Bell Outlet Blog

DIY Bell Flowers

2012-02-23T05:11:00.000-08:00

While browsing the internet for some more fun crafts to make with bells, I came across a tutorial on how to make bell flowers for kids by Once Upon a Craft at http://onceuponacraft.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/just-kids-bell-flowers/ . I think if done in matching colors, these bell flowers would also work well for party decor, wedding decor, etc.

Photo from Once Upon a Craft

To create these bell flowers you will need:

Egg Cartons - Empty and Clean
Scissors
Craft Bells
String, Yarn, or Ribbon
Paint
Glue
Glitter (optional)

Instructions: (for photos to go along with the instructions visit the original post at: http://onceuponacraft.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/just-kids-bell-flowers/

Cut cups in egg cartons apart.
Once all the cups are cut out of the cartons, cut triangles into the sides to create the "petals".
Poke a hole in the top of each cup for your ribbon to go through.
Paint your flowers in your color choice.
Allow paint to dry.
If you want glitter, once the paint is dry, apply paint to your flowers and add your glitter.
Allow to dry.
Attach bells to end of ribbon ( 1 - 2 seems to be the best number)
Create a knot about 1/2" above the bell so that the bell has enough room to swing so that it can jingle.
String your yarn, ribbon, or string through the hole in your flower (make sure bells are on the "inside" side of the flower).
Now your flowers should be ready to hang.

For more detailed instructions please visit: http://onceuponacraft.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/just-kids-bell-flowers/

Photo from Once Upon a Craft

8 Cow Bell Craft Ideas from Pinterest

2012-02-15T05:17:00.000-08:00

Red Hill General Store joined Pinterest.com a few weeks ago and we have found some really neat ideas on there. Today we are going to share some of our favorite cow bell craft ideas.

1. Wedding Kiss Bell

2. Name Tag

3. Christmas Ornaments

4. Make a Garland with Small Cowbells

5. Use a small cow bell to make a necklace.

6. Create a cow bell display.

7. Use on a fence as a warning system.

8. Make a spirit shaker.

To view Red Hill's Pins see Red Hill's Pinterest Acct.

What was a Towncrier/Bellman

2012-02-07T05:36:00.000-08:00

Back before we had television, radio, and internet to communicate announcements and news, towns had a town crier or a bellman that would rink a hand bell and shout out the public announcements from the court and other public facilities.

First, they would ring the bell and shout out "Hear Ye!" or "Oyez!" (Oyez also means hear ye).

These men were the main way that people were able to keep up with news and announcements in Medieval times as during those days most people were illiterate and were unable to read new papers or other types of postings. Town criers announced proclamations, local bylaws, market days, and adverts.

Image from: http://www.thecolonies.com/crier.htm

Some town criers also had lanterns when they would make announcements of the time or news at night:

Town Crier Lantern

Bell Shaker How To

2012-01-30T05:08:00.000-08:00

There are some beautiful things that can be done with bells, and we have come across one craft that is just stunning:

Photo from http://www.minieco.co.uk

This beautiful Bell Shaker was created by Kate @ http://www.minieco.co.uk, she used small jingle bells, acorn caps, a tree branch, and some fishing wire.

Photo from http://www.minieco.co.uk

To obtain the gold look inside the acorn caps, Kate used some gold leafing. We think the finished product is just stunning. For all the photos and directions visit: http://www.minieco.co.uk/bell-shaker-with-added-bling/.

This craft would make a great musical instrument for kids to play with, and would be adorable to use during dress up games as well. Have fun with it and let us know if you try this craft, we would love to hear how it turns out!

Why do cows wear cow bells?

2012-01-20T09:40:00.000-08:00

Cow bells are something that nearly everyone has heard of. Although, in the present day and time it is more likely that a cow bell will be found as a musical instrument rather than found strung around the neck of a cow. So in that case why are they called cow bells, do cows still wear them, and what point do cowbells on a cow serve?

Well today we are going to find the answers to some of those questions for you.

Why are they called cow bells?

At one point in time you would almost never see a cow that did not have the lovely adornment of a bell around her neck. Each movement she made would result in a delightful tinkle of sound that would be emitted from the bell. Since it was only cows for the most point that were wearing them they became known as cow bells, even though some farmers also used them for sheep.

Do cows still wear them?

Not as much as they used to it seems. Very rarely do we see cow bells on the cows in southwest Virginia. But we have read that they are still widely used on cows in Switzerland and out west where farmers still have much more acreage than we have here.

