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draasch_gw

glass ceiling light shades --) planters ??

16 years ago

Greetings All !

A few months back, I was reading SOME gardening-related magazine, when I stumbled upon what I recall was a one-page article with photos. This article described (with not many details, as I recall) how to take those old / antique glass ceiling light shades....the kind with three holes already drilled into them...and turn them into hanging planters!

If you're wondering what kind of shades I'm talking about, here's an image link:

and

http://www.robomargo.com/lindabirdbath3.jpg

Now, I've gone through my magazines and...for the life of me... I can't find this article again! So, I did some Googling and couldn't find ANY information.

In the meantime, I went to some local antique shows and snapped-up four such shades at an average cost of $7.50 each. One of them actually had the chains still attached, but they simply wrapped wire around the ends of the chain, in order to keep it from pulling straight through the holes. Plus, they joined the three chains together at the top just by wrapping wire around it.

Even one of those photo links shows the use of wire instead of chain.

Now, my original plan was, in fact, to use chain. So, I was at the hardware store with my wife, for a different reason. I suddenly thought to ask about this chain. Turns out, it's in the "key-making section". OK, fine, I bought like 20 feet of the stuff.

But now I'm wondering:

1) What sort of parts would I use at the top of this "hanging planter", in order to join the three chains together? There were some strange parts at the hardware store that appeared to have "clamps" on one end that would wrap around the chain ends, and small rings on the other end. I'm wondering if I should try attaching these and running a small metal ring through the holes...and then maybe attach some sort of swivel with an S-hook to that???

2) Assuming I put some sort of beads on the "lower ends" of each chain... and assuming I don't just want to "wrap a bunch of wire" around the ends to keep everything from falling off, what would I do to keep the beads on / in-place and keep the chains from "falling through" ?

3) I vaguely recall that the article said to use some sort of peat moss as the lowest layer of the planter, in order to conserve moisture. Now, the only peat moss I'm familiar with is the stuff you buy that's sort of "loose" and tends to settle in "large clumps". Yet I recall seeing some sort of "sheet-like" peat moss before ???

I'm guess I'm a bit intimidated by working with this ball-chain stuff. I mean, the most I've ever done with it is fix some key-rings.

And I'm not particularly crafty or artsy. I'm a much more "follow the directions" or "copy what I see" kind of guy.

Thanks!

-= Dave =-

Comments (7)

  • 16 years ago

    well, I have some shades, and I use them as candle holders. I took heavy copper wire, fed it through the hole and did a little curly Q arrangement. Twisted the three together at the top, and I was done. No worries about chain breaking or rusting. I filled them with colored marbles and a fat candle. Really nice in my trees and under my porch roof.
    Good luck with the planters!

  • 16 years ago

    How gorgeous those light shades are! Neat project!!!!!!

    It may take several of us to answer your question.

    The things I do have knowledge of is "sheet moss". In the craft section of Walmart where the silk (fake) flowers are, they have sheet moss in a bag. You soak it before you work with it. I have also seen quantity boxes of sheet moss on Ebay. Some folks have recommended putting a baby diaper in the bottom of your planter to regulate moisture for the plants.

    I'm wondering if a key ring (or similar metal loop) can be used on the outside of the planter. Put Wire ( smallest gage wire in the electrical dept) from the key ring and through the little glass hole and attach to the chain on the inside of the planter. Chandilear prisms (Ebay) could be hung on the exterior key rings (loop).

    You do not show the type of chain that you bought so I can only tell you how I would have done mine. I would have bought real loop chain (per foot which comes on a roll). It would need to be a somewhat small size, which comes in different sizes and colors. You can hook anything to chain and the hardware department is full of hooks that would attach to chain easily.

    Some of the other people here have worked with beads and such. And maybe someone has done the project that you speak of.

    Good luck. We will all want to see the finished project!!!!!

  • 16 years ago

    I want to see it. I have one of those in the cellar. By the way I still have a bunch in use in my house, lol, tho they are mostly the one hole kind.
    kathy

  • 16 years ago

    When I used them in the 1970s I put them
    in macrame hangers. Does that date me or what?
    LOL I still have them just don't do many hanging
    things anymore. Have to water too often. I
    did line mine with plastic so the water would have to
    run over the top of the plastic to get out the holes.
    Saves you a day of watering.

  • 16 years ago

    susiewantsroses, the type of chain I'm referring to is this:

    {{gwi:143572}}

    The reason I chose it is that's what (apparently) is originally used in such chains....well, at least one out of the four shades I purchased came with it.

    Thanks!

  • 16 years ago

    Neat idea!

    For joining the chains I'd use an S-hook and a swivel. You might have to "jury-rig" it together, I'm not getting a clear visual of how that would work but I know it can be made to. I think the swivels I have on some of my garden ornaments have jump rings on each end.

    As for the beads I'd pass a wire thru one smallish bead, then pass both ends of that wire thru another bead, then thru the hole in the glass to another bead and attache to the chain. Clear as mud? :-)

    As for the peat liner I'll post a link to basket liners which may help water retention situation. There are other types of these and they can be found anywhere garden supplies/plants are sold. Baskets tend to dry out so people often also use a piece of heavy plastic between the basket liner and the soil. You can punch a few small holes in this and it still slows water leakage.

    Hope you post a pic of the finished planter.

    Here is a link that might be useful: basket liners

  • 16 years ago

    What about passing the chain all the way through the hole making one big loop of chain. Then at the top, you can take all three of the loops and attach it to a swivel. That would be good in case of wind... or attach with an s hook or a key ring. then you could easily hang your design elements off the chain where it comes out of the hole in the glass. They chain looks "thin" or small... not massive, so having it doubled up above the bowl should be okay. and if you put any climbers in the shade, you could train them up! lol

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