She Turned an Old Wine Bottle into a Hanging Chime Using Jewelry Chain and a Wooden Wheel
Want something that makes noise in the wind without looking like a plastic garden decoration? Brittney Smart turned an old wine bottle, a jewelry chain, a wooden wheel, and a stone pendant into a hanging chime that transformed the glass into a moving sound piece instead of recycling waste.
Instead of painting the bottle or turning it into a vase, the glass became the center of the design. Once the bottom section came off, the bottle started functioning more like a suspended bell than recycled decor.
The Bottle Became the Sound Chamber
Most hanging chimes rely on metal tubes or flat pieces that knock together in the wind. This setup works differently.
The wooden wheel hangs inside the wine bottle and swings against the inner glass walls. That contact creates a softer tone that fits porches, balconies, and garden corners better than sharp metal chimes.
The green glass also changes appearance throughout the day as sunlight moves through the bottle.
The Bottom of the Bottle Had to Be Removed First
Before assembling the chime, she used a glass bottle cutter to score and separate the bottom section of the wine bottle.
After the cut, the sharp edge needed sanding so the chain and inner parts could move through the opening without catching on the glass.
Removing the base changed the bottle from a closed container into an open sound chamber where the wooden wheel could swing freely inside.
The Jewelry Chain Made the Inside Part of the Design
The chain does more than hold the pieces together.
Because it remains visible through the glass, it becomes part of the finished look. The hanging rings, suspended wheel, and stone pendant create layers inside the bottle instead of leaving the center empty.
From a distance, the inner chain almost looks like a floating mechanism trapped inside the glass.
The Wooden Wheel Created the Sound
The wooden wheel was threaded onto the chain before the inner rings were attached.
Its size mattered because it needed enough room to move inside the bottle while still being wide enough to tap the glass walls during movement.
Without the wheel, the bottle would have looked more decorative than functional. Once installed, the wood piece became the part that created the softer chime sound.
The Stone Pendant Balanced the Entire Chime
The pendant hanging below the bottle keeps the chain balanced while adding movement underneath the glass.
It also slows the motion outdoors so the bottle shifts instead of spinning in circles during stronger wind.
The purple stone against the green glass creates contrast without adding paint or extra decoration.
The Hanging Rings Held Everything in Position
Large key rings attached along the chain helped lock the internal parts into place.
One ring sat near the bottle neck to suspend the chain, while another held the wooden wheel at the correct height inside the bottle.
A final ring at the top created the hanging loop used to suspend the chime outdoors.
The Finished Piece Stopped Looking Like a Recycled Bottle
That is what changes the entire project.
Once hanging outdoors, the bottle no longer reads as something pulled from a recycling bin. The suspended chain, floating wooden wheel, and hanging stone transform the shape into something closer to handmade garden decor.
The original bottle silhouette still exists, but the function feels completely different once the wind starts moving through it.