The Christmas Wheeth!!

So, ever wonder what to do with all those old bicycle wheels just laying around the garage?  Believe it or not, they actually make awesome Christmas gifts!  Well, not as is, of course, but with a little creative energy and some elbow grease, it's possible to turn those nasty wheels into beautiful Christmas WHEETHS!

Don Barnett, a mechanic at Century Cycles, came up with the idea a few years back and made a wheeth (wheel + wreath) for himself out of an old 700 series road wheel.  I saw this wheeth a few months ago, and that's all it took to get the creative wheels turning.  Long story short, not only did I make my own Christmas wheeth, but I also brought a new twist to the idea and created the first ever Advent wheeth! 

For the Advent wheeth, I found four old wheel hubs, tore out all of their axles and bearings, soaked the bare hubs in a cleaning solution, scrubbed off the grease and grime then, finally, polished them with an aluminum polish to get a high, clean shine...

Next, I received an old 26" wheel from a co-worker and cleaned it up as well.  The concept was to use the wheel as a table wreath with the hubs as candle holders for the four advent candles.  I wrapped each hub in red ribbon and placed them within the spokes of the wheel...

A quick trip to Target found my cart filled with pine garland, twigs, pine cones, candles, holly leaves and berries.  Within a few hours, the finished Advent wheeth was born...

The candle holder representing the third week of Advent received the traditional pink candle (the three remaining holders got purple) symbolizing the halfway point of Advent.  This pink candle is also known as the "Joy Candle", hence the Joy ornament interlaced with the associated hub...

Needless to say, it was quite exciting to design a unique piece that represented both my passionate hobby and Christian Faith.  However, as much as I would have loved to hang on to this newly completed Advent wheeth, it was always intended as a gift for my parents, for just as Christ became the Light of our world so, too, have my parents been the light of mine.

Now, as hinted earlier, the Advent wheeth was not my first crack at the whole wheel/wreath thing.  I started by making a traditional Christmas wheeth.  This piece consisted of a 700 series road wheel, pre-lit pine garland, pine cones, twigs, ribbons, holly leaves and berries.  The finished product was no less exciting...

It even looked better at night with the light glinting off the polished spokes...

This wreath will be a present for my brother and his wife!

So, if your bored and looking for a great holiday project (and/or gift), why not give wheeth making a shot?

In the meantime, here's wishing you all a Blessed and Holy Christmas!!