Tag: candlelight

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Short and Sweet ~ A Simple + Quick Vignette Using a Statue

French Ethereal
Want to create  a quick and easy decor vignette but you’re not quite sure what to do for a little refresh?
Here are a couple of quick + simple ideas you can do
to create a lovely new display and update your
home decor…


Welcome everyone!  If you are new here I am Barbara and I am happy you are here ~ welcome!!!
As part of today’s Short and Sweet hop hosted by Benita of Chasing Quaintness we are excited to bring you some quick ideas you can do in your home. Thank you Benita for being our gracious host!
🙂

For my post today I thought I’d share how to use a small statue in your home decor…

Depending upon your season start with a favorite statue you may have ~ a bust of an angel or a patriotic figure from history, perhaps.  If you find a vintage angel no longer used at a church that would be a fun piece to use in your decor too.

In this Christmas shot I created angel wings from a bird ornament I bought specifically for this project as I was decorating with mostly all white this particular holiday season.

Image result for charles faudree home decor napoleon bonaparte statue
source

I love small busts and fell in love with a Napoleon Bonaparte statue which the designer and author Charles Faudrée used in his country homes’ decor.
I had seen it a number of years ago in one of his books that I have in my library collection. When I spied my little maiden in a local thrift shop I grabbed her and ran!
😉

A Valentine’s post from a year ago…

Statues add that je ne sais quoi quality and aire to a room which always looks rich and fancy. We may not be wealthy but we can add a little fanciness to our decor for not much money. My Grinam Niam bust is a copy but I love her just the same as if she were the genuine thing!

A little photo taken with my iPhone 7.


Add in a candle or two and decorate your little statue with your favorite jewelry or strands of pearls. Use a bookmark pinned around your statue’s neck or draped on her head like a headband then place a small pedestal or vintage piece of lace underneath.


Finish your look with a vase or display of dried flowers and you have a quick and easy vignette to grace a window or table anywhere in your home. Simple + quick to do!
🙂


Thank you for stopping by today

Please follow the links here to see what all these lovely ladies are sharing today as part of their
Short and Sweet posts.Thank you again to Benita for putting this
all together!


Benita at Chasing Quaintness
Patti at Pandora’s Box
Judith at Botanic Bleu

Barbara at French Ethereal



A bientôt,
Uncategorized

How to Create Candlesticks from Old Lamps

French Ethereal
It is no secret  that I love candlelight and its pretty glow.  It is amazing to me how so much beauty can reflect out of even just one little candle in its candleholder.
During the evenings especially when daylight savings ends it is nice to light up several candles in their beautiful candleholders ~ small and large ~ creating different looks and that magical amber flicker and glow.

Today I’ll show you how to create your own tall candlesticks or altarsticks to use
in your decor…

This is  a photograph I took of our former fireplace mantel which I decorated with tall altarstick candleholders, small tealight votives and vases full of pink roses.  On this day I think I used every one of my tealight holders and delightfully the combination worked.   😉  


Inspiration for creating these candlesticks was found over at Cedar Hill Farmhouse where Anita shared her beautiful collection of contemporary and vintage candlesticks ~ some she found and others she created.  The first ones I had seen like mine though were in a post written by another favorite blogger Cindy of Edith and Evelyn. 

A photo from a post I wrote about Sarah, the Duchess of York, and finding these Wedgwood pieces.
Candlesticks come in various shapes and were readily available a number of years ago. Here in these next photographs you can see how I used mine.  

Some of mine were painted dark brown when I purchased them and didn’t go with my look so on those I lightly dry-brush painted those white.  Often these candlesticks are made of metal or wood and can be picked up at flea markets and thrift shops for decent prices.

Since they aren’t always available when you want them or are so expensive making them a bit out of budget, it’s easier to look for candlesticks in another form.   That is why I am suggesting that it’s not too hard to create your own candlesticks or altarsticks out of old table lamps.

Not really an altarstick but since this candelabra is two-toned and very beautiful, I thought I’d put it in here.  😉

How to create your candlestick

First you’ll need to find a few old lamps at a garage sale or thrift shop to refashion into candlesticks.


Next take off the harp, the candle sleeve and all the wiring and lamp parts saving those for other projects if in good condition.


Fill in any holes with wood putty, sand those areas and paint over to match.  If you want to change the look of your candlestick then by all means do paint with new colors and gild it!

🙂

Another way to display candles ~ in a sweet basket.  From a post
about English candy boxes.

Here are the lamps in their original conditions.