What point does the cow bell serve on a cow?

Especially before the days of tagging cows, a cow bell was how a farmer would identify which cows were his if they got mixed in with another farmer's herd. Also, it made wandering cows easier to locate so that they could bring them back home.

Bells are...

2012-01-20T05:45:00.000-08:00

Bells are many things. They are often found in holiday decor, or heard at big events such as ball games or weddings. They have been around for many centuries, used in church services, or just as a reminder of where one's cattle have wandered off to.

Bells can be customized for promoting a business, event, or cause. They can also be personalized for ornaments for the Christmas tree or for wedding bell favors at someone's nuptials.

Bells have been a part of nearly every culture for thousands of years and still remain a big part of our cultures to this day. Many people have a favorite type of bell or have a story that they remember about bells. We'd love to hear your bell story.

Magical Bell Wands - DIY

2012-01-09T06:56:00.000-08:00

While on a hunt for some neat bell ideas we came across a blog called Dream to Life which features an article on how to make Bell Send-Off Wands. These wands are beautiful and delicate looking, perfect for sending off a newlywed couple. We could not resist sharing this blog with the world and we want to thank Kate at Dream to Life for allowing us to do so!

Photo from Dream To Life.

To make these beautiful wands you will need:
Wooden dowels
ribbon in colors of your choice
mini silver jingle bells

Directions:

Cut ribbon to size you want (length of dowel is good) and string on bells.
Push bells close together on ribbon.
Tie ribbon with bells on dowel.
Tie on any other ribbons you want to add color.
Hand out to your guests!

For more beautiful photos of these Magical looking Bell Send Off Wands visit the Dream to Life blog at:
http://mydreamtolife.blogspot.com/2011/10/diy-bell-send-off-wands.html

Ringing in the New Year

2012-01-04T11:42:00.000-08:00

Many people have heard the phrase "ring in the New Year". But what does ringing in the new year mean?

When one thinks of the term ring in, usually a bell is thought of, mainly because bells ring. So what do bells have to do with the New Year?

Most old churches in many countries have large bells on them. These bells were used to let the community know when church was beginning, and also told of events. One of these events was of course the New Year. When one heard the church bells ringing on New Years day they would say that they were ringing in the New Year.

Today, some older churches still practice the custom of ringing in the new year, but the phrase has also taken on a new meaning. Many people use the phrase to indicate that they are celebrating the New Year.

So how did you ring in 2012?

New Use for Turkey Bells!

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

Shortly after our last post about Turkeys and Bells, we had a customer call in to tell use what she and her coworkers use the turkey bells for.

Working in a nursing home, the employees needed a way to tell where patients with wheelchairs and/or walkers are, so they attached the turkey bells to the wheelchair handles and to the walkers. Also having a bell on their wheelchair or walker enables the residents to ring when they need help or assistance with something.

The patients like the bells because it allows them a little bit more freedom and so they don't have to worry if they are not near the nurse's call button, they still have a way to communicate where they are and that they need assistance. These bells have been a great help in the nursing home setting.

These bells would also work in a home setting for the same uses. It is amazing how many different uses each and every bell has.

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day,
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat,
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

This carol has been a favorite of many for years. It is a beautiful song that really embodies the idea of Christmas bells. (See the History of Christmas Bells.) This song was originally a poem that was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow after his oldest son was severely wounded in the civil war and after his wife had passed away. He penned these words on Christmas day of 1864.

In many ways, even after a tragedy, people find peace in the sound of bells and have been doing so for over 3000 years.

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Heard_the_Bells_on_Christmas_Day

DIY Christmas Ornaments with Jingle Bells

2011-12-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Jingle bells are so easy for Christmas. They make great additions to wreaths, look pretty just setting in an ornate bowl on the coffee table, or can be easily strung onto the tree with some pretty thin ribbon. With the paints for metals they can also be painted to suit any decor. Or for a simple effect leave them in their original silver or gold colors.

For a very simple, easy on the wallet ornament, buy some jingle bells and tie on a bit of ribbon to put on your Christmas tree.

You can also add a little pizazz by painting the bells and tying several together for an ornament, red gives the look of berries hanging on your tree.

While jingle bells are the standard for the Holidays it seems. Any small craft bell can be used in the same way for decor.

History of Christmas Bells

2011-11-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

When you think of Christmas, or other Winter Holidays, bells seem to play a big part in a lot of them. Just listening to carols you often hear of bells...

