I mentioned that I bought a chandelier at Jake’s yard sale over the weekend, and now I’ve hung it.
I bought some sisal rope and used one of my sailor’s knots (if you can’t tie good knots, tie lots of them!) to hitch the rope around the ring on the top of the chandelier. Then I rigged up a cleat with some big screws, so that I could tie off the other end of the rope and raise and lower the chandelier on a big branch of one of my trees. I really need an actual cleat, but until I make it to the yacht supply store, the screws will have to do.
I need to add about a dozen or so crystals to the chandelier and David said I could plunder his stash of them.
The other thing the chandelier needs is candle cups. 
I’ve seen these things in thrift shops for years, and never really understood what they were for. Now I know. The bottom stem fits into the candleholder and the white thing is a little rubber piece that secures the glass in place. You can add small votive candles to the glass cups, so the wind won’t blow the flames out. But I was really envisioning this chandelier with tall white tapers with wax dramatically dripping down their side.
The chandelier is a dirty white/beige, and I am trying to decide whether to paint it or not.
Thoughts?
Oh Meg it's fab! I love that it's outside and that it's hanging by a rope. So if it was me to keep it in all it's outside glory it would rust it up! Yep. A couple of coats of Iron paint and a good spritz of "activator" and 24 hrs later.....Yeah Baby!! Rusted garden beauty. But that's just my opinion. lol
ReplyDeletethat sounds like a fun idea.
DeleteOh wow! You will have to do a post when it's all aglow! It's a fantastic idea!
ReplyDeleteDi
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i would have, but i didn't have enough candles! i needed 8 and i had 2!
DeleteI would leave it as is and let nature have its way with it. Much more interesting that way.
ReplyDeletei am thinking it needs to have more rust.
DeleteMaybe wait until you see how it looks aglow!
ReplyDeletegood idea!
DeleteBeautiful! I'm sure it will look great whatever treatment you give it, but as long as you asked: I like it the way it is.
ReplyDeletethe only problem is that if it's outside, it's not going to look like that for long. but i like the idea of letting it go.
DeleteI have one that looks a bit like the color you have and I sprayed a pale verdigris and get many favorable comments on it. Mine is on a porch and not in the weather. Can't wait to see
ReplyDeletewhat you come up with.
Else... i think it's going to lean more towards rust than verdigris.
Deletewait, I'm totally confused...you are leaving your chandelier outside? You'll put candles in it so does that mean you pull it up and down to replace the candles? Do you blow them out when you go in for the night? Is this a garden chandelier?
ReplyDeletechris... i am leaving it outside. when i saw one like it at jakes a few years ago, i wrote on the blog that i'd love to have one like to hang from a tree in my garden, and at that time, i had neither. now that i have both trees and a garden, i have a chandelier, too. i will put tapers in the chandelier, but will blow them out when i go in for the night. not sure if it's intended to be a garden chandelier, but it is now. because of the rope, i can raise and lower it to put the candles in. i will pick up some tapers this weekend, so i can show the "after" pictures.
DeleteI love that chandelier! And I think you should just stop fretting over it's color, etc, pack it up and ship it down to me...your worries are OVER and you have one VERY HAPPY friend with a chandy hanging from HER backyard tree! I personally LIKE the idea of a bit more rust..however that is achieved. What a find!
ReplyDeletei love the idea of crystals and rust. that's so me! haha!
DeleteDear Aunt Meggie: What a beautiful item for your backyard! You are truly an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI agree w/the "more rust" suggestions above. The only other thought I'll add is that if you use candle cups, you'll need to take them out of the chandelier frequently so that rain doesn't get inside.
Lovely, can't wait to see it in the yard!! :-)
-- Miss M.A.
Excellent suggestion! nothing worse than soggy candles. i am leaning towards tall tapers that drip a lot.
DeleteAdd me to the Team Rust! And I'm really jealous - the trees that shade my yard aren't mind so I can't hang my own chandelier.
ReplyDeleteif the branches are in your yard, don't you have to clean up the leaves, etc? then you should be able to hang a chandelier from the branches, too.
DeleteI Love the chandelier--but I would venture that you might leave it the way it is--super patina and you won't stress when the white becomes less than white. Have a great Thursday. Mary
ReplyDeleteha! i never stress about things like this... to many real things to stress about.
DeleteLet Nature do her thing or paint it a vibrant hot pink with white candles.
ReplyDeleteTish...had not thought about hot pink. It would be hawt.
DeleteMeg I adore your new chandelier, give some thought to how you would paint it ...an antique white or maybe an aged bronze? I would not use the candle cups because they will be a pain to keep clean...
ReplyDelete2012 Artist Series featuring the gifted Decorative Painter Theresa Cheek
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Looks fab!! Let Mother Nature have her way with it.
ReplyDeleteLisa... next one I find will be for your back porch! it would look glam!
DeleteAdore chandeliers outside, so romantic + functional + let the rust(which happens outside)take over, is my vote. Since you live in cold weather country (snow etc.) take the glass chimney's inside for those really cold months-is my suggestion because they could crack from the cold weather. Here in SCA things can stay outside year round,we are blessed. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeletePeggy... one of the things I was imagining was a snowy evening with the candles lit on the chandelier. sort of dr. zhavago-like!
DeleteI think glass hurricanes anchored down with "sticky wax", then you could use your tall tapers. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteAC... there seem to be little flanges that hold the hurricanes in place, but i do love that sticky wax for candles.
DeleteHaving done this in my parent's gazebo, I can tell you the candle cups are a mess unless you take them in every time you use them- also the candle cups you show are impossible to clean -once the wax melts, the wide bottom prevents removal of that ball of wax- Tapers are a good idea- I have resorted to the little LED tea lights and they are quite successful and don't burn away during the evening
ReplyDeleteOhhh... good idea Thomas. I hadn't considered the melted wax and cleaning it up. Those LED lights are great, aren't they?
DeleteJust don't set fire to your tree!
ReplyDeletedear, that's entirely possible!
DeleteIt is wonderful how everyone comes up with such practical ideas for you chandelier. It looks great amongst your very green leaves, It will be interesting to see what you decide to do.
ReplyDeleteAlso,thank you for introducing me to Baltimore, because of your blog I have been reading about your fascinating,historical city. Previously, the only thing I knew about Baltimore was that E.A.Poe died there but not anymore!
SMR... i always say that Baltimore's more than TheWire and Poe.
DeleteLove the look. I'd do it here but flying soccer balls might make it chancy. They just took put the bird feeder and a bird house. Maybe out front from the big magnolia would work.
ReplyDeletePat... it seems to be iron, so maybe a ball or three won't hurt too much!
DeleteI am late to the party but I will say that I am in the leave-it-as-is camp. I do like the hot pink suggestion as well.
ReplyDeleteI say leave it as is. And I like the idea of the white dripping candles building up over time. - Wendy
ReplyDeleteNow I want one, too. Maybe bright, bright yellow. Jo @ Let's Face the Music
ReplyDeleteWow -- I didn't realize at first that the chandelier wasn't electrified! A chandelier with real candles, hanging from a tree by a rope, presiding over a magical fête on a summer evening? How unbelievably romantic. Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it. Can I come, in a silk shift dress with bare feet, and drink champagne?
ReplyDelete