I've seen several posts on HomeTalk and the internet for making Tiki Torches from old wine bottles and they all were very nice. However, I hate seeing the wick through the bottle (because it is ugly) so I challenged myself to make something that would use the old bottles, have some coastal flair, work well and be inexpensive. Here is my concept for making a pretty Tiki Torch from whatever kind of bottle you love....
Here are some of the supplies I used to create my wine bottle tiki torches: wicks, several types of plumbing nuts to fit the wick and the bottle neck, marbles or gems to camouflage the wick. Not shown are shells, sea glass and the jute twine.
These are the types of nuts I used to create the wick assembly. I found that the 3/8" size works the best in most of the bottles. There are other brass plumbing fixtures that will work as well. The nut just needs to seat inside the bottle neck and also be large enough to hold the wick securely.
I made several tiki torches but didn't take pictures of each step because it is so easy to do. First I make the wick assembly out of the nut and the tiki wick. Then I put in the gems or marbles or shells to about half way up the bottle. I put the bottle on it's side so I can slide the wick assembly in over the filler. Once the wick is in, I can jiggle it around until it covers part of the wick all the way around. I also used a long metal skewer to move the filler around so you don't see the wick. (By the way, this picture shows the fuel in the bottle--DON'T put the fuel in before you are done decorating, it will make a mess as you maneuver the bottle around.)
This was a cool bottle that I tried glueing glass chips on the inside. It is hard to get them to stick and takes a long time to
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In the fall of 2016, Dr. Connally won a $1.6 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control to fund a four-year study, in coordination with the University of Rhode Island, to gauge the effectiveness of various tick control methods in the areas around people’s homes. She’ll tell us more about the angles being pursued, and also about self-care topics, from treated clothing to the use of topical repellents and more.Read along as you listen to the Dec. 11, 2017 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on iTunes or Stitcher (and browse my archive of podcasts here).backyard tick research, with dr. neeta connallyQ. A little context first: You’re in the Northeast, where a lot of the cases of Lyme in the United States occur, but there are multiple tick species around the nation. You
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While I can name my local mammals, birds, amphibians and reptile species, I admit to using the word “bee” a little, shall we say, generically, not even sure I know exactly what a bee is—and isn’t.Dr. Olivia Carril has that covered, and then some. She is a PhD plant biologist who has been studying bees and the flowers they visit for nearly 20 years. Olivia is also co-author with Utah State biology professor Joseph Wilson of “The Bees in Your Backyard,” the new book that
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Outdoor bathtubs are all the rage this summer, and for good reason—a private, peaceful oasis right in your backyard might be just what you need to unwind. If you’re into the idea of bathing al fresco, you’re in luck: We spoke with Kevin Lenhart, design director and landscape architect at Yardzen, to get the scoop on all things outdoor bathtub. Read on to see whether your backyard could benefit from an outdoor bathtub, and what to keep in mind before you dive in.
As much as we love the coastal grandmother design trend, it’s time for another family member to take center stage: grandpa chic. Think of grandpa chic as the moodier counterpart to coastal grandmother, full of deep hues, quirky decorative accents, and a no-nonsense approach—just like grandpa himself, you could say. “Grandpa chic is a style that can't be formulated or replicated—it's a unique mix of nostalgia and sophistication,” Chris Jovanelly, senior interior designer at Est Est Interior Design says. “Grandpa chic is not delicate, flashy, or vibrant—think bold and timeless.”
My husband really wanted a swing for us to use while the kids ran outside. So, I caved and told him to go for it! He’s a contractor, so he definitely has a lot of experience to whip up something like this in a day! He went to a local lawn care store and bought the actual swing. They can also be ordered online. They usually run around $200. Then he went to Lowes to get two 12 foot 6x6 posts and a 10 foot 2x12 boards (for the top part-to hang the swing on), chains to hang the swing, and a ton of 3 inch decking screws, and cement. He dug the holes to put the 6x6 posts with post hole diggers (he owns some through his business). He dug 32 inches in the ground and put the posts in and then added cement/water to make it more sturdy. Once he had the posts in, he added the top post (2x12’s-he cut the edges to give it a fancier look). He put blocks up there to hold the swing. He then screwed in metal hooks to hold the chains for the swing. Once he had all that done, he hung the swing. We absolutely love it and use it a lot when the kids are playing outside. Take a look!