New Use for Turkey Bells!

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

"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.

DIY Christmas Ornaments with Jingle Bells

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

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

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

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:

1. 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.)
2. Paint on the section of the bell that will be the face with the peach acrylic paint.
3. Place and glue one your googly eyes and the pompom for the nose.
4. Using the permanent markers, draw on glasses and mouth (use photo for guideline if you need to).
5. Cut some of your white felt into a mustache shape for Santa and glue on.
6. Using the lipstick create some blushing cheeks for Santa.
7. Glue some cotton balls around the top of the Santa Bell.
8. Cut some red felt into a cone shape for his hat and attach the cone to the cotton balls with glue.
9. 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

How to Personalize Your Own Cowbell

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!