These lovely little bells are made from salvaged fire affected branches from the Granite Belt fires in 2024. In most cases I have left some of the bark on to highlight this story (but also the contrast with the inner timber is beautiful).
Note: price is for a pair - a set of 2 bells.
I then drilled a central hole roughly 20mm in diameter to accommodate some bell “tinklers”, and shaped the top and bottom to resemble a rounded “bell-ish” shape :D They are then soaked in food safe mineral oil to seal, before adding the tinkly bits!
The central “tinklers” (technical term: the clapper) are made from brass offcuts which I have been keeping in a container for a few years until *behold!* I can use them for this purpose! I have shaped them using sanding tools, and then used a ball/peen hammer to create that pleasing multi-faceted surface on the brass which catches the light beautifully as they dangle. Each tinkler is different in appearance (and probably sound) due to the offcut nature of the brass.
These have been threaded onto 1-2mm hemp cord which is robust and sourced from my local fibre stockist, Ora Fibres.
When hanging in a breezeway they make a very pleasing, slightly muted and rustic plinky-plink sound (or you can give them a little jiggle with your hands to achieve this sound).
Reminiscent of our Aussie gum nuts, these pretty bush bells are sold in pairs, and are a beautiful addition to your Christmas festive decor, as gifts for your loved ones, or indeed hang them off your rearview mirror in place of the fluffy dice!
Each branch bell measures roughly 3cm long and about 3-4cm in diameter, with the tinklers they vary in length but generally fall between 5-7cm long. With the cord attached the total dangle height varies from about 14cm to about 20cm. The pairs come in one longer and one shorter so they hang at a pleasing height to one another.
This will be a charming lucky dip for you, as each set is different!
Care for your bells: Wipe with warm damp cloth when needed to remove dust. Never place in the dishwasher. Dishwasher = sadness :( From time to time you can re-sand with a light grade sandpaper (for example 320-400 grit), and re-oil using a food safe and non-oxidising oil (for example food grade mineral oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, or my spoon butter!).
Note that the brass tinklers may patina/tarnish with exposure to oxygen, this is purely cosmetic and does not cause weakness in the metal. If you would like to manage the patina, there are a couple of option:
Embrace the aging process: Let the piece oxidize naturally. The recessed pits will darken over time, beautifully highlighting the hammered texture.
Protect or brighten safely: Apply a thin layer of microcrystalline wax (like Renaissance Wax) or food-grade mineral oil. Buff off the excess completely with a soft cloth to protect the surface without altering the depth of the texture.