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day..."
"Silver Bells"
"Just hear those sleigh bells..."
"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells..."
And so on....

But where did the use of bells during the holiday season come from?

Bells were originally used to ward off evil spirits during the fall and winter months. It was believed that loud noises would scare the spirits away.

Gradually these same bells started to be used to announce celebrations and to keep evil spirits from ruining good times. And slowly the use for keeping away spirits began to fade. Bells began to be seen as a lovely instrument brought out for joyous occasions, such as weddings and births. They also have a beautiful sound, so carolers who couldn't afford instruments began to use bells when they went singing.

Like many sleighs of the time, Santa's sleigh had bells on it as well. Bells were used on sleighs to warn people that someone was coming through during foul weather. This way they could stay out of the road and be ran over by the horse and coach or sleigh (if the weather was snowy).

So have a little holiday tradition and gather up a few various bells and use them in your decor as a little nod to the long history of the bell.

Turkeys and Bells

2011-11-23T06:00:00.000-08:00

For the people that keep turkeys, they probably already know that there is a such thing as a turkey bell. But for the rest of us, I thought I would share that little fact.

A turkey bell is very similar to a cow bell. It is worn by the turkey around its neck and it lets you hear where your turkey is, especially if you allow your turkeys to wander. This will help you find them if they wander off. But there is an added advantage to having a bell on your turkey. Strange noises tend to keep predators away. And a the noise a bell makes is not one that is typically found in natural surroundings. So by having a bell on your turkey you are helping to keep the predators at bay.

Some people use the turkey bell on other small animals, around a cat or dog's collar, or just to have as a novelty item or to use in crafts.

Christmas Cowbell Craft

2011-11-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

We revisited Create Bake Play's website and found a very neat craft for Christmas using white cowbells and regular cowbells. Without further ado here is a craft for you try out:

Photo from Create Bake Play.

Santa Bell

You will need:

different size cowbells (and different colors if you prefer)
orange, pink, and red pompoms
googly eyes
red lipstick
black and red permanent markers
cotton balls
brown, black, red ,and white pieces of felt
peach acrylic paint
white acrylic paint (optional)

For Santa Bell:

Start with a white cowbell. Or paint one white. (if you paint one you will need to wait for the base coat to dry before going onto step 2.)
Paint on the section of the bell that will be the face with the peach acrylic paint.
Place and glue one your googly eyes and the pompom for the nose.
Using the permanent markers, draw on glasses and mouth (use photo for guideline if you need to).
Cut some of your white felt into a mustache shape for Santa and glue on.
Using the lipstick create some blushing cheeks for Santa.
Glue some cotton balls around the top of the Santa Bell.
Cut some red felt into a cone shape for his hat and attach the cone to the cotton balls with glue.
Use a small cotton ball or white pompom for the top of Santa's Hat.

For instructions on creating the other two Christmas bell crafts visit: http://create-bake-play.com/Jolly-Cowbells.htm

Craft with Jingle Bells and Mason Jars

2011-11-11T06:26:00.000-08:00

We featured How to Make a Jingle Bell Jar on Pressure Cooker Outlet's blog earlier this week, since the bells are just so darned cute we decided to share it with our Bell Outlet Blog readers:

We are featuring a craft from The Inspired Room today:

Photo by The Inspired Room

This beautiful craft is here just in time for the winter holiday season. What a wonderful addition to seasonal decor to make things feel nice crisp and a little country with the mason jar, jingle bells, and the beautiful reflection of light on the "snow" in the jar.

How to make the Jingle Bell Jar:

You will need:

Canning Jars (how ever many you so desire)
Epsom Salts
Enough candles so each jar has one.
Jute or ribbon
Jingle bells

To make:

Wrap or tie your jute or ribbon around the top of the jar, stringing on bells intermittently. (Use above photo for a guide) add other decor items if you desire. Fill your jars a little less than halfway with Epsom salts. Place candle in middle.

Now that doesn't sound so hard does it? Depending on how you decide to decorate your jars they can fit with any decor, anything from quirky, to country, to elegant, or even chic. Have fun with it! Just don't leave any candles burning unattended!

For more photos of this insanely beautiful craft visit: http://theinspiredroom.net/2010/11/19/how-to-make-a-jingle-bell-jar-and-other-mason-jar-crafts/

How to Personalize Your Own Cowbell

2011-11-03T10:18:00.000-07:00

We sell customized bells, but sometimes you just want to do it yourself, so that it has more meaning and so that each bell you personalize can be slightly different. While browsing the internet we found a craft on personalized bells at: http://create-bake-play.com/Personalized-Cowbells.htm

With permission we are sharing this bell craft here:

You will need:
- cowbells of your choice in color and size
- scrapbooking stickers/labels
- adhesive

There is no better way to say that you care than if your gift looks well-thought out. These simple gifts will do just that!

