Log Candle Holders...part II

Yesterday I posted about making my wooden candle holders for the Thanksgiving table. I got the idea from Marty at Marty's Musings and knew I had to have one for myself. I had to put the project on hold because of my stupid mistakes. But I have it finished and ready for our Thanksgiving dinner this Sunday. For my American friends that don't know, in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October. It is all about the harvest, and giving thanks to God for providing us with the bounty.

I wanted to fancy up the tealights. Karah, from the space between, posted a couple weeks ago on how she did Beglittered Tea Lights. I love how hers turned out!!

Karah's candles

I used Elmer's spray adhesive and Martha Stewart fine glitter. 

Not as happy with how mine look, but they'll work and do look better than without it. I should have read her instructions again...next time I'll paint on modge podge or white glue instead of spraying. See how much glitter is on the top? oops 

 Another oops? This project is full of them!

 And here is the final centerpiece! I used an old brown tablecloth, topped it with a burlap runner with the sides folded under, put the log on an angle and surrounded it with the single log tealights, ornamental corn, small gourds, a rusty leaf garland and a few stars. And I love how it looks! Can't wait to set the table for dinner, but that will have to wait. (I cannot keep my cats off this table!! Needless to say, this is set for pictures...I'll have to redo it on Sunday after I kick the cats out to the games room.)

Here it is when the sun went down and the candles are lit. 

  Well, they started out lit...a couple went out as I was taking the picture. 

Guess I shouldn't use cheap tea lights.

Thanks to Karah and Marty for the inspiration! Be sure to check out their blogs, they have wonderful ideas for centerpieces. 

If you liked these ones, I made another set for Christmas using birch logs!

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It's So Very Cheri
My Modern Country
Two Succulent Sisters

               

                            

                 

             

                            

Wooden Candle Holders

A piece of wood or two, some candles that need painting, some inspiration for my Thanksgiving table and a new drill bit. Made for an interesting day...

I saw a beautiful candle holder made by another Marty and her husband at Marty's Musings.

Marty's Candle Holder

With all the wood out back for the stove & fire pit I knew I'd find some perfect pieces to do something similar.

I bought a 1 1/2" drill bit which is exactly the right size for the candles. 

When I first started drilling the log, it spun with the bit and my hip stabilized it. Good thing - my hip was there...bad thing - my hip was there, and is now bruised.

One down...five to go

The next hole I decided to use the vise. Duh...why I didn't think of that first, I'll never know.

My log holder finished, just needs touch-ups

I cut different sizes out of another log to make individual tea light holders.

Cutting the log. Shoot, I should have closed the door...yes there is a washroom in the workshop. Handy. 

Notice the first aid kit? Very handy.

Once I had the pieces, it was time to drill holes to hold the tealights.

Then the battery died. Fortunately, we have a spare so I put the dead one on the charger and continued...

Notice anything? 

I started to drill and nothing happened. Took me a few seconds (minutes?) to realize what I forgot to do. 

Then I broke one...I guess it was too short to take the pressure.

Needless to say, I didn't do the other short ones!

At once point the drill wrenched in my hand, moving the vise.

Look how much that sucker moved!

Thank heavens the handle was there to stop the vise from completely turning! 

This being the third oops I decided the rest will wait for Larry to get home. Besides, my thumb and wrist are now too sore to hold the drill. But, I think I got a lot accomplished.

On hold...

My darling husband showed me why the vise moved. He had removed one of the bolts because when he's building the burn boards (part of his business) he needs to swivel the vise when wiring. He said I need to put the bolt back in before doing a project like this. Ok, I knew that...I think.

To be continued...you can see part 2 at Wooden Candle Holders

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Old Keys and Wind Chimes

     

I've mentioned before my husband is a hoarder. I sometimes get frustrated, and then I look closer and wonder...maybe it's a good thing.

I had asked him what on earth he was planning for these, he said (and I couldn't tell if he was smirking or laughing) he is going to become 'Larry the Locksmith'. Oh brother...as expected they've sat hung for years...

...high up in the rafters of the lean-to where they were forgotten. (They will get displayed in my new craft room when I finish it)

Then, something broke.

My wind chimes are missing a lot of the 'tubes'. What a mess!

And I had an idea...but of course he had to pick out the keys I was allowed to use, because the others are "harder to find" (or he just likes keeping his junk?).

I gathered supplies and set about creating my idea.

Fishing line (not shown: glue gun & scissors)

Wiring the keys...

I used a triple knot to tie on the keys and glued the wire to the top.

I had to replace the string because it had deteriorated over the years.

 I kept a short length of the original twine to glue the fishing line in place. 

I had the keys laid out according to the length of the nylon string to get the cascading effect the original wind chimes had.

Do you remember this picture? You might have seen it here. 

I'm hoping with the amount of glue I used it will hold up!

And here it is finished...looks busier than I expected, then again, I put 2 keys on a few of the lines. But oh wow, does it sound wonderful!! Larry told me I need to make a video so you can hear how great it sounds, but the one I made turned out funny. So I'll try another...then again, I have no idea if (or how) I can upload a video here. lol

 It was night when I finished but I couldn't wait to test them out. So I hung it in the pool room. Can you see the old sea shell wind chime hanging from the light beside it? Yep, I love chimes. 

And that old rusty bottle opener? It was hanging with the keys, so I had to use it.

 By the courtyard...hard to see with all that's going on behind it.

Guess I have to trim the string...oops

 Yes, it was a lot of work, but I just love the sound of it. 

If you saw my last post, you saw a teaser...did you think this might be what was coming? And now, what am I going to do with all those other keys still hanging around? I have no an idea...my craft room will need decorations! 

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