to the earth.

I'm happy with the results, though. Perhaps I will be adding birdbaths to my lineup of home and garden designs. In the meantime, check out my website for all the neat things I already offer. You can always visit my Special Order page, too, to read about requesting something different.

The night after taking the photographs above, it snowed. So here is a fun image of the same feeder snow covered.

New Snazzy Wind Chime Windsails!

2009-03-03T17:39:00.002-08:00

Click on the image to see it larger

New snazzy windsail design: Hammered copper

I constantly strive to improve my designs, and to dream up new ideas. Innovation often arrives through indirect routes.

Recently a customer asked if I could make a birdbath for her. Never having made one before, my initial reaction was to decline. But then I recalled an acquaintance had long ago given me a very large, beautiful old round copper sink. After much thought, I decided this could be a very cool birdbath, using a huge, upside down driftwood root. More on all that in another post. The thing is, I had to buy some thick copper to patch the drain hole in the sink. That in turn led to my inspiration for a new windsail design.

The new windsails add, I feel, an elegant twist to my wind chimes. My chimes are still mostly going to be offered with the tung nut oiled red cedar sails, but there is now the option (for a small fee) to upgrade to this new copper style.

For those who have previously purchased a wind chime from Coast Chimes, there is also the opportunity to order just a windsail (or a replacement cedar sail, if yours has gotten worn over the years).

Check out my the Windsail Page on my website.

Wholesale Wind Chimes and Art

2009-02-24T16:12:00.003-08:00

Left, center and right, several of my suncatchers hanging in the window of the Full Moon and Candle Company, in Sequim Washington.

Recently I improved the Wholesale Ordering page on my website. Now not only can you custom order for your store or gallery, but I have also put together some Easy Order bundles. These are especially suitable for the first time order, when you want to try out fairly small selections of items. So now you can instantly order a selection of suncatchers, or a selection of wind chimes.

Some of these easy order selections are even suitable for individuals, who may want to order a larger selection for their home, yard or garden, or as gifts. There is even an easy order cold forged copper earring page, which would be a great way to get all your friends something unique, beautiful, and for an amazing price.

Neat Suncatchers

2009-02-15T17:21:00.006-08:00

New!
Beach Glass inpspired
Suncatchers
Click on the pictures to see them larger

Freestanding suncatcher above and
hanging version below.

I've just added several really nice beach glass inspired kaleidoscope suncatchers to my website.

There is a hanging style, and a freestanding style. These are really fine for any sunny window. As the sun shines through the glass, the colors come alive producing a beautiful display.

Despite being extremely well made with eco-friendly tung nut oiled red cedar box frames and extra-thick plate glass, I have decided to place these in my Under $75 section— and the price includes postage and insurance for the USA and Canada!

Why not have a look now? Click Here to visit them on my website. Enjoy!

Bosch Table Saw Dead

2009-02-06T09:14:00.004-08:00

Click on the image to see it larger

Beach glass inspired kaleidoscope wind chime
On sale for $127.50 instead of $177.50!
Visit the Kaleidoscope Carousel Gallery of my Website.

I just bought 200 pieces of 3 1/2 X 11 inch thick plate glass, and I was looking forward to getting to work making a lot of neat wind chimes and freestanding suncatchers when...
my Bosch 4000 table saw broke— again. It's dead.

Several years ago, just shortly after the warranty expired, the bearings burnt out and I had to ship it to Vancouver, wait about two months, and pay a small fortune to have it repaired. Since then, it has worked pretty well. But now it does not even hum when I turn it one. Ominous.

I'm going to look at it today, to see if I can figure out what is going on. But most likely I will end up getting a new saw. This time, it will be a DeWalt. That will be cost about $700, so I will be looking to sell quite a few items in the next few weeks, which means great deals for you!

I just lowered the sale price of my kaleidoscope wind chime to $127.50, including Expedited postage to the USA or Canada (other countries, email for a reduced postage quote). I also have a super beautiful flowing copper wind chime on sale.