Simply find a cowbell that fits with what you’re looking for, and use anytime of sticker, scrapbooking adhesive, or label that will fit onto the cowbell of your choice. You can even simply print a logo (perhaps a good gift for a high-school or college grad) out onto white paper and trim it up to fit your bell. It’s that simple!

Halloween Game

2011-10-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

One fun Halloween game that I've played with friends for years is a Horror movie trivia game. We play for candy. (It isn't Halloween without treats.)

Players:
It works best with 3 or more people.

Supplies Needed:
A Bucket, Hat, or Bowl (to put the questions in)
Paper torn into smaller pieces
Pens and or pencils
Bells to ring in when you know the answer to someone else's question
Small prize for each question that is answered correctly (candy, pennies, etc)

Directions:
The way we play is fairly simple. We each write out a bunch of questions on separate slips of paper and put them all in a Halloween bucket. Then we take turns pulling out a question. If the person who drew the question out doesn't know the answer, someone can use their hand bell to ring in and snag the other person's candy. This game is great to play with any type of movie, and I've been known to play it with my family during power outages.

The best games are ones you can play anywhere.

Bell Delivery

2011-09-27T07:21:00.000-07:00

We had a dilemma come up with some of our bells not being able to find their location once they were shipped out. So since the customer is located in the same state, a person from the warehouse the bells had shipped from did a personal delivery to ensure that they made it to their location in time for the game that they were purchased for. Here is the email from our customer:

Kim,

I just wanted to let you know that somebody just dropped off the cow bells at the house. I wish we were able to get in touch with them before they made that long drive here but I so totally appreciate you going WAY above and beyond to make sure that they got here by this afternoon.

The bells look amazing and they were definitely worth the wait. We will be ordering again for sure. Hopefully I can get the league to order a much larger quantity for next year.

Again- thank you, thank you!!!!

Sincerely,

T.K.

We are so glad that we were able to make this customer so happy, and we strive to achieve this with all of our customers.

With Bells On! Where did that come from?

2011-09-09T07:28:00.000-07:00

Ever invite someone to a party or an event and had them reply, "I'll be there with bells on!"

Most of us know that this statement means that they are eager to attend. But where did this phrase originate from?

There are several different theories as to where this particular sentiment originated:

Theory #1:
The costume of a court jester. The court jester would wear a costume to many events that was decorated with bells. Most of these events were lively parties, in which the participants celebrated one occasion or another in merriment.
Theory #2:
This theory goes back to days before the modern automobile. When people rode around in horse drawn carriages. Sometimes when attending a holiday or festive event, they would use harnesses on the horses that had jingle bells on them.
Theory #3:
In the Appalachian mountains and other areas of the U.S. peddlers had to be quite when they roamed in order to avoid bandits and other threats to themselves and their wares. When reaching a settlement or town the peddler would place bells on their horses to announce their arrival to that settlement's people. People were always excited for a peddler's arrival since they were able to receive not only goods and wares that were sold by the peddlers, but also because the peddlers would bring news and letters from the outside world.

Chantal's Stained Glass

www.nwminitack.com

Sources:
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic29667.html
http://askville.amazon.com/origin-phrase-arrive-bells-arrival-party/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=100581
http://www.goodwords.com/sayings/meanings.html

Jingle Bell Spider Craft by Crafts-For-All-Seasons.com

2011-08-31T09:46:00.000-07:00

We have found a fascinating craft for Halloween that uses craft bells and with permission from Crafts-For-All-Seasons.com we are sharing this neat little creation with you!

All directions and photos are written by and taken by Crafts For All Seasons.

Things Needed:

Two 25 mM (1-inch) jinglebells (orange, black, purple, or green look best for Halloween)
Two 12 inch long black pipe cleaners
24 beads (I used 8 mM round marbleized pearl beads)
Scissors
Small length of wire (I used 20 gauge wire)
Small jewelry pliers (optional, but come in handy)
Glue

1. Begin the jingle bell spider by attaching the two jingle bells together. This is most easily done by taking a small length of wire and threading it between the two small hangers in each jingle bell, and wrapping it several times to secure. Use some jewelry pliers to help.

