This month we’re all about the outdoors. With the weather warming up, at least in the northern hemisphere, because our Michelle is on the other side of the world, we thought it would be a good excuse to go outdoors and work on projects. In my case, re-purposing a tire rim into a unique wind chime
What I used for this project:
- An old bicycle tire rim
- Black spray Paint
- Twine
- Vintage Keys
The How – To:
I went to the trusty basement and found this old bicycle tire rim. I also found some bikes from when my kids used them but they have just been rusting down there. Maybe for a future project?
While looking over Michelle of A Crafty Mix’s post from Behind the scenes I got jealous! You see she has a gorgeous garden in her back yard. Whereas I live in an apartment building in the center of town and don’t have that luxury. I have plenty of traffic in front of my house, lots of honking horns and motorcycles vroom vrooming, but no greenery. And no greenery on the balcony either,since I am a self avowed brown thumb.
Like I was saying, I was a bit envious of Michelle’s garden and all that lush greenery. And I was determined to do something about it. I asked the hubs if we could go to the farm in order for me to finish this project. Our farm is about 5 minutes away by car. He is happy to have me there anytime, and truth be told, since I started this blog, I don’t go as often as I’d like to. So off we went with my stash for this project.
Once I got there I took out my twine and started … you guessed it, wrapping the twine around the tire rim.
It was late Saturday and here in Greece the stores are closed after a certain hour (read after I ran out of twine). And the next day was Sunday when everything is closed except for the coffee shops. See you’re getting a little lesson on life here in Greece. It’s not like the US where everything is opened seven days a week.
Was a going to let a lack of twine stop me? Absolutely not! I was a DIYer on a mission! I just took that twine and wrapped the rest on the opposite side. And here is the result!
 
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It was a super easy job with very little cutting because I wanted the twine to show as one piece.
Okay, here’s the story. I had made a canvas wall art with these vintage keys not too long ago. However my sweet darling of a daughter took (more like confiscated), the canvas from me about a week after it was done. She said she needed it for her art project! What can I say, it was her canvas.
So I was stuck! No! Let’s take a bad situation and make it positive! I was happy to have the keys available again!
Would you have gone back home to get more twine or is my uneven look acceptable? May you never run out of twine!
Do you have a special secret place that you go to, to get away from it all?
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I would love to have a fig tree in my garden Mary! And your project is simply beautiful!
Ahh Cristina think of all the desserts and cakes you could make with the figs. I have plenty of them and we eat them right off the tree. They never make it home.
I love wind chimes but am trying to save money. This is perfect! Love the rustic charm it has too. Thanks for sharing!
Andrea my blog is all about saving money. You see I too am on a very tight budget so all the projects I make are all about using what we have at home. This was the perfect example of that philosophy. I didn’t even bother to get more twine. And that’s ok with me. Thanks for visiting.
I’d love to have just a few ounces of your creatvity!
Aww thank you so much Sandra for your sweet comment. I think I spend too much time on the internet and it has fueled an explosion in my brain.
I think the right word for this project is magical! or maybe enchanting? Such a great idea for garden. Or just leave it somewhere in the wilderness to surprise passers 🙂 came from Best of the Weekend link party
Thank you so much Sarune. I like the idea of leaving it in the wilderness to surprise someone and give them a little joy.
Just when I think there is nothing else you can wrap twine round you come up with another lovely idea!
I also love that you have found a new home for your keys. But I won’t be a bit surprised if they turn up again in another project another day, you are the queen of reusing!
What did you say? There is nothing else I can wrap twine around? Blasphemy! And of course they’ll turn up elsewhere those ubiquitous keys! Thank you Julie!
This is such a fun project Mary! Love how you have hung all of the old keys!! Fabulous!!
Thank you Sam, I’ll be reusing those old keys forever it looks like.
Absolutely LOVE your project! Especially that you used an old bicycle rim. Pinned!
I’m all for using what’s around me Wendi. The stores hate me!
Mary, I love your key wind chime!! Your farm is lovely and so glad that you got to complete your project there, it looks peaceful there. The uneven look is wonderful, and I totally agree perfection is overrated!! This is a fantastic project!!
I have to admit Keri, I really enjoyed doing the project at the farm. It was easy to do. The only thing I was worried about was that I should finish it in time for the golden hour. But I guess running out of twine solved that problem!
Mary, your “uneven look” is MORE than “acceptable.” You’re amazing! I need to get into crafting; it’s been too, too long.
Aww thank you Jean. I really enjoyed letting things get messy and uneven. I think had I been at home I would have found more twine and added it all around. But in this case it turned out even better. I need to let my hair down more often. haha! And yes, I’d love to see your crafts.
You have some real vision, Mary. I love the way this turned out, totally charming and a very sweet accent for the great outdoors. 🙂
I guess I was inspired by the great outdoors Kim. I had a great time there hanging with the dog and nasty cats.