Beautiful Blue ~ Beach Glass Inspired Scultped Wind Chime

2009-02-04T10:22:00.004-08:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

Sculpted red cedar with blue glass and copper. Beautiful. For more information, or to purchase, visit my website.

I love red cedar, especially when treated with my eco-friendly tung nut oil finish. It's smooth, soft, smells good, and looks great! I think it compliments my glass and the copper very nicely. So I really like this wind chime!

Finally, most of the snow is gone. This is great, as taking pictures with a snowy background is a real drag-- messes up brightness and contrast. However, a lot of my supplies are still buried under deep snow behind the house, so it will be a while before certain project can be tackled. I'm looking so forward to spring, and especially summer!

SD Cards Jump in Technology

2009-02-02T15:41:00.004-08:00

Before long, these will be available up to 2 terabytes~Enough memory for over 165,000 images

My first digital camera had some small SD card that I would constantly fill, have to empty into my computer, and go back to taking pictures of my stuff. Then I got something like a 512 MB card, and things were easier, But I would once and a while still fill it during one session (I take a lot of pictures of my work!). So just recently I saw the price on 2GB cards, and bought one right away-- less than $30!

Well, recently announced, in the near future there will be 2 terabyte cards (SDX) available. 2 terabytes? 2000 megabytes! Enough memory in a postage stamp size card to hold 600-1000 HD movies. Or over 160,000 images. Guess I wouldn't be running out of memory with one of those puppies! It boggles the mind (at least my mind) that so much data could be stored in such a small thing.

The first of the new cards should be out later this year, but these will be 64GB.

My guess? Watch for a change in how your local video store rents movies.

Barbecued Dog

2009-01-30T10:04:00.004-08:00

Click on the image to see it larger

These cold days, the wood stove is nice and toasty, but Yukon proves falling asleep in front of it is not a good idea.

We've had such a long, cold winter. The ol' wood stove has been working hard to heat our home.

We all like to spend some moments in front of it, warming our back and front sides. No one likes this more than Yukon. Last night we were all upstairs when suddenly we smelt something burning. Turned out to be dog fur. The hound had been sleeping a little too close, for a little too long, and he started to toast. I guess his heavy fur coat insulates pretty well, and he never felt how hot it was, until it was too late. Talk about a 'golden' retriever! I noticed he is not sleeping in front of the stove this morning, so maybe he's figured that out.

Beach Glass Inspired Kaleidoscope Wind Chimes!

2009-01-26T10:37:00.004-08:00

Click on the image to see it larger

Beach glass inspired kaleidoscope wind chime
Now on sale on my website!

Despite the cold, irregardless of the snow, I have finally managed to complete a few of my popular kaleidoscope art wind chimes. There are four stunningly beautiful new ones on my website, and I even put one of them on sale for only $137.50, instead of the usual $177.50. The price even includes shipping (USA and Canada)!

It does indeed continue to be unusually cold here on the Sunshine Coast. Last night it was minus 6C, and the forecast is for snow tonight and tomorrow. Unbelievable. We still have snow on the ground from before Christmas. This makes for very pretty hikes up on the mountain, but uncomfortable days working on my projects. Thank goodness for my somewhat heated workshop-- the first year I have this luxury. Still, there is a lot of stuff that has to be done right out in the open, and I can hardly wait for spring!

Cool Freestanding Suncatchers

2009-01-21T09:20:00.004-08:00

Click on the image to see it larger

Freestanding Beach Glass Inspired
Suncatcher Chime
Natural Pacific Beach Stone ~ Naturally Beautiful!

Busy times here on the Sunshine Coast. The Christmas rush, and then several wholesale orders, made a BIG dent in my stock. So I am working full speed to make new things.

I've just completed a series of freestanding natural beach stone sculptures, some with handcrafted copper chimes, some with double sets of chimes, and othres with glass and no chimes. These are truly unique. The glass and copper go so nicely with the natural stone and the tung nut oiled wood. Very peaceful.

