Wind Chimes Add to calendar Franz Connor Blanchard & Davis Blanchard ♦ Earthtones Wind Chimes Austin, TX | Website The sound of wind chimes is synonymous with relaxation. But what if those wind chimes could be customized to a song of your choosing? That’s exactly what father/son duo Davis and Franz Blanchard specialize in. Davis has been making wind chimes since 1980. He started the business with a set selection of songs. When Franz took over, he started making custom songs. As an experienced musician, composer, and audio engineer, he was able to bring in all aspects to create unique wind chimes that can be enjoyed all year round. GET TO KNOW DAVIS What drew you to your chosen craft? I was living in the woods in between careers when a friend gave my wife Beth and I a musical wind chime as a birthing present for our newborn son, Cedar. This was 1980. I liked it so much, I made another one like it, then another, and so on. My mother wanted one, then my aunt, and so I made a dozen or two for the May reunion, and sold all of them to my family. What do you enjoy most about your craft? I enjoy working with my hands, being creative with the music, and the joy it brings to me and others while listening to the music. I also enjoy the freedom of working my own schedule, and problem solving engineering challenges. Why is it important for people to make things with their own hands? For me, working with my hands helps to distract me from all of the problems in the world. It feels good to accomplish something by having a finished product that all can enjoy. It is a way of connecting with the creative world. In what ways are handmade goods better than those that are mass-produced? There is a personal connection between the person making the goods and the person using the goods. There is uniqueness, and a non-defining element of character and soul imbued with the item. What does the future hold for your type of work? The future looks better than I could imagine with my son, Franz, having the interest in the business, and the initiative to make his part in carrying on the enterprise, along with his desire to excel in music making. GET TO KNOW FRANZ What drew you to your chosen craft? I have always loved working with my hands, and music. As I grew older, I realized what my father had built was the opportunity to do exactly that. Also, the opportunity to further something my dad created out of nothing is an honor. What do you enjoy most about your craft? Turning song arrangements into wind chimes, and then hearing the new sound of those arrangements once they are expressed through a new medium is the most satisfying part of my job. Torches, Stained Glass, Wind Chimes EPISODE | SCHEDULE ♦ TORCHES | STAINED GLASS DISCOVER OTHER ARTISANS [rev_slider alias=”crafts”] #HandcraftedAmerica