Tea cup wind chime

 The other day I was at a garden centre getting the trees for my courtyard, and took a picture of a wind chime, with the idea of making one using my scroll saw. I thought, "I have seen lamps and chandeliers made with tea pots and tea cups before, why not a wind chime?"   

I went out and bought this 3 piece floral set for $5.00. I was going to use a teaspoon for the chimes, but this changed when my daughter was throughing out a necklace made of these Crystal beads. I love how ideas evolve. (New idea) Cristal around the edge and one teaspoon in the middle.The lager plate I will use as a bird feeder.     

I found that to drill the china I need a tile drill bit, this cost me $15.00. I was not sure this was going to work but to my surprise it did.   : D

   

 You must drill on low speed. The drill bit gets quite hot, you can use water to keep it cool but I was drilling on some curved edges, this was not possible so slow and steady was the way.     

 I measured the outside edge of the plate then divided it by 5. then using that measurement I placed small dots on the saucer were I would drill the holes  for the crystal's to hang from.  

 Then I started drilling. If the drill slips you can put some masking tape were you want to drill. I used a non slip mat to stop the plate moving.

 When the hole just broke through I drilled from the other side, this gave a better finish.

 I drilled a hole in the centre of the cup this is were the string will go to hang the chime

 The tea cup kept tipping to one side so I cut a piece of mdf to fit inside the top of the tea cup.

 Then I used my scroll saw to cut it out.

 I had to cut another one as I cut the first one to small, :( I then put it all together. I think I will change the silver cord to fine chain, and I still need to find a teaspoon for in the middle, I want to get just the right one. 

The ply wood fits in the top like this to keep the string in the centre and stop the cup tipping. It looks like it is full of tea,this was not intentional. 

 Oh yeah I put the saucer upside down so that the floral pattern can be seen when it is hanging up.

this looks so pretty and the variations are endless.

what do you think?

p.s I will post the end product when I find the perfect spoon.

Have a lovely day

splinters:)