Welcome to Dazzling Driftwood
Taking inspiration from the natural beauty of Florida’s beaches, we travel from coastline to coastline scouring beaches for raw materials that we transform into our unique, nautical-themed creations for your home in our Dazzling Driftwood workshop and studio centrally located in Auburndale, FL.
We custom design and make by hand items including wind chimes, suncatchers, chandeliers, and other light fixtures from salvaged driftwood and crystal chandelier prisms. We offer four varieties of wood finishes and chandelier crystals in a range of sizes and shapes for endless combinations of dazzle.
After responsibly gathered driftwood has been carefully selected and transported to our workshop, the magic begins. Each piece spends weeks in an eco-friendly process to clean and reveal the natural beauty of the wood. Driftwood pieces encrusted with barnacles or oyster shells from its epic journey on the high seas spend a little extra time in our Fire Ant piles to get them spic and span. While the driftwood is being beautified, we handpick reclaimed chandelier crystals to accent the piece and create a fantastic fusion of the weathered and the shiny. The finished result is a one-of-a-kind creation that is sure to dazzle!
Meet the Woman Behind Every Dazzling Design!
- Angel's dazzling journey began on the glistening sheets of ice in Lake Placid, NY where she trained as a competitive figure skater in her formative years.
- In 1989, Angel was crowned Vermont's Junior Miss, winning her a full 4-year scholarship to the state university of her choice.
- Angel chose to attend Alabama's Troy State University, where she would meet the love of her life, David.
- Angel and David were married and have two wonderful sons.
- In 2009, after earning her Master of Ministerial Leadership degree, Angel developed and led the Children and Family Program at Southeastern University in Lakeland until 2019.
- Dazzling Driftwood started with just a spark of inspiration: Angel purchased a bucket of crystal chandelier prisms and noticed they looked mesmerizing next to her driftwood.
- The design process at Dazzling Driftwood is an immersive experience that evokes emotion, combining an eclectic fusion of design and nature.
- Angel feels humbled and honored to be part of her customers' homes – and she would love to be part of yours!
Unmatched Quality in Every Piece
Beyond their beauty, our dazzling pieces are made to last using the finest-quality materials.
Here are just a few of the ways we go above and beyond to ensure the highest quality:
- Our crystals are either authentically vintage or antique, some dating to the early 1800s, or AA+ Ashford Crystal.
- Our chandelier pins are made of chrome, and we offer the option of custom-made stainless steel for very harsh environments.
- Our hook eye screws are also custom made and will never rust.
- We use the very best marine-grade epoxy resin by Super Clear.
- Our largest and rarest antique crystals are wired to our work with sterling silver.
- We have wind tested our chimes up to 45 mph, but we’ve seen many take winds of up to 65!
Most of our work is designed for indoors or outdoors (except for the epoxy resin pieces, like our epoxy turtles, which should stay indoors or under a covering).
Driftwood that is glistening in the full sun will weather but can be brought back to look like new with a fresh coat of resin. We offer this for free one time and at a fraction of the cost in the future. Depending on the environment, the glistening finish can last for years on its own.
If a crystal strand gets chipped or broken, each is easily replaceable, also at a fraction of the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Won't the crystals break in the wind?
Shockingly, no! And the reasons are fascinating. Our creations are made with crystal which is at least 30% lead and thus, harder than standard glass. The lead allows artists to shape and cut in a way that regular glass cannot handle, giving us our rainbows and added strength/weight. Additionally, we design our wind-chimes to move in subtle symmetry, allowing the prisms to brush against each other as they dance in the wind instead of odd weights that "bang" against one another.
If you know a tropical storm, hurricane, or tornado is going to happen, bring your chime inside. Otherwise, just make sure your chime will not hit anything hard, and you are good to dazzle in any breeze.
Where do I hang them?
This is an ever-growing list. Our sun-catching wind chimes are designed to go outdoors or ideally near a window so you get the complete show of the crystal clear tones and rainbows on your walls. There are just so many places! You can hang them over your garden, screen porches, sunrooms, over your fireplace, even from your ceiling fan. One dazzler added a piece to the bottom of her chandelier, making it more "chandelier-y". You can even hang them inside those small windows in your shower -- our chrome pins won't rust. When you get one, you’ll suddenly see all sorts of areas to dazzle!
Do you get the driftwood yourself?
Yes. It's actually a family affair! We strap on our boots, slather on sunscreen and lots of bug spray, and hit the beaches and mangroves. We weep a little as we find driftwood burned in campfires, but imagine the fun had by good friends. Plus, we make sure to pick up trash along the way.
Now we have kayakers bringing us beautiful pieces! Our studio is inside a fantastic kayak shop, Action Watersports.
Where do you get your crystals?
Our crystal literally comes from all over the world! Most of our treasure hunting is done at flea markets and estate sales, but we also have secret shoppers who are constantly on the lookout. PLUS, we buy crystals from friends like you! If you have some old antiques or other dazzling home decor that you would like to give a new life, please send us a message.
Do you do custom work?
Yes, we love making dazzling dreams come true! Just give us a glimpse of your vision and we will make it happen. We can tweak any design you see or start from scratch; you just say the word.
Do you use acrylic beads?
NO, NO, NO... no plastic, nowhere, no how, not even on our tags! You will find only glass and high-quality crystals here.
What is the Dazzle Room?
In the Dazzle Room, you and your friends will be guided through the creation of your very own sun-catching wind chime. Learn about the materials and have fun with endless combinations. Booking for the Dazzle Room is available by submitting a request on the homepage or by phone. Schedule a time to visit in person or join an online session. There is no charge for scheduling a session. Contact us for large parties such as bridal showers, birthdays, girls’ nights out, etc.
Supporting Local Charities
While we donate our work to many charities, we partner with two on a consistent basis:
This is a local mission that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes neglected, abused, and abandoned pets (and the occasional duck, opossum, and raccoon)! For one of our auctions, we donated 95% of every dazzling dollar directly to their mission!
This incredible local charity supports families with small children in crisis. CARS Racin’ For A Dream Inc. raises money for practical needs for families who have fallen through the cracks of the system and can’t get help in other ways.
