DIY

I get myself in trouble surfing the net for cool ideas for the house – really, just great ways for other people to separate me from my cash! Nearly every new remodel I see has some romantic little chandelier hanging somewhere, usually over a lovely tub. So I’ve had this idea floating around in my head for a very long time. Since we remodeled our master bathroom some time ago I, naturally, had it in my head to incorporate one. I’ve got one of those ginormous tubs – why not? Oh, building codes….yeah. Well, ‘code’ says that we can’t put electrical over a tub (but it’s ok to have a light in the shower – don’t get me started). That leaves a ‘candelier’. Only, hanging it beyond the tub means lighting them will be a pain and will probably never happen. Not to mention they’re hard to find and even those are not what I wanted. OK, the search gets a bit more narrow. Meaning, now they need to be LED candles that I can operate by remote. Hmmmm. Wow those pillars are pricey!! And I still can’t find anything to put them in. Everything sold for a garden is cheesy, and then there’s the cool modern ones, or maybe a trendy French one with little wood ‘crystals’ – ouch, how much?! And then I need to rip it’s electrical guts outs? Ugh. Now fast forward to our little trip to Renningers Antique Extravaganza and that monstrous brass 10 light chandelier I picked up for $20…oh, yeah…that’ll do.

But first I lent it to the Jess/Andy Jubilee (my cousin’s outdoor wedding at Perfect in April). I spray painted it with a mirror finish that made it look silvery and it lit up the dance floor.

Now that the party’s over, it needs to go back to being what I’d bought it for in the first place. (no, it won’t fit in the newlywed’s Brooklyn apartment – this thing is big – unlike NYC real estate!) Let’s see what I came up with:

Step 1: Find some replacement lights. The fixture will need to be un-electrified so they’ll need to be those LED candles. My friends at Amazon had just the thing. These little numbers are for Christmas trees. They come battery operated, with a remote, and a little clip assembly to hang them on a tree. And now that I see them, I may need to get another set for December’s decorating.

Step 2: Gotta test em – look how cute! They flicker like candles and everything, and I love that tiny remote.

Step 3: Get out those tools and cut away the bulb assemblies. I left the wires intact enough that, if for some reason later, it can be re-electrified. And here’s the little clip that came with the candles. This we’ll pull apart so that it can be the base for the light. That way the candles can easily have the batteries replaced.

Step 4: I found big washers holding the other assembly in place, so we’ll keep those. I need to give the candle base something to glue to, as well as hiding the wires . But first the sconce and little cup have to go back together and they need a threaded rod to hold them in place. I found some old lamp pieces in the nuts-n-bolts stash and cut them down to fit (this was not fun – many bandaids were in my future) Then I tucked the wires inside the rod, sconce and little cup and replaced the nut and washer holding them all on. Then back to those big washers and some Gorilla Glue. I tucked the wires beneath and glued the edges lightly. Now, gluing steel doesn’t always turn out well. This is no weld and I know it may come apart someday, but the way my test held, I won’t be worrying about it. I let it set overnight just to be sure.

Step 5: …and the next day… Remember those clips? OK, the top holders are a swivel so they just popped right off. A little spray paint to make them off-white like the candles, good to go. Although, that piece sticking out had to be cut off as some of the wires took up too much space inside the little cup. Just a pair of wire cutters and no band-aids this time!

Step 6: A test to make sure they all still fit nicely. Then I glued them in place with Gorilla Glue too.

Step 7: A little later I couldn’t wait so I turned out the lights and there it was. Like fireworks inside, I was ooooing and haaaaaing! About that time my neighbor came in and wondered what the heck I was doing and where’d I get a sterling silver chandelier – yeah, the color is that close! (I can’t stand it) “Honeeeeeey!!! Come hang this for me!! Pleeeeze”

Step 8: Since this is a 10 pound piece of metal over my cost-too-much-to-replace tub, and new tile work, I opted to use something designed for a real light and not just a glorified cup hook! Besides, maybe they’ll change the Code one day and someone (not me) will put up another fixture and be so happy that those Beals were so ahead of the curve to install a cut-in box for them. (you’re welcome)

Step 9: Thank you Honey – I love it! (now I have to decorate around it….and no, it doesn’t match my other lights) Hmmm. But I’m luvin’ that tiny switch, it works great!!! A little click and they come on and flicker away.

It needs a bit of adjusting. It’s been though a lot! I mean, can you believe that this POS that had been hauled around from who-knows-where in some guy’s station wagon to be sold in a field antique fair for a twenty could be so cool ?! So romantic – where’s my bubble bath!? 

