How does one describe the sound of wind? It is the type of open-ended question that can tell you a lot about someone. For some it may be the sound that rushes in through an open car window as they drive aimlessly down winding country roads. Others might envision themselves on an empty shoreline well after sunset when the stillness is broken by a chilled sea breeze and the rhythmic crashing of waves at their feet.

For Deb Vaughn, one of the best descriptions came from a young girl visiting her and her husband Marty’s booth, Mountain Breeze Windchimes, at a craft fair. As she called her mother over to share in her amazement she said, “It sounds like a flower.”

It is the kind innocent remark that only a child could make, except Deb said she hears this type of thing from people of all ages as she and Marty attend craft shows across the Southeast.

“We get all kinds of people coming up to us and saying it reminds them of their grandmother, or maybe their mother, who has passed,” Deb said. “One lady told us it was like the voice of angels.”

It’s not surprising that the Mountain Breeze’s wind chimes have been a hit with newcomers and wind chime enthusiasts — a very real and very passionate crowd according to the Vaughns. In a fast-paced, ever-changing, technology driven culture, there is a simple beauty in a naturally powered instrument with essentially no mechanical or electronic parts whatsoever.

The methodology used to create the chimes is simple enough and only requires four materials: aluminum pipe for the chimes themselves, a single piece of marble which creates the top and the clapper, a few lengths of metal chain to hang the chime and the strongest fishing line Marty could find to tie everything together.

The Vaughns cut each piece of aluminum pipe into eight different lengths, each one creating a different note. The rough edges are removed and each piece is sanded and polished before a small hole is drilled for the fishing line to pass through. Apart from connecting each of the pieces, that is pretty much the process.

It is the same formula that his uncle Tom used for nearly 30 years before selling him the business in 2020. It is a testament to the “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” mentality which continues to produce a dedicated string of customers.

“It’s knowing that we’re doing something the same way … that this thing’s been made for nearly 30 years now. and we’ve got people that will come back sometimes and tell us that they’ve had their’s for over 20 years and it’s still going,” Marty said.

Still, Marty said people have spent the better part of their afternoons closely examining each set of chimes, leaning their ears closer and listening for the subtlest of differences in tone. It is worth mentioning that Marty said these differences do not exist.

“It is crazy because except for the different sizes we have, all of these sets of wind chimes are made exactly the same way, using the exact same materials. There isn’t really any difference in them other than the color, but you’ll have people that will swear ‘Oh no, that one over there. That’s the one that sounds the best,’” Marty said.

A grin spread across Deb’s face as she said, “And we’ll tell them ‘Oh yea, you’re right that one does sound better.’”

If it seems surprising that a married couple, barely into their retirement, would choose to dive into the world of an artisan business, then you haven’t spent time with the Vaughns. Marty said the business is much more like a hobby. He and Deb enjoy their time working together and traveling. They have made friends and built relationships with the people who seek out their booth each time they roll into a festival or annual event stop.

They work when they feel like working. The rest of the time … well, there are several wind chimes of their own the Vaughns can admire as they sit on their front porch and wait for the wind to blow.

Find Mountain Breeze Windchimes on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mountainbreezechimes/ and check them out at the 8th Annual Bernard Blues & BBQ Arts & Crafts Festival Sept. 7-8 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.