Pebble Forest Chorus

I love hiking through the Pacific Northwest in summer, especially the simple joy of wading through cool water over smooth pebbles — a feeling of pure relaxation and serenity. Along the way, I often collect pebbles from beaches and riverbanks, each one carrying memories of eons past. I wanted a way to display these stones while also evoking their gentle sound, so I created this project — a reminder of forest trails, river currents, and the quiet chorus of pebbles that accompany my journeys.

Materials:

1. Pebbles (I picked smooth black pebbles but feel free to use a variety of pebbles/rocks)
2. Stainless steel spring wire (40cm in length)
3. Moldable plastic
4. Liquid nail
5. Masking tape
6. Foam sheet
7. Plastic mesh sheet for crafts
8. Squire wooden box (8"x8")
9. Weights (more pebble/rock or I used metal balls here)
10. Cardboard

Tools:

1. pliers
2. scissors

Optional for decoration:

1. Liquid Chrome Paint Markers
2. White sand

Pebbles vary in shape and weight, just as the spring wires differ in strength. To keep each pebble standing more or less upright — without bending too much — we first need to match the pebble with a suitable wire.

1. Bend the wire into an L-shape at the 5 cm mark.
2. Place a pebble in a small bag with a string.
3. Hang the bag on the bent part of the wire (as shown) to test whether the wire can hold the pebble upright or bend as desired.
4. Repeat with different wires until you find the right fit.
5. Once matched, use masking tape to label both the pebble and the wire with the same number or letter.

After matching, bend the wire at the 5 cm end into a spiral that will hold the pebble securely.

Follow the instructions for the moldable plastic and place the beads in hot water until they soften. Take a small amount and shape it around the connection between the pebble and the support end of the wire. The shape should look like the images shown. Depending on the pebble’s shape, this may be sufficient to bond the pebble to the wire, or you may need an additional step using liquid nail for extra security.

Protect the area with masking tape as shown, and finish by coloring the supporting plastic with a chrome marker.

The box has a depth of 4 inches. Set aside 1 inch for sand and 1 inch for a mesh/foam layer, which leaves 2 inches for creating supports. Use cardboard or small boxes to make four supports—one at each corner. Add weights as needed.

To create the mesh and foam layer for arranging your pebble-tree forest:

1. Cut two pieces of mesh to fit the size of the box (in this case, 8" × 8").
2. Cut foam into squares matching the same size; you may need multiple pieces.
3. Layer them in the following order: mesh, foam, mesh, aiming for a total height of about 1 inch.
4. Secure the layers together, either by gluing or sewing.
5. Place this layered assembly on top of the supports.

Optional steps:

1. Add a cloth layer to cover the mesh, making cleanup easier and hiding the underlying structure.
2. Add decorative sand for aesthetics.

Stick each pebble tree’s wire into the foam and have fun arranging them! Mix and match their positions to create a beautiful cluster and a delightful tinkling sound—it’s all part of the joy!