A few blog posts back, I talked about this idea I had about creating a wine cork mirror. If you scroll down a bit, you can read the post.
Well, here's an update. I'm about 25% there with collected wine corks from all over the place. Some corks come from bottles of wine I've drunk. Many came from bars and restaurants when I would casually ask a bartender or waiter if I could keep a wine cork from someone else's table.
I went on ebay and searched for "wine corks" and found lots of listings. I tried bidding on a lot of 100 used corks, but lost out. I'm---seriously---the worst Ebay bidder ever. I never win. But not winning was probably a good thing, because the hunt and casual collection of corks makes it more interesting.
Today, I'm staying at the Hotel Monaco in Seattle, WA because I'm in town for Method's Detox Seattle campaign. At the Hotel Monaco, they have a complimentary wine hour for guests, which means lots and lots of corks. Jackpot! I'm so going to stand there and ask for the corks.
I can't wait for this project to be finished. I have a feeling it'll turn out great.
Have you thought of sawing them (maybe exacto knifing) them in half
then it wouldn't be as "deep" either?
regardless
it's going to be very cool
and can double as a trivet if you're in a pinch
;)
Posted by: denise in c'ville, va, usa | October 06, 2007 at 09:05 AM
Jackpot!
They are going to say 'who is this guy... & what is he planning to do with these corks?'
Hmmmmmm
Posted by: sandi @ the whistlestop cafe | October 06, 2007 at 10:37 AM
was about to post the same as a pp, denise... about cutting them in half. i've seen that done to make a message board, and it's a neat effect because you can see the marks and names of the wineries.
although i do like the look of what you've got going there already!!
Posted by: Krista | October 07, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Danny - I had a blast hanging with you yesterday at the Method detox party and had no idea what privileged company I was in! I only wish I could host a party cause I have a tons of friends who would have LOVED it! Thanks again for your great ideas and down to earth presence.
Posted by: Jen Smidt | October 07, 2007 at 05:59 PM
Just ask your local bartender to save them for you for a week or so-we do it all the time for customers. Better than throwing them away; I'm glad someone is finding another use for them!
Posted by: april Coxe | October 07, 2007 at 10:41 PM
I love this idea! I still have the champagne cork from the night I learned I got into grad school... it would be fun to do something special with it!
Posted by: style saves the world | October 08, 2007 at 06:27 PM
Here's another cork idea for recycling all those corks from wine bottles - a real "cork" board. A friend of mine from Japan gave it to me and I've been making them as gifts ever since. Below is an email I sent that gives directions on how to make them - start saving corks now!
M&M,
I just read something in a magazine about cork and thought of you asking me about how to make the cork boards. Here's how.
Gather a ton of corks. You will need much more than you think you need. Purchase a deep picture frame (or make one) that will allow you to have the corks at least partially fit down inside. Something thicker than your standard frame works best. They don't have to fit all the way inside but lower is better. Cut a piece of plywood the size of the frame to use as your base. If you want it not to show, you can cut it to fit inside the frame but this raises the corks even higher. I like to have it fit the outside of the frame instead. Makes it easier. Nail the plywood to the back of the frame.
Separate all the corks you have by vendor. Put all the same corks together ( size matters ). When you finished sorting, start placing the corks two at a time together on the board along the left side writing side up. Alternate directions - two together up and down, two together side to side, repeat until you reach the bottom of the frame. You may have to cut a cork in half if you get to the bottom and don't need a whole cork to fit. Make sure you turn all the corks so that the writing is right side up and can be seen when you look at the board. The reason you put the same cork together in twos is because they are not all the same size. I always start with the larger ones first.
Fill out the entire frame with corks before gluing. It will be a tight fit which is good. You may have to adjust things as you go to make sure everything fits. If you have some really interesting corks ( different in color or just special) make sure you spread them out ( in twos) so that they can be seen. You wouldn't want to put all black corks together in one space. I try to mix up the vendors so that when you look at it you don't see all one type of cork - unless of course that is all you have. It takes about 180 corks for a 1 1/2 x 2 foot board so continue saving, borrowing, and asking for more corks. I wanted to stop by a restaurant and ask them to save corks but I never got around to it. Something to think about if you are making more than one board since all they do is throw them away.
Once you have everything fitting tightly inside the frame two by two, then you can start gluing. Use a hot glue gun to take them out one at a time and glue. You don't need much. And once it's glued, it's hard to remove so watch which way you put them in - writing side up is best. Don't be surprised if halfway through you take a cork out to glue it and several next to it that haven't been glued, pop out as you're going. That's a good thing. It means that it's a tight fit.
That's it. Easy. The hardest part is collecting the corks - unless you drink it all yourself.
Have fun!
Posted by: Lynn Bauer | October 09, 2007 at 09:08 AM
We live in an area with a lot of wineries. I'm sure you could contact any winery and they'd be happy to save corks for you from their tasting rooms.
Posted by: Abbey H | October 20, 2007 at 09:42 PM
Hello, I said I would link you to the photo of homemade cork hot plates: here is the link
http://vertes-et-mures.blogspot.com/2007/10/bouchons-veritas.html
(the text is in French, but all I say is that you just need a lot of patience, some glue, and to like wine...)
Posted by: Shabnam | October 22, 2007 at 07:12 PM
I gave away a bag of about 100 at our garage sale a few months ago--I would have sent them your way!
Have you tried posting on craigslist? I got free 5 gallon buckets for a tie-dye project on there. Or freecycle, I hear they are pretty good.
Posted by: Tori | October 31, 2007 at 03:29 PM
Big cork-collection:
http://www.lobzik.pri.ee/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=66&forum=4
Posted by: Gagarin | January 01, 2009 at 08:24 PM