To see the full series, visit the Gallery Page of my website. You can learn all about them, and, if you wish, buy one. Even though these are large and heavy to ship, there is no postage or handling charge on my website prices for the USA or Canada. If you are in Canada, you may wish to ask for an invoice in Canadian funds. Enjoy.

New Reverse Painted Double-sided Wind Chimes Series

2009-01-18T16:32:00.007-08:00

I've finally completed a new series of my original reverse painted double-sided art wind chimes. These are cool. All the color is on the inside, well sealed between two plates of very thick glass, so they are just fine outdoors in all seasons, all weather.

This series I made somewhat more complex than in the past, more glass, and a bit larger, too.

Here are detail pictures of the glass from each of the three sets of wind chimes. These wind chimes have a different painting on each side, so it's almost like getting two wind chimes! You can see full pictures and read more information on my website Gallery page, by clicking here.

Click on the images to see them larger

Earrings Now Offered Wholesale

2009-01-15T14:22:00.008-08:00

Click on the picture to see it larger, or, better yet, visit the 'Earring Wholesale Page"on my website.

Recently I expanded and simplified the wholesale ordering page of my website. Feedback has been great! Now I have added in a wholesale earring page, as well. My cold forged copper earrings are always popular, and reportedly very comfortable to wear as well!

So if you have a store and would like to sell these cool, handcrafted copper earrings, this is a simple way to order wholesale.

Hey! This would also be a great way to order fabulous (but inexpensive) gifts for a party, or some friends. They need never know what a great deal you got!

Wind Chime in a Customer's Yard

2009-01-08T17:10:00.004-08:00

Coast Chimes all Glass and Copper Wind Chime
At its new home in Arizona

It's so nice when customers are excited and proud enough to take a picture of their new wind chime, and email it to me. I enjoy seeing my work in different places, different states, provinces, and countries. It's a little odd seeing my work in places I have never visited.

I particularly like the way this customer has hung the chime. I've seen these large black forged hooks before around here, and even thought about buying some and selling them along with my chimes. But they are just too large to ship. Besides, I believe they are widely available and very reasonably priced at around $15. That's less than I could ship them for. They are certainly well suited for my work. She got this just right, with the sun behind the glass.

See more of my wind chimes and other work on my website.

Wholesale Packages Now Available, Coast Chimes

2009-01-04T09:04:00.004-08:00

Three different wholesale sample packages
now being offered at Coast Chimes!
Visit the Wholesale Page for Details

There have been more and more wholesale enquires for Coast Chimes designs, and it has always been a little complicated sorting out what stores and galleries want. After having completed quite a few of these orders, I got a clear enough idea of what people usually want.

Thus is born the quick and easy wholesale packages that I now offer. There is a small sample package for trying my work out, or for a small shop, a medium one, and a large package which includes two large wind chimes.

This is an easy way to try Coast Chimes out in your store or gallery. It is also a good starting point for those who want to add in some other items. If you own a retail space, why not check out Coast Chimes' new and improved wholesale shopping section?

Flowing Copper Wind Chime

2008-12-30T11:15:00.004-08:00

Flowing Copper Art Wind Chime
Beach glass inspired. Five copper chimes with a beach stone clapper.
Click on the picture to see it larger.
Click Here (www.coastchimes.com) for more information, or to purchase.

My flowing copper wind chime is one of several styles I sold out of during the Christmas rush, and I have been working overtime trying to replenish my stock. Finally I got two flowing copper wind chimes made, one of which is pictured above.

I love this style. The curved copper top compliments the copper wire wrapped glass so nicely. It's peaceful and pretty. Practical, too, since this is a style that can is very well suited to year round outdoor use. That said, I know some people use my wind chimes inside, and that is certainly an unusual and interesting decorating idea.

You can see from the image that we still have a lot of snow here on the Pacific Coast. I don't recall it ever having been so cold and snowy for such a long stretch. What a great year to have finally put heat into my workshop! I don't believe I would be getting much accomplished these days without that. Heat and light, truly a delight.

