More on Coronation

( a little more on Coronation )

We made it home safely, had a lovely breakfast at Cote's with House MacCarthaigh-MacMinn, mizpagan and friends, then wandered up to the Sundered Lands to loan a book to gwynt_y_storm from the new additions to the lending library and stayed to chat for a while, as it was way to nasty out to go up to the farm.

Stuff

Had interesting conversation on the arts with gwynt_y_storm and Jannat and other folks yesterday, while we were up at the Sundered Lands gathering. She posted something on it here: http://gwynt-y-storm.livejournal.com/62413.html?view=93901#t93901, to which I've posted a couple of responses (two parts because I'm too wordy today). Some folks might find it of interest. It certainly isn't in-depth, but I think we put out a few things worth reading.

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Ygraine has a picture of the Pelican medallion up here: http://www.kellswood.com/krafts/jewelry.php

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fitzw sometimes reads tidbits of news to me from over at his PC. Today, he told me about how some bidets in Japan are being recalled because they are setting themselves on fire.... apparently they have some electrical parts that aren't working out quite right. Gives new meaning to being on the hot seat...

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A number of friends are having problems with flooding in NY and other places. One person's mom's house is completely under water... and I'm a bit worried about the historic smithy, but the coast guard will hopefully be coming to help soon. So far, we're doing all right here. The air's a little damper in the basement right now, but fitzw's work digging the trench and putting the drainage pipe last year is definitely making a difference (we're at a decent elevation, but on a hill with imperfect drainage). The Town of Heath has declared a state of emergency. Yes, you can have floods up in the hills, roads can be washed out, etc. I expect the golf course in Greenfield is underwater again.

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One of the grape tomato seeds I planted came up today!

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Oh, on recent projects, I made candle reflectors last week or the week before. I took a couple of picture frames that were a little damaged (superficially not structurally), cardboard and some old shiny silver wrapping paper, and tape. Wrapped the paper around the cardboard, both sides, and taped it to itself with clear packing tape (it's what I have). Then stick those into the frames.

You can lean these against things, hang them on a wall behind where you put a candle, attach a candle holder of some type to the bottom/front of the picture frame, or some frames come with a stand attached. I wanted to reflect light from the corner between the two sofas towards both of them, so I needed two reflectors. Since they're very light, I just leaned a corner of each against each other and stuck another piece of packing tape across the back of where they meet, to stabilize them. One candle becomes three, two become six :) Later one we may put proper hinges on them, or at least woven or leather bands and some tacks.

The possible variations on materials for these are many, but to mention a few:
- some picture frames come already hinged in pairs or triplets
- aluminum foil is also reflective, but the old wrapping paper I had was shinier, so I used that
- sheet metal, preferably shiny. Typically comes in aluminum, steel, brass, and copper, usually available at hardware stores, some construction places, Home Despot, etc.
- mirrors (I have one at the other end of one of the sofas on the end table there)

Craft stores, attics, basements, tag sales, friends' places, are all possible places to buy/find stuff for making reflectors. Doubles your candle power, and they can be quite attractive, too.

Oh, the reason I put the paper completely around my boards was because my frames don't have backs, so I thought there might be an occasion when I want to put them on a big table and put candles on both sides of them.

One other reflection idea, although it's more decorative than effective for lighting than the above -- use a frame or tray with mirror in the base and put candles directly on it on a table. Reflective, pretty, and wax-catcher, all in one.