I Am Out with "Lanterns" Looking for Myself

"A lantern can give you light only when you light it!"

I have always been averse to the idea of reusing old jars of jam, pickle, sauces etc and much against the wishes of my mother, have ensured it is discarded no sooner it become free of its original content. Hence it was a shock of sorts when i found a bag full of empty bottles and jars, during a Deep-Cleaning session. This supposedly was being collected behind my back, since some time. 

Suppressing my rage I instead came up with some creative usage of these jars and my next few blogs will be giving you a glimpse of the same.

This DIY is all about how to easily stain the jars (no baking at 200 degree centigrade et al needed!) and make some interesting lanterns out of them.

To begin, I ensured the jars were clean and dry, having no trace of its original content, or labels on it. I stained the glasses using a super easy method. Just poured few drops of solvent based glass colour in the jars and rolled the jar gently, till every portion of it was stained. Do avoid any air bubbles in the process. Once done, I placed them upside down on old newspaper, for the colour to drain out.

This may require few turns of shifting to new position, for the  excess colour to drain out completely. Figure 1 shows the various stages of staining the jars.

Figure 1

Once the jars are stained draw some patterns on the surface using outliners. I chose a gold outliner for some free hand drawing [Figure 2]. It would have been easier and better if I had drawn the designs on paper before going ahead with  it but then I have little patience for such meticulous planning! If you are good with Henna application, you can just draw your favourite Arabic Mehendi-pattern on the stained jars and you would have the most beautiful Moroccan Lamps ready!

Figure 2

I let the jars dry well before moving to the last stage [Figure 3]. 

Figure 3

Using some golden wire I made tiny hangings for the jars to transform them into lanterns [Figure 4]. 

Figure 4

Now light a tea-light in each one of them and hang them indoors or place them strategically to add charm to your vignettes. The jars can be used as your brush or pen/pencil holder or just for knick-knacks! 

 Figure 5

You can hang them up in the patio or balcony to bring warmth and beauty to your outdoors.

My favourite though are the next set of stained jars that I made - the Turqoise Green ones. I have tried incorporating my mother's jewellery (Jadaoon Bajuband) designs on some of them [Figure 6]. Needless to say they are my prized possessions!

Figure 6

 "Unintelligible language is a lantern without a light!"

"Light is more important than the lantern!"

"You are not one, you are a thousand. Just light your lantern!" ~ Rumi

"If you light a lantern for another, it will also brighten your own way!"

©Fursatnama 


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Bowl of Colours

"The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love colour the most."

~ John Ruskin

Today I noticed these clay pots in the Pooja room - the one I had used for growing Jau (जौ ) during Navraatra. But for the religious sentiments, they seemed to be of no use to me. They are not deep enough to grow plants. Also they seem to have a balancing issue hence they tend to topple to one side. Their lack of aesthetic value only reduced the possibility of recycling them, further!

An evening with no other engagements seemed perfect to indulge in colours. Here goes John Ruskin on the clay pots then!

Since the clay pots did not have much use I decided to paint them "bottoms up" which would even tackle the balancing issue. I cleaned the surface with a wet cloth and started off by making random geometric patterns on the back side. Next I picked up three bright shades of Blue, Yellow and Orange, and the result is there for you to see [Figure 1].

Figure 1

The second pot I kept the Orange (for the sake of continuity, in case I place them together) and added Pink and Green as the other two shades. [Figure 2].

Figure 2

I outlined each pattern as the final finishing touch and ended up with a vibrant piece of clay [Figure 3], supposedly a bowl, but painted on the back. I loved the final result but I was not very sure where was I going to use them. 

Figure 3

I had several options though. I could use both the pieces in my balcony garden, as wall pieces, amidst a dash of green. The pieces are such fiery bowl of colours that they would just brighten up any place they were put in! Aah that's interesting. Let me try doing just that!

I have this cream and gold wall - the painting from my "Benares" series. An off-white and gold Meera Bai placed amidst two antique boxes, again in cream, brown and gold, together make it all a li'l monotonous. So I decided to place one of the coloured bowls in this setting [Figure 4].

 Figure 4

The photographs do not do full justice but it really lifts up the mood in real! A zoomed in version [Figure 5] might give a better idea.

 Figure 5

A dash of my favourite spider plant in a pot of gold, completes the look!

 "When people show you their true colours don't get mad, paint a beautiful mural of life lessons and keep marching forward."

©Fursatnama 

Please don't forget to give your feedback through your comments below this blog. It will help me in many ways. If you like my posts do share and follow.