It all started with our trip to the beach for our anniversary. Well, actually it started before that. Ever since I moved to Oregon I have seen beautiful strands of driftwood hanging in front of shops, in yards, on porches… you name it. My mom and I loved them and always talked about making some. My mom lives in Florida and told me that she couldn’t find much driftwood on the beaches where she went there. The last few times I’ve gone to the beach she said “pick up some driftwood!” I kept meaning to get around to it (and I did gather a little driftwood at one point, but it ended up turning into garden decor), but this year she told me that all she wanted for her birthday was for me to make her one of those hanging driftwood strands. How could I deny her one birthday wish? (I’m smiling here.) I decided it was time to finally make some, so Bracken and I brought a bag to the beach and gathered some driftwood.
We admired our pile at home. It was a warm day at the beach when we collected it and the driftwood we gathered was dry, but we kept it on the front porch for a few days and everything was completely and thoroughly dried out by that point.
Then I brought the driftwood to Jeff’s shop and drilled a small hole in each piece. I drilled each one somewhere in the middle for balance, but in hindsight drilling them off center would give a fun look too. It didn’t take as long as I expected to drill all the driftwood.
After that Bracken and I brought our pile out the garden and started stringing the driftwood. We used some fishing line. To start, I would tie a knot around a small piece of driftwood (shown above) and that would be the bottom. After I finished stringing the driftwood, I would make a loop for the top to hang it from. The fishing line is strong I and I think it will work well, but Jeff also mentioned that beading wire would be a good thing to use too.
Bracken was proud of his and hung it up in his garden. I made three on the first day- one that went from larger to smaller and reminded me of a stacked rock temple, another with the flattest pieces of driftwood I found, and another with random longer pieces. It was so fun to watch them spin in the breeze and I was so in love with them! The next day I brought drilled driftwood to a friend’s house (because I thought she would love the project as much as I did) and we strung more. Sometimes Bracken and I took ours apart and re-did them or moved pieces around. For my last one I decided to close my eyes to pick my pieces of driftwood and string them in whatever order I had picked them. I also asked Bracken and his friend to hand me pieces and it turned out really fun! Now I’ll stop chatting for a bit and let you see them…
Oh my goodness, I love them. So! Much! We hung some around the garden and spoiler alert: mom- your birthday wish will be coming true after all! I asked Jeff what we should call them and he came up with the best name ever- Floating Driftwood Temples. I thought that name captured their essence perfectly. (Also a big thanks to Jeff -you are wonderful- for helping me narrow down which pictures to include here, I took quite a few.)
They look so peaceful hanging in the garden and they’re simply beautiful as they spin and move in the wind. We will definitely be making more. I wanted to share the process with you to inspire your own floating driftwood temples in case you would like to make one. They are fun to make (for the whole family) and they are such a joy to see hanging in the garden. Enjoy!
These are so beautiful – I feel peaceful just looking at them hanging in your garden. I agree that you could sell these!
Those are beautiful! Thank you for your lovely post.
These are wonderful . I live on cape cod and rarely find driftwood on the beaches here. Also love the name. Thanks for always sharing . And I would certainly would buy some if you start selling them..Shirley
Loving the name! Good job Jeff, that was a perfect choice. I’m feeling guilty for all the driftwood you left here, it takes work to collect and drill all of those pieces. I’m so happy that you brought that project along. Every time I look at them it gives me the urge to go to the coast, it was a good strategy on your part, we are closer to planning a trip to come see you very soon!
Oh, these are really interesting. If only I had an ocean nearby (Indiana is a little short on oceanfront land) I’d be out collecting some to make one of these. I think the person above is right—I bet they would sell like hotcakes at the fairs and festivals that you all participate in.
you should let Bracken make some and sell them at the market. i also think that posting them on your shop would be an interesting experiment in the market for these beautiful temples. it reminds me of our drive up 101 in Oregon a few years ago.