2. Cut each 12 inch pipe cleaner in two six inch sections, you will have four total.

3. Thread two pipe cleaners through the front jingle bell, and two through the back jingle bell, as shown below.

4. Thread on a bead on to each of the 8 pipe cleaner legs, and thread it all the way up flush with the jingle bell. You can use a little glue to secure if desired. This keeps the legs from coming out of the jingle bells.

5. Now, take your time and bend each leg to look like a spider leg. Begin by bending each pipe cleaner up from where it comes out of the jingle bell. Then about halfway down make the pipe cleaner bend down. Look at the photos for help. Then, thread on two more beads on each leg. Secure the beads with a little bit of glue, if desired. A cord can also be added around the middle of the two jingle bells for hanging.

To view this craft at it's original location please visit: http://www.crafts-for-all-seasons.com/jingle-bell-spider.html and be sure to check out all their other crafts while you are there!

Thank you to Crafts for All Seasons for letting us share this wonderful little Halloween craft with our readers!

A Saturday Night in Hillsville with the Bells

2011-08-19T06:05:00.000-07:00

Just a little repost from our Red Hill General Store Blog:

Whether you're a local or just passing through,
Hillsville, Virginia is for a family like you!

We're not the only folks around that feel this way,
A family of five bells have something to say.

They started their Saturday looking at sites,
Doesn't the courthouse really look nice?

The civil war statue is something to see,
It won't disappoint you, Mr. Bell will guarantee.

Now the little ones will want something refreshing and sweet,
if it doesn't ruin their dinner, get them a tastee-freez treat.

With full bellies of sugar, it's time to play,
Fast down the green slide, hip-hip horray!

Time to cool off now in the close by stream,
it paints a perfect picture of the American Dream.

You're never too old to be high in the air,
Swinging around with not even a care.

To finish the day in this sweet country town,
stop by Red Hill, the best store around.
Kids love our candy, there's no doubt this is true,
now the question is, how about you?

Wordless Wednesday with Bells

2011-08-10T07:20:00.000-07:00

Cowbells in our store.

Jingle Bells for crafts.

Mini Liberty Bells

Cowbells in the News

2011-08-04T05:40:00.000-07:00

While perusing the internet this morning a somewhat older article caught my eye. It is from July 25th of this year.

Apparently, a dutch tourist wanted a souvenir so badly that he was willing to be arrested for it. The souvenir of choice? A cowbell. He stole the cowbell and collar straight from the cow's neck. This incident took place in a field southwest of Munich, Germany.

Of course this particular cowbell is worth about $290 USD.

Although the bail that the tourist had to pay was nearly twice that. So it seems like it would have been a sounder investment to just purchase a cowbell of his own.

Source:
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/07/25/1757968/dutch-tourist-caught-stealing.html

What are those bells on motorcycles?

2011-07-19T09:18:00.000-07:00

With all this nice weather lately there have been a lot of motorcyclist traveling through the Hillsville, VA and Fancy Gap, VA area, enjoying the parkway I presume. I happened to notice that some of the bikes had a little bell hanging on them, curious about this, I decided to do a little research:

From what I was able to gather gremlins are little imps that like to hitch rides on motorcycles and wreak havoc during their stay. It is believed that evil road gremlins cannot live in the presence of bells. It is said that their hearing is super-sensitive and that the constant ringing of the bell will drive them insane. It is believed that a gremlin bell works even if you purchase your own, however, it is stronger if it is given to you from someone who cares about you.

It is said that the bell should be mounted as low to the road as possible without interfering with any of the parts of the motorcycle.

It might be a neat idea to get a small custom bell for someone you know who rides a motorcycle as their own gremlin bell.

If you are curious about the legends behind the gremlin bell a quick search on google will reveal tons of information and folk lore.

Resource:
http://www.squidoo.com/Gremlin-Bells

The Liberty Bell

2011-06-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

With the 4th of July just around the corner it only makes sense that we should acknowledge the Liberty Bell. There is a lot of history surrounding this bell and it is more famous than any other bells that I know of. So we did a little hunting for some facts on the Liberty Bell and we came across some interesting information on www.ushistory.org.

The Liberty Bell was originally cast at Whitechapel Foundry in 1752. An order for the Liberty Bell was placed in 1751 by the Pennsylvania Assembly in order to commemorate The Golden Anniversary of Penn's Charter.

