Red and Purple Glass with Copper Wind Chimes

Red and Purple!
Wild Fun Color with Free Shipping at Coast Chimes

Using my own artist-made sea glass is what I pretty much stick to, but I do get a lot of requests for purple and red, and sea glass just does not come often in those colors. To break the routine, I occasionally use a bit of commercial glass, and I do enjoy seeing my works 'pop' with eye-catching bright color.

I will never give up on my sea glass, but I will play with color from time-to-time. It's fun! And there are quite a few customers who appreciate the option.

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Unusual Glass, Coast Chime Wind Chimes and Suncatchers

Teal and Gold Sea Glass with Copper
$195 at Coast Chimes

Sometimes I happily happen on unusual glass. Above, a most beautiful shade of teal, and, below, a section at the top of art stained glass. I tend to hoard such glass... waiting until the moment of inspiration hits. I held onto the piece below for at least 7 years, and then I suddenly felt like using it.

See all my amazing wind chimes and suncatchers at Coast Chimes.

Special, Colourful, Handcrafted Chime
$95 at Coast Chimes

Snowy Wind Chimes and Suncatchers

Customer's Snowy Wind Chime Picture

I love when my customers send me pictures. However, it is always a slightly strange feeling to see my work in a foreign setting! This one especially struck me, as we have been enjoying spring-like weather here on the Sunshine Coast for several weeks, and one tends to forget that many other places are still mid-winter.

People often do not think of wind chimes and suncatchers in the winter. But look! They can really add a bright spot to your garden-- colour just when most needed. What a beautiful contrast! And Coast Chimes wind chimes and suncatchers are truly ideal, as being constructed from all glass, copper, first growth reclaimed red cedar, they are very durable. So add some wind chimes to your winter garden, and enjoy a splash of colour!

Colorful Wind Chime

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Colorful glass, beach glass inspired art wind chime.

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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.

Garden Grows Wild

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Foxglove next to my workshop

About three months ago, I wrote a brief blog entry rejoicing at the first little bit of color (other than our year round green) in our local forests. The post was about the first salmon berry blossoms, and I call it A Little Color (other than green!) is Nice. Well look what I have next to my workshop now— Foxglove galore!

Very pretty, but also very poisonous. From the Wikipedia: "The entire plant is poisonous (including the roots and seeds), although the leaves of the upper stem are particularly potent, with just a nibble being enough to potentially cause death."

It's not all bad, though. First, it is simply beautiful. Many of the plants stand around seven feet tall. Secondly, the bees just go nuts for these blossoms, as do the humming birds. And finally, while poisonous it is also it is used for making a heart medication, digitalis.

It's worth both looking at the flowers from a distance where they create a landscape of their own, and close up as the details are pretty neat.

A Little Color (other than green!) is Nice

The Sunshine Coast gets lots of rain through the fall and winter months, and the forests are lush. It's green, green and more green. I sometimes think a little color would be nice.

Then it's spring, and one of the first signs is the appearance of salmonberry flowers. What a treat for the eye, and soon a treat for the mouth! The bears can hardly wait (I ran into my first bear of the season the other day on my hike-- he didn't want to move, so I turned around).