Short Holiday, Jacksonville Florida, New York City

Jacksonville Florida

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City

Just back from a quick visit to my sister and brother-in-law in Jacksonville Florida, and then three nights in New York City. The contrast is dramatic, as seen in the two pictures above.

It was terrific fun to visit with family in Florida. New York City impressed me enormously. We saw the play, The Book of Mormon, and that was so much fun. MOMA was a treat. The food, the accommodation, the liveliness-- all wonderful. I'll be heading back to New York City as soon as possible. What a remarkable city!

Making a Beach Stone Wind Chime

Raw Pacific Beach Stones and Heavy Copper Wire

Soldering the Copper Hook

Drilled Beach Stones and Soldered Copper Hook

Finished Natural Beach Stone Wind Chime
Available at Coast Chimes

There is more to putting together a beach stone wind chime than some may think. It all starts with the stones, and that means a trip to a beach with good stones. That is not just any old beach. Although there are a lot of stones on the beach just a few minutes stroll from my house, those are not suitable. I need to drive to Sechelt, half an hour away, to get the really great stones I use.

Once I have great stones, I need to sort them out into a pleasing combination, and then drill them with diamond bits. I write 'bits' in the plural, because these stones are very hard on the diamonds, and it frequently takes several bits to cut the seven stones.

After drilling the holes, the rest is relatively easy. I bend a copper hook and solder it. I form a copper hooklet wire to string through the stones. I string the stones, and form the bottom hooklet. Then I just have to hang the chimes (making those is another whole story!), and take my pictures.

Be sure to visit Coast Chimes for many styles of beach stone, glass, driftwood wind chimes.