Regarding the crack in the bell, The Philadelphia Public Ledger takes up the story in its February 26, 1846 publication:

"The old Independence Bell rang its last clear note on Monday last in honor of the birthday of Washington and now hangs in the great city steeple irreparably cracked and dumb. It had been cracked before but was set in order of that day by having the edges of the fracture filed so as not to vibrate against each other ... It gave out clear notes and loud, and appeared to be in excellent condition until noon, when it received a sort of compound fracture in a zig-zag direction through one of its sides which put it completely out of tune and left it a mere wreck of what it was."

Photo fro Wikipedia.

When people think of the Liberty Bell, their minds automatically turn to freedom and to the men and women who sacrificed (and continue to do so) for us to have that freedom. Keep in mind the history of our country, how far we have come, and how far we still have to go while you are celebrating this 4th of July.

We would love to hear what imagery comes to your mind when you think of freedom.

Wedding Bells Revisited

2011-06-23T09:10:00.000-07:00

If you have been following our Bell Blog, then you know that we have talked about the history of wedding bells in the past. Today, we are going to give you an idea on how to use those bells in a wedding.

Bells look adorable with bows and handed out as favors at weddings. And you can add a tag that reads: "Ring for a newlywed Kiss", "Ring for a Kiss", "Ring for a wedding Kiss", or "Ring to make a Toast" (really the list of reasons to ring a wedding bell is endless).

Or, if you're handwriting isn't that great (or you don't want to write on 100s of tags), you can order a custom bell for your favors:

Bells and weddings go hand in hand and have for a long time. So if you want or need a little bit of something traditional. Then the wedding bell is the way to go. Of course, wedding bells don't have to be typical of tradition, you can also use small bells tied on strings and woven above the aisle, it would be lovely on a nice breezy afternoon wedding to hear the tinkling of tiny bells as you walk towards your future spouse.

We would love to hear about bells being used in weddings. Let us know what you've seen or done with wedding bells.

A Cowbell in the World Golf Hall of Fame?

2011-06-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

"Kathleen Bradley is going to need a new cowbell to ring down in Westford, Mass. The mother of golf Hall of Famer Pat Bradley used to ring a cowbell from her porch every time Pat won a golf tournament. It got rung 30 times before being retired to Pat’s exhibit at the World Golf Hall of Fame in St Augustine, Fla." -Wayne Mills (http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/sportsothersports/921733-222/bradley-family-needs-a-new-cowbell-thanks.html)

It seems that the cowbell has worked is way into every sport as a way to encourage one's team and to also drown out the cheers of the opposition. It is hard to pinpoint where this tradition arose from, but it seems that it has been around nearly as long as the cowbell itself. But now the cowbell has achieved it's place of recognition in at least one sport.

Keep Birds out of Your Fruit Trees

2011-05-31T11:38:00.000-07:00

Fruit trees are a delicious source of meals for our feathered friends. But with all the work that we put into growing these trees so that we can have the harvest for ourselves, it is often times very agitating to realize that you are sharing your harvest with a bunch of cute little free loaders.

So some steps that you can take to prevent birds from eating all your apples, cherries, etc. are as follows:

Reflective objects tend to cause birds to not want to be near the source of this strange light. Also noise is rather bothersome to birds. So one way to knock out two birds with one stone (ha, ha, sorry couldn't help myself) is to find some reflective bells that could be strung together so that not only are the bells ringing, but they are also clanging into each other for even more noise effect. Some great reflective bells for this are the colored craft bells at bell-outlet.com
Birds also don't like being doused with water when they are not expecting it, you might want to consider installing timed sprinklers near your tree so that if birds are resting there they get a sudden cold shower.
If birds have an even easier food supply to get food from they won't want to bother with the fruit trees. Distract them with bird feeders placed away from the trees (but close enough that they will visit the feeder instead) do a little research on the types of birds that are "visiting" your fruit trees and find out which seeds for your feeder will attract them the most.

Those are just a few tips for keeping birds from eating your fruit. We'd love to hear what methods you've been using!

Garden Bells

2011-05-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

Ah, hanging out on the back porch, having cookouts, friends over, just generally enjoying the outdoors. But if you are like me you start noticing all the little things that need to be done outside while enjoying the sounds of birds, the breeze, and the smell of the flowers.

The yard might need to be weeded, the porch stained or power washed, the grill brought out and cleaned up. You get the idea.

But once all the work is done and overly weathered outdoor decor has been fixed or nixed (depending on the condition) you might find yourself yearning for some new decor.