For the front lamp base I liked its original look so after filling the hole in the base I just tried to match the mottled look it already had.  I used my stencil brush and pounced on greys, a little sage green matching Annie Sloan’s duck egg blue, some brown and gold to blend over the filled hole.  I added just a bit of silvering as highlights to bring out the details on the piece.  I did use a jigsaw to cut off as much metal left from the lamp around the upper disk as I could.

 See this photo below and compare to the next one following.

Tool you may need

pliers ~ needle nose and wire cutters and any other pliers for removing nuts and pulling out wiring.

wrenches ~ also for removing nuts and for removing lamp parts as needed.

drill ~ for anything that needs to be drilled out or drilled to hold a candle.  Good tool which can be used for adapting your lamp base into its final candlestick redo.


paint and paint brushes ~ use paints which will work on your project (for wood or metal).  Have a number of paint brushes available in several small sizes for getting in small spots.  A stencil brush is perfect for “pouncing” paint onto areas.

sandpaper ~ for sanding sharp metal or wood edges as needed.  

wood ~ you may need to shape a piece of wood like I did for the more ornate candleholder so keep a piece of 1/4″ to 3/8″ thick luan board around, just in case.

jigsaw or hacksaw ~ for cutting through metal or wood and for creating wood pieces to add to your candlestick as needed.  Have the right blade for the material being cut, too. *ps ~ Wear eye protection. 

glues ~ I picked up some JB Weld and Gorilla Glue gluesticks (stronger than regular gluesticks) for anything I’d want to bond to each candlestick.  This time I used JB Weld to really secure the wood disk I cut out with the jigsaw to add a place to hold a candle to the ornate lamp base/candlestick. 

This is the lamp base I am calling the Ornate Candlestick ~ love its
egg and dart-type moulding around the body and footing!  The rear
lamp base/candlestick has had its the metal top piece cut down.
For the more ornate lamp base I painted on duck egg blue chalk paint then added a darker grey into the crevices and lighter grey to highlight.  I went back later and add a little more blue to bring out other features.

Lastly I used my finger and lightly added silver highlights to the edges making it not too dark or perfect as I was looking for a worn look.  I also added silvering around the rings and to the egg-and-dart moulding around the base and body.  

Really love how it turned out!

Here you can see where I was rubbing off some of the fresh paint as I went ~ this gives the piece that vintage Old World French look with lots of yummy layers of paint showing through.  Perfect imperfection!
🙂

In this next photograph I was dry brushing on the second layer of paint, the darker grey ~ building the paint layers for wiping back later on.  With each layer you paint here and there on your candlestick, you’ll get that rich look seen in expensive pieces found at designer stores for a fraction of the cost.  

Each of these were fully-working lamps I found for $5.00 or less.  The really ornate lamp base I picked up for $2.00 as it was half-price day! 

A couple of the chalk paints I used: DecoArt Americana Decor 
Chalky Finish ADC27 (is a medium grey) and for the green-blue I used
Plaid/FolkArt Home Decor chalk paint in Sage #6351.


For the brown lamp I painted on greys then layered on cream and went back and added more greys in light grey and a darker grey chalk paint.  Another tutorial I did earlier this summer on the nightstand in the background shares more of these paint techniques  and can be found here and here. 
For silvering and gilding, I used Amaco’s Rub’nBuff in Silver Leaf and Gold Leaf.
This photograph shows several things including the wood filler/putty used to fill
the holes left on each lamp base/candlestick when the lamp wiring was removed.
When I got a look I liked, I took a small paintbrush and added a light layer of gilding around some of the candlestick’s rings.  You can do this with just your finger, too.
  
Here they are when they are all finished.
But first…
A couple of circles of slightly graduated sizes had to be cut from lightweight birch luan to create a place for a pillar candle to sit on the ornate candlestick.  

If you are cutting circles look around your kitchen for anything which is the size circle you need and trace around it.


After a light sanding the disks were glued together with Gorilla Glue ~ very strong and it fills in crevices.
After drying for a few hours I measured and marked the center of the bigger disk (this will be my top) and drilled through it.  


Place a piece of scrap wood underneath so you don’t damage your table.  I used a doubled-up piece of cardboard and was careful with drilling ~ that’s what this photo is showing.  

Then using your drill, hold your disks and drill back and forth through them a few times to widen the hole and to smooth the center.  The metal piece on the ornate candlestick was 3/8″ and that’s the diameter drill bit I used.  

Definitely measure any lamp screw on your lamp bases if you are leaving them but will be adding wood like has been done here.


If your lamp base has a central open screw surrounded by resin and another lip you can try to drill out the center for a tall taper candle (my original intention for this lamp-turned-candlestick).  

The center pieces weren’t coming out without chisels so I went ahead and used a hacksaw to saw off the remaining wood, resin and metal screw tube in the center.