I need to visit your basement! Another fun and awesomely creative idea and with an old tire rim?! Love the use of the old keys for the wind chime too. Hope you are having a fabulous weekend Mary!
Laurie, believe me you would not want to see my basement. Maybe when I empty it out a bit more. It is uglier than my behind the scenes photos. Enjoy your weekend!
What a most creative wind chime! Fabulous idea and job!
Thanks so much Shirley, going bigger is not always a bad thing.
Oh Mary! This is incredible! I just love what you did for a lovely way to decorate any outdoor space. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you Meegan. It was a little slice of paradise with the chime at the farm.
Hello Mary! A wonderfull idea to upcycling. I can imagine how well it looks in the garden. Thank you for inspiration.
It sings in the garden Simona. I left it behind in Greece and really need to make another one.
What a creative and beautiful way to repurpose the old bicycle wheel, Mary! Love how you have used the keys as well. Thank you for sharing, and for your support of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Hope your week is going well.
April those keys were a collection that had been thrown in a box somewhere in the basement. Imagine my joy at finding them.
Good morning, Mary! I like how you recycled (pun intended!) this bicycle tire ~ it is a wonderful way to hang those keys so they will cheerfully clink against one another in the wind!! I could see little ribbons hanging on it, too. Maybe some wired-up antique bottles.
Very pretty!
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
Oh Barbara that idea of the ribbons is very appealing to me. Maybe it’s time to make another wind chime.
I love the way you take old objects and make something beautiful out of them Mary
Thank you, I’m always trying to reuse instead of throwing them out.
After all you are the twine Lady! It’s very beautiful and i have the perfect tree in our village house! Now I am missing the tire rim!
I;m sure you’ll find one. After all you don’t want to leave the tree without some company. They look great in the outdoors.
Cute project. I love the tidbit of Greece life. My husband is English. I can’t tell you how many times I have asked questions like, ‘what do you mean there isn’t pizza delivery in London on Sunday night?’ or ‘how isn’t there a pharmacy open all night long?’. But they’re probably wondering who are these crazy people that work jobs all night long in the US.😂
Stephanie I lived in the US for 30 years before coming here and it was such a culture shock for me to see that everything closed at 2 pm every day so that everyone might take a nap. What? No place to eat! So I totally get you and am really an american at heart.
Those keys would make such a pretty tinkle hanging from your large statement wind chime. Lovely to think about the sounds they make on your greek farm. Lovely images Mary.
Leanna I had such a great time at the farm doing this. It was the first time I actually did a project there and it was lovely and peaceful, just what I needed to complete this one.
This is such a cute project. I love keys and have drawer full that are attached to memories. This is antoher way to keep the memories. love it.
Pamela I hope you take those keys out of your drawer and use them. They are so much fun to decorate with and add such whimsy to any decor!
Awww Mary, I love, love, love your re-purposed wind chime. It’s so whimsical and such a fun, one of a kind thing to add to the farm. I bet it’s going to be there for centuries and future archaeologists are going to be puzzled about a hanging bicycle wheel with keys attached. Just imagine all the theories they’ll try come up with 😀
Haha! Michelle the archaeologists have much more to worry about than my wind chime. You know if you dig up any kind of earth in Greece you will most likely find ancient something or other underneath. It’s hard getting anything built because the archaeologists have to come and check the land before you can put a foundation and that can take years.
I like how you roll with the punches, Mary! I think not having enough twine was a blessing in disguise because the black exposed parts of the rim anchor the wind chime. I have to admit, all those fabulous keys look so much cooler as a wind chime. Very clever and creative idea! A little whimsy for your husband to enjoy while working on the farm.
I have also come to see my lack of twine as a blessing Marie. The hubs looks at it and wonders if one of those keys is the one that is missing from the bathroom! 😉
Lord have mercy! I read the title of the post and thought, “What’s this gal done with a tire?. LOL! You never cease to amaze me at what you come up with my friend! Love it. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
I never cease to amaze myself Cindy! Lol! You never know what sort of inspiration I’ll get. Thanks for dropping by my friend!
That’s really cool! I love that you thought to use a bicycle rim for a wind chime! Genius of you to use the twine the way you did when you saw you did not have enough! I actually think it adds to the interest of the piece! Much better than twine all around! I also love the black and white contrast of the keys and the rim! Very nice!
I have to agree with you Jeannee. My mishaps turn into good luck. I am just going to be quiet about those keys so the hubs doesn’t remember they are for the house doors. 😉
Love it!! Now I need to find a bicycle rim, lol.
Cheryl, I’ve got a few left over! 😉
I always admire a project where someone can create a piece of art out of something that would otherwise be considered junk. Once again, you’ve worked magic with twine. Your unique wind chime would add interest to any garden — so inspired!
Thank you so much Carol. I don’t know that I would go so far as calling it art, but at least I made the earth happy by resusing an otherwise piece of junk. Thank you!