One piece of decor that I feel every porch needs is (wait for it....)

A BELL!

Bells go well with almost any decor style, from country to modern. Garden bells come in several sizes, colors, and shapes:

See, this is just an example of two different bells, but they are so different and each would give a porch it's own unique signature look.

We would love to see pictures or hear ideas of how you've used garden bells to decorate your own home.

Wedding Bell History

2011-03-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air and that means that summer months will soon be here. Summer tends to be the most popular time for weddings. So for those of you planning, helping to plan, or attending weddings this summer, we have a little wedding bell history for you to enjoy.

Wedding bells have been around for many years. And as with many things that have been around for as long as wedding bells have there is a little bit of history, tradition, and superstition behind them.

It was once believed that evil spirits were all around and apparently they were intent upon ruining happy moments for people. Wedding bells were believed to scare off these evil spirits that were intent upon ruining the couple's happy day. Also in other beliefs, it was thought that wedding bells would help to promise good luck and fortune to the newly weds' future. In many cases, people rung bells for the couple to kiss. Who would want evil spirits trying to ruin a sweet kiss from a blissfully just wed couple?

One of the most recognized symbols of a wedding is two bells tied together with a bow. This probably signifies the joining together of two people into one life.

Some weddings, particularly ones that do not have any alcoholic beverages, the Bride and Groom have bells handed out to guests so that they can use them during toasts instead of clinking together glasses.

Bells are a very traditional touch to a wedding, and there are so many options that you can use bells for. They can be used during the ceremony, instead of rice when the Bride and Groom set off on their new life together, small craft bells can be used to jazz up floral arrangements, bells can be used as the wedding cake topper, and in centerpieces. We have heard of couple's who used small wedding bells hung up in outdoor weddings so when ever a breeze came through the guests would have some lovely tinkling music to enjoy. You can use customized bells as wedding favors and so much more.

If you want a piece of tradition in your wedding keep the bell in mind.

Sources:
http://weddings.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Wedding_Bells_Symbolism
http://www.the-wedding-information-site.com/bell-favor-wedding.html

25 Uses for Bells

2011-03-09T13:07:00.000-08:00

25 Uses for Bells:

There are many bells, different sizes, different types, etc. But what can they all be used for? Here are 25 different ways to use various bells:

Train a pet to come to dinner.
Train a pet to let you know when they need to go potty.
Noise makers at sporting events.
Ornaments for a Christmas tree.
Decorate a wreath.
Add to a bouquet of flowers for something unique.
Put on a pet’s collar to warn smaller animals. (ex. Warn a mouse of a cat’s presence)
Use on an elf costume.
Use in a Halloween costume.
Use by someone who is bed bound.
Get people’s attention.
Centerpiece for a wedding.
Use in a garland as decor.
Use on a scarecrow to help scare away the birds.
Use instead of birdseed/rice at a wedding.
Use to let the cows know that dinner is coming.
Use as a door bell.
Let your family know that dinner is ready.
Use as a desk bell to get clerk’s attention.
Get several small ones and make a wind chime.
Put one on a door that leads to stairs so you will be warned if a little one is entering a danger zone.
Ring in the New Year.
If you work in a business, use one to announce a sale.
If you work in a business encourage customers to ring if they had a good experience there.
If you work with small children use one to let them know when recess is over.

Didn't see an idea that you have used or have thought of using? Let us know what we missed in the comments!

Big News for Red Hill General Store

2011-03-02T11:48:00.001-08:00

Our main company, Red Hill General Store, is opening a new location in Raleigh, NC. Everyone is really excited about it. The Grand Opening is this Saturday, March 5, 2011.

At Red Hill General Store's new location they will offer many of the products of Bell Outlet, along with:

Carhartt, Columbia, & Life is Good clothing
Earthway products
Case Knives
Rada Cutlery
Burt's Bees Personal Care Products
Toys by Kikkerland
Rainbow Sandals
Presto Kitchen Appliances, Pressure Cookers, Canners, & more
Lodge Cast Iron Cookware
Teas by The Republic of Tea
Preserves and supplies to preserve with

And much much more. If you are in the Raleigh, NC area you should stop by and see the big event.

Desk Bell/Call Bell

2011-02-14T12:54:00.000-08:00

This bell is one that many people have seen during their lives, they aren't seen as frequently today as they once were. These classic bells used to found nearly everywhere, from teacher's desks, to secretary counters in Dr.'s offices, Post Office counters, the front desk in hotels, on the counter at the tailor's, etc. This list goes on. These bells make neat gifts for people who are in the fields that used to use these bells. Teachers sometimes get a kick out of them, and even put them to use in their classrooms after receiving one.

