Bloom Inspired — Bottle Cap Flowers

The Story

It started with a shelf of bottles near the artist’s workbench. Another maker had been saving them and the supply was growing and needed a cause. One day, the artist noticed a bottle cap lying amongst the forest of Ale-8-1 bottles. She pictured a flower center, surrounded by scrap glass, with the bottles as the vases. The bottle cap flower was inspired.

Each flower is different, determined by whatever cap the artist starts with, the scrap glass that is available, and the bottles that are currently on hand. Many soda and beer drinking friends have donated to this cause. Now a bottle cap enthusiast, she keeps a running collection of caps organized by brand and color.

These flowers have wired leaves that are made out of reclaimed piano wires. The stems are also recycled and fashioned out of old electrical main wire that she received from another maker friend. With the exception of the copper foil and solder that joins the piece together, this project is made completely of scrap materials.

This design has been through many revisions. The first versions of these flowers had petals attached by hand, one at a time. The following versions were made with a specialty jig that was drawn up in CAD, with the help of the bottle loving engineer that inspired the original, and then 3d printed onsite. This has allowed the artist to more safely assemble many more as well as teach others how to make these in Glassworks classes at the local makerspace.

The story of this design is about community and collaboration. Without them, these would not exist. Thanks to the artist’s bottle, wire, and cap collecting friends who inspired and help make these possible!