Hanging Votive Globes
Add some moody light to the dark spots in your life with these hanging votives. They look great
outdoors (the globe keeps the wind from blowing out the flame) and nice indoors, too (who doesn’t like
hanging candles?), and if you can squeeze a pair of needlenose pliers and string a bead, you’re almost there.
You will need:
6" clear glass ceiling light fixture globes, Soft Flex nylon-coated stainless steel beading wire
(0.019" diameter), crimp beads, needlenose pliers, glass beads, sand, glass votives, candles
1. Cut and crimp.
Cut 2 pieces of beading wire, each at twice the total length that you want the globe to hang, plus 5".
Hold them together, and slide a crimp bead down to a spot about 2½" above the midpoint of the strands.
Crimp into place, add 2 more, and crimp those too. Now, starting from the other end of the beading wires,
slide a crimp bead to a spot about 6" from the first 3.
2. Secure.
Part the beading wires between
the loose bead and the first 3, and
wrap them around the lip of the
globe. Slide the loose bead down
against the globe so that the wire
hugs the narrow underside of
its lip (like tightening a necktie),
and crimp in place. Add 2 more
behind it, and crimp those too.
The globe should be securely
supported with the wire rigging.
3. String.
String the glass beads over both
wires in each pair, beading the
entire length of each, stopping
about 3" short of the ends.
4. Loop.
Slide 4 large crimp beads over
all 4 ends of the wire, and loop
the wires by bringing them
back through the crimp beads.
Squeeze the crimp beads firmly
with pliers.
5. Glow.
Fill the globe about 1½" deep with
sand or gravel, position the votive,
hang the globe, and spark it up.
Matt Maranian is a designer and best-selling author who lives in Brattleboro, Vt.