Finale: Here’s a shot of it on a cloudy day. I did actually take a little movie of it flickering at night, but it’s a big file and kinda dark.

Michelle Beal @ www.badzoot.com

I have ruined my love of expensive candles. Not to say that I don’t like candles – I do. I really enjoy them. Problem is, the cost. I like those $20-$25 candles that smell so good. You know the ones. Recently, I burned up yet another $20 wonder and thought, ugh, ‘I’m throwing away another lovely glass jar'(not to mention that I literally burned up a twenty!). We don’t have glass recycling here and that makes it worse. So I sat it aside and enjoyed the smell with the lid off anyway, until I’d decide to toss it.

In the meantime, I found myself at a place called Hobby Lobby wandering aimlessly. I’d driven my Mom to an eye Dr. appointment and had time to kill – a dangerous thing for me. The store is really big – like Home Depot big. Most of the middle isn’t hobby related at all, but that didn’t stop me from looking. In the back I went looking for canning jars (don’t, they’re expensive!) and with them were candle jars. Hmm, never thought of making a candle. Around the corner, you guessed it, candle making supplies….on sale! Well, that did it – I have to try this. For $13.50, I was out the door.

The next day me and my Michael’s Crafts coupon were out picking up a metal melting pot, because the nice lady on the YouTube video said it was a good investment. OK, if they’re too expensive I’ll just get an old pan at the Goodwill and have fun. But turns out it cost a whopping $8.00, had nice tall sides and a pouring lip. Later, I used it to store all the candle stuff in. Now to put it to use.

Step 1 and 2: Get the old candle jar prepped. I’m sure there are a dozen warnings against doing this – none of which I’ve actually read. Let’s get the old wax out first – just put it in the freezer. The old wax disc pops right out. Martha taught me that years ago – thank you Martha. Clean the jar out with some glass cleaner and be nice and peel that label off (but not the warning label on the bottom – I need lots of warnings).

Step 3: Gather the goodies. You’ll need wax (I chose soy wax to be trendy and healthy-like), wicks, color and scent.They didn’t have the scent I wanted at the store and I knew I keep lemon oil at home. Although, I did need some spearmint oil. Off to the cake department. Note ‘oil’ – not extract. There’s a huge difference. And I’m sure there’s yet another ignored warning in there about using oils you can eat instead of the tiny vials on display.

Step 4: Weigh out the wax. It’s a 14.5oz candle jar – so I’m guessing 14 oz will do.

Step 5: (I know at this point we’ve lost Donna – too many steps!) Set your wicks with some hot glue, or those little ‘glue dots’ they sell.

Step 6: Get that wax melting. I used an old paint stick/dowel as not to splash. Oooo, hot molten wax and skin – not a good combo!

Step 7: Doesn’t look like much – get it up to 185deg. Yes, that’s my candy thermometer – I’ll clean it later.

Step 8: Let it it start to cool down and add your color and scent. A few drops of lemon and mint – yummy! The soy is already a creamy yellow so a few drops of blue and one or two of yellow worked fine.

Step 9: I used these skewer sticks to hold the wicks upright. No fancy ‘wick holders’ needed here. Pour in the liquid. And wait – and wait – and wait. Ok, maybe not that long. Go clean up.

Do not – I repeat DO NOT pour anything down the drain – unless you’re married to a plumber and really want a divorce. Warm the pot a bit and wipe it out with a paper towel. Then you can wash it with hot soapy water.

Step 10: A couple hours later it’s cool. Trim the wicks and admire – but don’t light it until tomorrow. Yes, it’s still warm inside.

Done: …and the next day… Look at that – a candle. Then my husband shows up and sniffs – “Oooh, I like yours better than the old one – it smelled a bit like a urinal cake.” What??!!! (since I have very little frame of reference to the scent of a urinal cake…I’m going to trust him on this) I like my candle with it’s soothing greeny color, and lemony, minty smell. (very unlike a urnial cake I’m hoping)

Later: The soy wax burns forever – this is hours later in the afternoon (yes I need different wicks next time). And no smoke or soot. Even if it wasn’t a perfect experiment – I’m going to keep refining this and maybe they’ll turn up as Christmas gifts.

The cost, what like, $5 bucks! Now I know how that guy that owns the candle company has all that money!!! I’m thinking I shouldn’t have showed you how to do this cause I need to make candles…I’m obviously in the wrong business!

Michelle @ www.badzoot.com