In the evening I was able to finish painting these two candlesticks along their tops after filling in the openings with some Gorilla Glue and wood filler. 

So… a little before and after.

Taken with an old camera phone ~ maybe my iPhone 4… Love this one!
Just found  this photograph on Facebook that I took about six years ago so am adding… Love my sweet daughter Amy with these candlesticks ~ I think they will all go well together, don’t you?
*This post was featured at:

Thursday Favorite Things ~ The Eclectic Red Barn
Thank you so much, Bev!

Sweet Inspiration ~ The Boondock’s Blog
Thank you for featuring us, Mary!

Thursday Favorite Things ~ Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Thank you so much, Amber!




Sharing with
Feathered Nest Friday ~ French Country Cottage
Friday at the Fire Station ~ A Fireman’s Wife
Sweet Inspiration ~ The Boondock’s Blog
Thursday Favorite Things ~ Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Share Your Style #182
The Really Crafty Link Party ~ Keeping It Real
Dishing It and Digging It ~ Angie the Freckled Rose
Style Showcase ~ Shabbyfufu
Wonderful Wednesday ~ Ducks in a Row
Make It Pretty Monday ~ The Dedicated House
To Grandma’s House We Go ~ Chas’ Crazy Creations
Wonderful Wednesdays ~ Oh My Heartsie Girls!



Happy crafting,
Uncategorized

A Happy Rainy Monday!

French Ethereal
It was a lovely rainy morning here yesterday!
A hot mug of tea along with a bran muffin while 
watching a little news about what was in store 
for the day’s weather was on the menu
as I sat and planned out my day.

My hubby and I were awakened
by heavy thunderstorms moving by overhead.
Some lightning and not a little rain 
dropped down upon
the little town of Sanger.
It was sooo nice to 
not 
have to go outside
until the rain let up!
🙂
This morning reminded me of another rainy day 
we had at our old home…

When it was cold and windy outside
inside was always nice and toasty
especially 
with a crackling, hissing fire
glowing away 
in the stone fireplace.
Candles flickering atop the mantel
spread their glow
and light
around the room ~
especially nice and heartwarming!
Pouring a second cup of Winter Time tea,
thoughts about the holidays and 
what I hope to find
here in Texas 
ran through my head.
Our new home is about an hour-and-a-half
north of Dallas up in the hills.
Driving around the freeways
I’ve seen billboard signs
about
Holiday at the Arboretum
in downtown Dallas.
Maybe I’ll head down there later this week
and make a day of it!
I’m needing a kickstart to this holiday season
and some inspiration.
😉
What is inspiring you this
time of year??
Tomorrow I’ll be sharing
the final Tombstone photos
about the Architecture and Beauty I found there
in that historic city filled with saloon and gunfights.
Later in the week, I’ll be sharing the beautiful
ornaments I found online
and finally broke down and bought…
{silvery and swirly etherealness!}
Oh, and I found some flowers that I’ve never
had the good fortune to find in
Southern California.
They will be coming your way soon.
😉
Have a great day!
Barb 🙂
Sharing with:
Create Link Inspire ~ Naptime Creations
WOW Us Wednesday ~ Savvy Southern Living
Feathered Nest Friday ~ French Country Cottage
Dishing It And Digging It
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Simple Saturdays ~ Rain & Candlelight

French Ethereal
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Of all types of lighting,
candlelight is definitely
a favorite…
🙂


Cheerful, flickering
casting dancing shadows 
on all objects near,
candlelight
calms us, relaxes the mind,
and
releases happiness 
into our souls…

Love this mantel display of candlelight and roses… sigh!
“For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.” Psalm 18:28
 Upon awakening this morning, the June gloom of
summer mornings we so often have
this time of year was replaced with
rain clouds, thunder and lightening…


My daughter loves the thunder and darker mornings;
she always burrows deeper
into her covers
and sleeps better, deeper.


Mr. Yoda, however, cowered and barked
when the thunder began!
,’:-(‘
(we have it so rarely!)



It is wonderful that we have had several
rainstorms already this summer!

Very unusual but highly needed with this the fourth year
of drought.
I believe I can speak for all of us
in Southern California,
when I say,
“We are grateful!!!”
(okay, except Yoda and other fearful puppies!)



Hubby is off today at a track meet
and
our daughter is off at work,
so…
Mr. Yoda and I
have the house to ourselves.





Just a nice morning
with a cup of tea
and, of course,
candlelight!


Sharing with
French Country Cottage ~ Feathered Nest Fridays
the week of July 30th 🙂

Roses of Inspiration ~ The Enchanted Rose
http://theenchantingrose.blogspot.com/2015/07/roses-of-inspiration-30.html






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Blessings to you,