I love your wind chime Mary! I have been wanting to make one myself, but haven’t found enough of the objects that I wanted to use in it. I haven’t thought of keys, and I do have a thing for keys. Your turned out so pretty! Having the twine on the two sides just gives it more character, and leaves more of the black and rust to show through.
I’m a country girl born in the city (outskirts of the city) so I would be out on the farm all the time. I would not go back to town for the twine, I would make my own twine out of grass or something if needed. LOL just to stay in the country.
Linda you are so funny. I was just too lazy to go back plus I really wanted to capture the light. But it all turned out for the best in the end.
Love this idea, Mary. And yes, I probably would have looked for more twine! lol I love that you let the rust peek through. You’re so right about stores being open on Sundays here in the U.S. I can remember when I was a little girl that you could go to church or the one drugstore that was open, on Sunday and that was it. In some ways, I wish it was that way still.
We still hold onto the old traditions here as much as we can. We also close stores during the week for nap time or siesta as it is called. It’s actually very practical since it gets too hot to do anything midday! Thanks for visiting Marilyn!
I think you made lemons out of lemonade with that twine. I think it looks more interesting with some of the rim showing than if it were wrapped all around.
And my word, you have fig trees?! I’m jealous!
Now one of these days you’re going to have to show us this basement of yours! Inquiring minds want to see! lol
(Good job with the social media icons) 🙂
xxx
We have lots of trees with strange fruit on them. Only my husband knows what they are. Haha.
As for the basement, Doreen it is a fright, I don’t want to give anyone a heart attack!
Mary your wind chime is so lovely hanging in that beautiful tree on your farm! A great repurpose and I love the added twine! I am about to throw out Amelie’s old bike that is now way too small for her and also broken…hmmm, I might keep the tire rim!!!
Katrin yes, I would love to see your take on this. I know you will make it light and airy!
Very creative Mary!
I love unique pieces like this and the vintage keys are such a pretty detail.
Those keys are going to get me in trouble one day. I think the hubs is looking for the bathroom key and it might be one of those! Shhhh…
Hello Mary,
Your windmill looks very nice. Also, I like the idea with the keys very much. My wife has also made an object with a bicycle rim, which I have set on my blog today. Since probably two creative nice people had the same basic ideas ….
Best regards
Uwe
Aww thank you Uwe! Your wife and I have the same ideas, we must be twins! I love what she did with her bike rim!
I can hear those keys chiming in the breeze right now…and they sound lovely! What a great idea. And ‘m still dying to get a peak into that basement of yours.
Hugs, Lynn
Thanks Lynn, it sounds as if the basement has become legendary by now. 😉
I love that you ran out of twine! It gives it more character! You are so creative, my friend!
Can I still call myself “the twine lady”? 😉
Hello Mary,
if my dad would ever stop cycling (he did want to stop attending cycling races this year – haven’t asked my mum yet if he really did) I might ask him for a tire rim. I simply love your wind chime! Even have a place in mind where it would fit perfectly…
Have a great week,
Marjan
Ohh that is a great idea. Ask your dad for some old ones, he probably has them. I would love to see your wind chime. And I know yours will have crocheting onit. Love!
So adorable! I love chimes and this one is so unique and beautiful!
Thanks so much Carolann. It was also super easy.
Very clever use of a bicycle wheel! I believe bicycle wheels are pretty versatile in repurposing projects….listen to me….I sound like I know what I’m talking about….I haven’t ever done one, but have seen some on Pinterest I think. I’d like to get my hands on one. I like what you’ve done to yours, & like how you can still see the black through it. Running out of twine is a blessing in disguise.
Florence you have read so many blogs you qualify as an expert by now! And we all agree my lack of twine was a good thing. Haha!
Repurposed rims are so fun and I love that you turned yours into a wind chime…it looks awesome Mary!! Absolutely, perfect in it’s quirkiness (not sure if that is a word!?!).😀 I think it would look awesome on your deck!
Of course it is a word Michelle. It describes my wind chime perfectly!
Now you and Michelle have me green (pun intended) with envy! I don’t have all that greenery either but you managed to find some and add that cool wind chime to it. I like it’s not completely wrapped and the keys are the perfect addition to it
Pili you have lots of greenery around you. I see all those lovely pictures from your island. I just needed to get to the farm to get over my envy of Michelle’s garden!
Mary, The windchime is a wonderful idea. I would love to lisen to its music. I think running out of twine was a good thing because I like the contrast of the black with the twine. Another great project.
Debra agreed! The best thing that happened to me was running out of that twine.
What a clever project!! I love it!! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Thanks Marci, it was a lot of fun!
I was skeptical when I saw the intro pic, but after seeing the whole project, I agree…. it is a nice one. 🙂 Thank you for sharing the idea.
Thank you. I don’t like to get too industrial. The twine and keys soften it up a bit.