by Jean C. Fisher

Created on: May 30, 2009   Last Updated: June 03, 2009

HOW TO MAKE A DRIFTWOOD MOBILE

We never want those warm, sunny, special days spent at the beach to end... This could be why we just can't seem to resist pocketing a few seashells, pieces of driftwood, tumbled glass or other treasures during a day of beachcombing. We probably enjoy collecting these things because it's like having little pieces of those special days saved aside. Even in the dead of winter you can take them out, hold in them your hand, admire them and remember those warm days of summer

However, this means that many of us have seashell and driftwood collections just lying around gathering dust in a box in the garage where we seldom have the opportunity to look at or enjoy them.

It doesn't take a long time to make a kinetic (moving) work of art to beautify your playroom or patio to show off all those precious shells and pieces of driftwood that you've been collecting. In fact, you can make one of these driftwood-mobiles in just one weekend! I hang mine in my living room but you might want to hang yours on your front porch or in your patio. Wherever you hang one, though, it will definitely intrigue visiting friends and family! (I've gotten compliments on mine from just about every person who has ever walked through my door!)

For your mobile - in addition to pieces of driftwood, shells and/or other irresistible flotsam and jetsam - you will need:

1. Clear fishing-line - approximately 3-5 lb. test.

2. Scissors.

3. A small electric or portable drill.

4. Two or three small-diameter drill bits in varying sizes (I use 1/16" and smaller).

5. An old necklace of (non-fused) faux pearls (or round beads) that you're willing take apart (choose beads that are larger in diameter than the drill bit you have chosen).

(Alternate attachment method: Tiny metal screw eyes - available at any hardware store - of the type used to attach wire to the backs of picture frames - see "Alternate Attachment Method", below.)

6. Two or three small charms or figural beads in aquatic-related shapes (optional).

Attachment method using fake pearls (or beads):

1. Drill a hole vertically completely through the radius at the center of each crosspiece. Drill two more holes - each about a half-an-inch from the ends of the crosspiece.

2. String a pearl onto a length of fishing-line, slide it to the middle and then double the line so that the pearl is halfway down the length of the piece of line.

3. Thread both ends of the line with the pearl in the middle of it - up from the

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