We are still a few days away from closing on a house, but I have big ideas for our backyard.

From the moment I stepped on the lawn I could imagine my daughters running and giggling across the grass and holding tea parties under an old arbor nestled in the cedar trees.

What’s a tea party without a pretty chandelier?

While searching for inspiration, I came across this image  originally posted on http://www.craftster.org. The author transformed an old chandelier into an elegant bird feeder.

I began to wonder if it would be possible to feed the birds and continue to use the chandelier as a light source in the garden?

Here is what I came up with.

First, I retrieved my grandmother’s old wooden and brass chandelier from my mother’s garage and got to work. I love that it came from Grandma instead of a flea market. I’ll think of her as I fill the cups with bird seed.

Grandmas dusty chandelier.

Lightly sand the surfaces with a 220 grade sandpaper and wash with soap and water. When dry grab the spray paint.

Slate Gray Gloss Universal Paint and Primer in one from Rust-Oleum.

When paint is dry pull apart the solar lights from your garden path and set inside the light kit of the lamp.

These lights are $1.50 each at Menards.

Add a bit of flair.

Paint a seldom-used Christmas Tree garland.

Attach beads with super glue or gorilla glue and hang.

The birds are a little camera-shy.

How fun is this?

Incidentally I had originally hung the solar-powered bird feeder with out the beads. My husband, The Spice preferred the look. However, the project felt unfinished to me.

Turns out I was right. After two days without a bird in sight, I added the beads. We had small finches eating near the baubles within an hour.

Who new birds were so particular?

Now, they’ll have some ambiance after the sun goes down.

Related posts:

Google+

jessica hehir