Come on baby light my fire.

When our daughter Julie showed me an outdoor chandelier she wanted to buy for 40 some dollars, it finally lit a fire under me to start the chandelier project that's been on the back burner for well over a year.

I already had plenty of glass insulators.

They were practically giving them away for 50 cents apiece at an estate sale.

I sent my hunter and gatherer out to the garage attic for a roll of old garden fencing.

It's not vintage, but nicely weathered.  We used it along a lilac hedge to keep our little Fergie from sneaking out of the yard and it's still sold by the roll at most home centers.  The insulators and the fencing are the main components of the chandelier and the rest of the items are things you probably have on hand.  I was determined to complete this project without spending a dime!

A few pieces of chain, some 20 gauge wire, an outdoor faucet handle, a screw eye and nut, a large S hook, some bending and twisting and voila!

An outdoor chandelier ready for an alfresco dinner.  Well, maybe after the snow melts.

I wired the insulators onto the fencing.

I turned the fencing upside down and curled the straight ends with needle nose pliers.  I cut 3 lengths of chain and threaded them, evenly spaced onto the curled sections of fencing.

The other end of the chain is attached to a faucet handle.  A screw eye is inserted into the center of the handle and secured with a nut. 

I used a hook for a pot rack and a short piece of chain to hang the chandelier from a tree branch.

To avoid any unpleasant surprises, I gave it a trial run.  Megan and I bought well over a hundred vintage blue jars in 3 different sizes for her wedding.  The plan was to have lit candles in all of them on the tables at the reception.  There was just one problem.  When the candles were lit, the jars overheated and cracked.  We went with Plan B which was fresh sunflowers in the jars instead of candles.  And yes, Megan, I have enough supplies to make you a chandelier, too.  :@

We ( I sent my assistant ahead of me with a lighter ) had to wait until nightfall to try it out.

Success!  Although, it was only 30 degrees outside, so the insulators were unlikely to overheat.

This chandy needs a sturdy branch.  It weighs 6.8 pounds.  Without candles.

 Time to call it a night.  I'm missing Downton Abbey!!!

Linked to:
Knick of Time Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesdays
The Farmhouse Porch Cowgirl Up
Common Ground Vintage Inspiration Friday