The Christmas Lantern

I've been taking my time this weekend.  It's nice to sit and read and not feel pressured by a deadline to get my hands full of stain or glue.  So I've been working on my commissioned Christmas Lantern on and off.

Chris requested lights on the Christmas tree so I really can't finish the lantern until I have them.  I've been working on the insides, getting all the paneling and trim glued in.

The floor is always the first step.  I always end up sanding down the edges so the door to the lantern will close before I can glue it in permanently.

Testing my tree placement.  I always replace the wooden tree stand with a bead and jewelry finding to make it look more fancy.

The panels are always tricky.  The angle of the ends needs to be right, and they can't push out as far as the metal framing or again the door won't close.  They also have to accommodate the prongs holding in the glass while not showing as anything but full panels on the ends.

I use my Dremel sander head to sand down the lower middle of the panels so they'll fit flat against the glass and then stain both sides so it looks pretty through the cut metal.

I used one of the chandeliers I had in my stash and crazy glue to stick a magnet to the top rather than use the sticky foam.  If the bulbs need replacing it can be taken down partway to put new ones in.

Wood strips and quarter round trim finish off the walls, then I add the crown moldings.  They help finish the 'room' and keep the wire for the chandelier hidden.

I asked Chris if he'd prefer a painted table or a wood stained one and he thought his wife would like a wood look table.  So I used one of the fancy dowels and a woodsie, stained with red mahogany and then wrapped the edge in lace, stained with the same color and then slathered modge podge on it to give it stiffness and shine.

The table looks good but the plate of cookies seems out of scale so I'm going to try and make a candy dish instead.


Chris and his wife decorate with gold and red at Christmas time so he asked that I use those colors primarily.  I have gold and red tinsel and some pretty printed red fabric that will look lovely on the chair I'll make.  He thought she'd prefer an evergreen wreath rather than the bell wreath so I got started on that too.

The gold thread doesn't show up as much as the red in the picture but I think with a fancy bow in red and gold it'll look really nice hanging outside the lantern.  That's the fabric I plan on using for the chair, it's a subtle floral.

I'm going to make a garland/swag to go above the windows like the other lantern and use red and gold ornaments on the tree.  I've got a couple of presents to put under it which will take up some floor space.  Maybe I can make a little pillow to go on the chair.

It's nice to take my time.

How are all of you doing?