• Tell me a bit about yourself

We’re a husband and wife team (Gavin & Erin Thompson) located in eastern North Carolina (United States). We work on our eco-friendly garden creations in our limited free time.

• What is the name of your Shop?

Dinner Time Chimes

• Please describe your creative process

We sort the silverware into fork/spoon/knife bins as we obtain it. When the bins are full and we have some spare time, we flatten them and then it’s time for LOTS of polishing. Finally they are drilled, shaped, and strung into wind chimes.

• Where do your ideas come from?

We are inspired by the “trash” and items cast aside by local people. The items that are given to us or purchased at local markets are transformed into very unique creations. We love the challenge of finding something and brainstorming ideas of how to use it!

• How did you get into your craft?

Erin started making the wind chimes over 10 years ago with the help of her father who’d seen then while travelling. It quickly became a way to earn extra spending money.

• Apart from creating things, what do you do?

We have recently started remodelling our “new” house and are looking forward to the cooler Fall weather so that we can do more things outdoors in our yard and garden. Erin enjoys making lots of other crafts to stay busy, Gavin enjoys hunting and working with his family on their farm.

• How do you promote your work?

We rely heavily on word of mouth promotion by previous customers and free online advertising. Being an active member of our local NCTriangle Etsy street team is also helpful with networking and learning more about local opportunities such as craft shows. We always have our wind chimes in two local stores which have proven to be a great opportunity for people needing a last minute gift.

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