More Snow Pacific North West

2008-12-23T08:50:00.005-08:00

An updated picture from my last posting, which showed the start of the snow. There is more on the way today. According to the forecast, it looks like we will be enjoying a rare, white Christmas on the Sunshine Coast.

Below, some pretty early morning sunlight illuminating the trees. The clouds are rolling in, and the snow looks to start soon. I'm heading out to turn the heater on in my workshop, as I need to finish some copper chimes before taking a couple of days off.

To all my friends and customers, Season's Greetings!

Winter Comes Early to the Pacific North West

2008-12-17T08:41:00.004-08:00

December 17 is pretty early for winter on the Sunshine Coast.

There are years when winter never acrtually arrives here on the Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada. But evidently this is not such a year. After several days of much colder than usual temperatures, this morning it is snowing hard. And the forecast for far into the future they is for more of the same, except even colder.

The forecast is predicting minus 14 C at night, a few days from now. I guess maybe I should have ordered seven cords of firewood, instead of six.

Below is a picture of the guy who really appreciates a good load of firewood crackling in the stove. Yukon, my seven year old golden pup, likes nothing more than roasting his hide. This morning, when I cam downstairs, I saw that my son had moved the dog's pillow over near the fire. No complaints about that from Yukon, to be sure!

When I come in from working on my latest neat wind chime, with frozen hands and icy feet, I see Yukon snoozing next to the fire. Most often I have to push him aside a bit to make space for myself. I do think these creatures are clever. After all, part of why I am out there working in the freezing cold is so that I can buy him his next outrageously expensive bag of food. Meanwhile, he sleeps a warm and happy sleep, knowing I'll be dragging in a few more heavy loads of wood to keep the fire going, that his meal will be served on time, that all is right with the world.

I'd write more about that, but I better get back outside to make some more things to sell, so I can be sure to have enough money to buy that sack of dog food.

Yukon, oblivious to the world of cold and work.

Christmas Ornaments

2008-12-09T10:17:00.002-08:00

(Click on the image to see it larger.)
Set of five handcrafted beach glass inspired
Christmas ornaments

In past years I always started early making lots of sets of Christmas ornaments, as I knew how popular they would be. This year, I forgot all about them! Probably because there is not enough profit involved to make the time spent making them, and photographing them, packing them, worth it.

That's too bad, because I know how much past customers have enjoyed these. Well, I had one set of accent ornaments available on my website, and I just realized someone might like this set for their tree this year. So I put this set on sale right now: marked down from $47.50 to $29.50 including postage.

You can find them on the 'Sale' page of my website, by clicking here.

US Dollar Rises Fast, Canadian Dollar Tanks: You Save!

2008-12-07T07:41:00.006-08:00

Whoa! No one saw this one coming a few months ago!

Talk about early Christmas presents! I could deal with the 300% increase in copper, and all the other materials going up significantly too, but the rising Canadian dollar on top of that was too much. Worse, all the 'experts' lecturing on the radio did not exactly cheer me up, as a few short months ago they predicted a higher and higher Canadian dollar.

The simple math was that when I sold something two years ago for, say, $100, I would trade those US dollars in and get $145, or more. But a couple of months ago I would trade those same $100 in and get $90, or less. Ouch.

So you can imagine how pleased I am to see our Canadian dollar falling. And you should be happy too. Why? Because this change of scene has enabled me to lower almost all the prices on my website. Many prices have been not just lowered, but slashed.

Visit my website, Coast Chimes, with the new, low prices, by clicking here.

Christmas ~ Still Time to Ship, if you shop now

2008-12-03T10:55:00.003-08:00

Coming Fast ~ Christmas!
(but, if you order soon, there is still time to shop)
Unique, Handcrafted, Wind Chimes
and other items for the home and garden
Great Gifts!
Coast Wind Chimes

It always gets pretty crazy as Christmas approaches. Sadly, every year too many people wait too long to order. Most of my customers are located in the USA, and they perhaps don't realize that I'm located in Canada, and shipping takees a little longer than what they are used to when ordering online. Once in a rare while a shipment can get hung up at the border, too, which can slow things down a lot.

