Welcome spring breezes with these fun little wind chimes made from terracotta pots. Children will love painting the "flowers" and ringing the "bells". You can also try using a real plant instead of fake flowers! Choose small, drought-tolerant plants like succulents and use potting soil that retains moisture.
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Paint the flower petals, centers, and stems, as well as the beads and terracotta pots as desired, then glue the flower centers to the petals and allow to dry per glue directions (Pictures 1, 2 and 3). Glue the stems to the flowers and let dry. For added weather resistance or a gloss finish, spray flowers, beads, and pots with outdoor acrylic sealer and allow to dry.
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Measure out five 40-inch pieces of string, four for the hanger and one for the bells. Thread the four pieces of rope in half through a grommet and tie a tight knot, creating 8 equal pieces of rope on both sides (Image 1). Tie the last piece of string to the washer (Image 2).
Thread the strings through the bottom of the large terracotta pot so the washer stays inside and the string comes out of the drain hole (Image 3).
Turn the pot upside down and attach another washer to the longer piece of string, then thread it back through the drain hole to keep it out of the way while you build the hanger (Image 4).
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Organize the remaining rope into four pairs and tie a knot in each pair 2.5 inches from the hole (Image 1). Next, take two adjacent pieces of rope from two different pairs and tie a knot an inch from the first knot, keeping them level (Image 2). Repeat, creating four new pairs.
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With the grommet on the outside, pull the bell string back out of the pot and let it hang while gently twisting it, holding the hanger strings in one hand (Image 1). Even so the pot hangs level and secure them by knotting them about 4-6 inches up, depending on the height of your flowers. Put the washing machine aside for a moment; You will need it again for the doorbell assembly.
At the desired hanging height, tie a knot around your hook, or an extra peg or stick, and trim the excess string (Image 2).
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With the hanger now secured, lay the pot on its side again. Make your first bell by stringing a small pot upside down on the bell string. Push it up until it is completely down with the larger pot (Image 1).
Thread a grommet onto the cord to the edge of the small pot and tie a knot (Image 2) - the location of the grommet is where the small pot actually hangs. Note: If you use a larger diameter line, you may not need a grommet, as a strong knot will hold the pot in place.
Thread a cord onto the line a few inches from the washer and tie a knot (Image 3). Pearls with large holes may need to be double knotted or glued. The location between the bead and the washer will vary between bead sizes:the bead should protrude slightly from the pot so that it rings against the rim.
Repeat these steps with the second and third pots (Image 4).
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Thread the remaining beads and decorations 2-3 inches below the last bead for your final ring (Image 1). Trim off the excess rope. Even the ringer beads and secure all knots with a dab of glue if necessary.
Place the flowers in the pot, using gravel to hold the arrangement in place (Image 2).
Hang up and enjoy the music.!
