Twiggy Outdoor Chandelier and a True Picture of Spring

Today I want to share a project with you that I made about a year and a half ago before I started blogging.  However, I was anticipating maybe starting a blog, so I took pictures of the process just in case.  


We have a covered sitting area on our back patio.  I searched for months for some kind of chunky iron candelabra to hang, but came up empty.  Then, while thrifting, I found this.  

I bought some glass votive holders that fit inside and some tea-light candles and used it as-is for a while.  But, it looked wimpy.  I wanted something bulkier.  I had seen some fantastic DIY twig chandeliers in the blogosphere,  and I thought it would be extremely fitting to try one, since this was outside and all!  I had previously painted it a few different colors, but spray painted the frame brown for this project so the frame would blend in with the twigs.

Then, I hung it and started poking twigs in the middle.  The frame had a big open section in the middle which was really helpful.  I didn't glue or wire or anything to secure the twigs, just kept stuffing more in until it looked full and they stayed secure by themselves.

The bottom looked a little puny with all of the drama coming out of the top, so I found some honeysuckle vine left over from another project and wrapped it around the base...  

and kept adding more sticks and "fluffing"

until I reached the look I wanted!

Don't worry, I did switch over to battery operated tea lights when all the sticks were added in.  Wouldn't want to burn the house down, and regular candles were next to impossible to keep lit out there with the fierce Oklahoma wind!

But, here's the real reason I wanted to share this project with you today.  A few weeks ago we noticed some visitors flitting around the twigs, and over the weekend we peeked up and found this:

Aren't God's creatures just the masters at DIY?  This nest is gorgeous.

The best part is that it's right outside our breakfast window, so we get to watch the Mama and Daddy come and go.  Daddy is the lookout while the Mama is on the nest.

The worst part is that we're waiting for that aforementioned fierce Oklahoma wind to kick up...those babies will be swinging from the rafters...literally.  Caleb has a plan to keep them still.  I'll keep you posted. :)   

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Random question of the day:  Do you paint ceilings with a flat or satin finish?  Our office painting is finished, but I'm not 100% loving the color of the ceiling, and it is an eggshell finish which seems very shiny...maybe because it's a dark color?  If I re-do, should I buy flat instead?  When we painted the ceilings in the tan color that's in the main part of our house we used satin and it doesn't seem to have as much sheen.  So I'm thinking maybe the darker colors look shinier?  

Linking up with: My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia,

Crafty Texas Girls
It All Started With Paint, Classy Clutter,