Where do you remember seeing the desk bell?

Bells for Pets

2011-02-07T10:06:00.000-08:00

Some people have used bells that hang off of their doorknob to train dogs how to let them know when they want outside to use the bathroom. But how many of you have heard of a cat who has learned how to ring a bell to notify their owners of some sort of need?

Janet at Of Cats and Cardstock has taught her cat, Lily, how to ring a bell for food. Lily learned how to ring her bell for food and even got to the point that Janet had to confiscate the bell. However, Lily, being a very intellectual feline, found that one of her toys has a bell in it and decided to use that as the replacement for her bag of bells.

Picture of Lily by Janet

Now that is a smart cat!

Teaching pets an alternative way to let us know things can come in handy, no more dog scratches in the door, and no more loud and crazy mewing from the cat who just wants an early dinner.

For the doggie "door bell" you could get some ribbon (probably 1" wide or wider) sew jingle bells or craft size cow bells every so often down the length of your ribbon (leaving a big enough empty spot at the top to tie around your doorknob.) And make the ribbon long enough for "Fido" to reach with his/her paw.

For the Kitty "dinner bell" get some scrap fabric (cotton or some other organic type that will not harm your cat if she chews on it) cut out 2 squares or rectangles (choose a size that you feel would be appropriate for your kitty. and sew together 3 sides with the side that you want to show, facing each other. Then flip the fabric right side out. Place a few jingle bells inside (you can also stuff it if you want the bells to sound more muffled) then stitch together the open end.

Hope your pet bell ringing training goes well!

And thank you Janet for allowing us to feature Lily in our blog!

Update:

From Janet: I actually got the idea to teach Lily because I knew of a dog who had been trained to use a doggie door bell as you describe. I'm sure Lily could have been trained with a hanging bag, just like a dog, but I used a cloth bag which sits on the floor next to her food bowl.

It took about 2 weeks of training for her to consistently ring the bells for food. At first I wiggled the bag with her paw so she'd hear the bells then gave her a nibble of her food. I kept doing this until she associated the sound with the food. I also repeated the command "ring the bell" until she learned to do it herself. I would love to hear any success stories! :)

From a Facebook friend: our rabbit uses one, its rather silly, and adorable at the same time.

Bells for your Scarecrow

2011-02-02T12:27:00.000-08:00

On Pressure Cooker Outlet's blog we talked about the benefits of having an edible garden. Now, what if you go ahead with your garden only to discover that the birds are feasting upon your hard worked for vegetables & fruits? One method that has been used since America was first settled is the Scarecrow.

Making a scarecrow does not have to be a difficult task.

Materials:
2x4 board 6 to 7 feet long
2x4 board 3 to 4 feet long
Hammer
Nails
Rope
Hay or something to stuff with
Old unused clothing (great way to recycle some items)
Ribbons
Something to make noise (BELLS!)
(needle and thread may be needed depending on the bells you decide to use)
Old pillow case

Directions:

Place the longer 2x4 on the ground, nail the shorter one to it in a lowercase t shape, so that it is low enough to be considered arms.
When you dress your scarecrow if using pants, put the long piece of lumber through one leg, stuff both legs with straw or other stuffing and tie the waistband to the board.
Place the scarecrow in its garden spot and pound the frame into the ground.
Finish dressing the scarecrow by putting on its shirt and stuffing the arms.
Fill the pillowcase with straw for the head and slip it over the top of the board; tuck the pillowcase end into the shirt and use rope to secure the head to the frame.
Add finishing touches, like a face, hat, gloves etc.
Place ribbons streamers, bells, pie plates or chimes so they’ll move when the wind blows, if desired.

We recommend sewing mini cow bells to the ends of about half of your ribbons before tying them onto the scarecrow. This will add much needed racket and it will ensure that the bells are well placed so that they do not fall off. Jingle Bells will work as well.

Now you are ready to go!

Welcome to Bell Outlet's Blog

2011-01-31T08:32:00.000-08:00

When you have a need for bells of any kind, Bell Outlet is the place for you we are the ultimate bell store. We have almost every bell imaginable. Everything from Cow Bells, Hand Bells, Craft Bells, Garden Bells, Call Bells, Shop Keeper Bells, Customized Bells and more.

Bells are great for party favors, wedding decor, events, sport games, etc.