From the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country, my latest project has been such a blast to design and make. I'm calling them Winechimes, windchimes made from reused wine bottles, lake glass found along Seneca Lake, hemp string, and cork.

This chart shows the rarity of the different colors of Lake/Sea Glass

Collecting lake glass along the lake with my dog (ReyRey) and a random assortment of my friends has been the most fun part. I have gone hunting for glass in every season and every weather condition, and each time had been a fantastic experience. I never really found much sea glass during my time living in the Outer Banks, but it is up and down Seneca Lake and I am sure the other Finger Lakes as well.

Once I've gathered enough glass, I hit up the recycle bins from a number of winery tasting rooms along Seneca Lake. I know enough owners and industry folk that it has never been harder than a polite ask for a handful or more used empty bottles. I always get more than I think I will need because the next step can be quite finicky.

Once I have the wine bottles, I score them with a bottle cutter, run boiling water over the score then quickly run it under cold water. There is a tutorial here. This method has worked well for me, I have gotten quite good at it, but there are many different methods out there. I grind the bottle edges down; it might not be necessary as they aren't meant to be handled once hung, but I don't need anyone cutting themselves.

Finally, I string the lake glass in the bottle and attach a cork paddle with a design burnt into it using a wood burning tool.

Each glass shape and size makes a different sound, and each one is unique with different color, shape, and size lake glass strung inside.

You can find these novel "Winechimes" at J.R. Dill Winery on the East side of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail or on my Etsy Page.