But the postal system has been excellent, and most orders arrive within ten days. That can be even much faster, if you live near the west coast.

So if you have been thinking of a really special gift for someone, consider a unique Coast Chimes handcrafted wind chime or suncatcher. There is still time, if you order now.

Copper Prices Tumble, Yippee.

2008-11-29T09:45:00.005-08:00

Several times in the past, I have written (see previous posting) about copper prices going up up and away. For a while, it seemed I was getting hit from all sides. Copper way up, Canadian dollar way up (hurts because I sell mainly in US dollars), fees and gas way up. Tough times!

Well, things are changing fast. For example, the market price of copper. From a high of over four dollars a pound just a short time ago to near $1.50? Wow. However, this has not yet translated into any reduction of the copper wire and piping I use. Those prices seem, for now, to be stuck at their all time highest. But there is hope. Perhaps in the not too distant future those prices will start to creep down.

The Canadian dollar is so far the biggest and most direct positive on my front. A couple of months ago no one I heard was talking about a lower Canadian dollar. At that time it was around $1.10 US. Ha! Now, at around $.80, I could not be happier.

These small things make a huge difference in the bottom line when running a (very) small operation like mine. You need to really watch the nickels and dimes, as that is where the profit, if any, can be found. Trading in $100 US dollars and getting $85 vs. trading in the same and getting $117-- that's a really important difference.

Driving down to the post office a bunch of times, filling the tank for $85 a few months ago, or filling it now for $50-- there is another significant positive.

Not all is roses. Obviously many people are worried, or having a really hard time, and this is reflected directly on sales, or rather lack of sales. This means more sale prices, lower prices, (see the great low prices here) and so, in the end, there are only a bunch of positives and minuses, and one struggles on.

Website Coast Chimes Updated

2008-11-23T08:07:00.004-08:00

Click on the picture to go to the website

A new, cleaner look. Coast Chimes website.

The other day was very cool, and very wet, here. A perfect day to find any excuse to stay inside and feed the fire! Cleaning up and changing the look of my website is always a good way to kill a few hours.

So a new, fresh look. Some lower prices. The high-quality, unique designs, and expert service remain.

I also fixed a bug that interfered with multiple orders. You should now be able to add as many items to the shopping cart as you like. Safe, secure shopping through PayPal. And you do not need to even be a member of PayPal to shop-- just about any credit card will do.

Don't forget, ordering from Canada can take a bit longer. If you are located in the USA, once in a blue moon things get hung up at the border: avoid holiday disappointment, shop soon.

One thing I did not change— every order receives a free gift of my handcrafted cold forged earrings. Also, speaking of gifts, if you are ordering a gift and need it shipped directly, that is no problem. In fact, send along a personal message, and I will be happy to include that on a nice card for you.

Enjoy.

Wind Chimes on Sale, Bargains

2008-11-21T11:15:00.004-08:00

Click on the picture to see it larger

Beach Glass Inspired
Kaleidoscope Wind Chime
Five Copper Chimes — Beach Stone Clapper
Visit the 'On Sale' page of my website for more information, or Click Here

The 'On Sale' page of my website is a very popular place these days. I understand. The economy does not encourage people to plop down $180-$400 on a wind chime, no matter how beautiful, how well made. So a sale is nice.

And all my wind chimes and other works are beautiful, and very well made. This includes my sale items, that I pull straight from my stock— these are not seconds, or inferior in anyway.

So, while the last, why not visit my website and grab a fabulous wind chime for a nicely reduced price? Free shipping to the USA and Canada. Free gift cold forged copper earrings. Enjoy. Oh-- if you find the one featured above is marked as 'Sold,' bookmark the page and check back later. I usually put a new one on within a couple of days-- for now. Enjoy.