Thursday, June 14, 2012

Vintage Jar Hurricanes

I am always intrigued by the simple ingenuity behind the displays at Anthropologie. "How come I didn't think of that?" is usually a common thought, often followed by "I'm gonna try that someday!"

I like that they always use household items or things that are readily and easily found. One of their best ideas in my opinion is their candle displays. They usually have one of their delicious scents burning from within a jar loaded with beans, sand or rice to keep things safe for shoppers.

So instead of waiting for someday I  decided that today was the day to make it happen!

My trusty assistant was ready for action (still in her PJs) when we decided to put our plan in action, despite the fact we didn't actually need any tools. But if we did she would have been all over it.

{ Love ya Wrenny girl! }

I have had a slowly mounting pile of jars since last Summer. Some were cast offs from family members and others came home as part of larger lots I won at auction. I had plans to make the biggest one into a neat terrarium but for now it will be a hurricane.

I picked up two big bags of rice on our last grocery run, but only used one in the end.
It may sound weird but rice actually looks quite different from brand to brand so I was picky and chose one that was not as 'transluscent', but was more opaque and white.

All set up { without the assistance of any hammers! }

I love the old measurements on the jars. I could see some jute knotted on the neck of the jars as well for added texture, but I was digging the simple beauty of white on white for now.

{ it's all in the details }
 

These will be perfect on the deck next weekend for a big birthday BBQ we're have for Sean's Birthday.
 

For the summer they put the fire in fireplace!
 


Now I'm trying to think what else would be cute "filler" in there...
any suggestions?

33 comments:

Haley {A Dash of Kennedy} said...

Glitter! Sprinkles! Pretty Beads! Oh my!

Unknown said...

I have used pool salt in mine in the pool cabana. I have also seen coffee beans used and have bought some to try in my house - it is supposed to smell really nice when used with a vanilla candle. Tiny stones used in aquariums would be good too!

Jess Cole said...

Oh wow! They are awesome! They look great all lit up!

Kristy said...

Obviously, not the all white look you might be going for, but I have something similar and used coffee beans. The smell is amazing!

Kristy said...

Obviously, this wouldn't work if you wanted to go all white, but I have something similar and used coffee beans - the smell is amazing! I liked the contrast between the white candle and espresso color.

Kris Vogelsang said...

Beautiful! I love the largest one with 2 candles. I have used smaller glass canning jars, filled with corse sea salt & candles. The salt also works great as 'ski slopes' in the winter(just tilt the salt for the angle of a slope), insert a miniture vintage pine tree and skier model into it...so cute.
Enjoy your weekend!
Kris at Cricket Acres Studio

Andy said...

Very cute. I have sand in mine. Collected from our visits around the world.

Jessica Reisfelt said...

I love this look! Right now, I have a similar look going on at our house with sand instead of rice. I've also used lentils before which turned our nicely!

www.reisfelt.com

Cami said...

I have used dried green peas and popcorn kernels to add color.

Unknown said...

Sand (regular or pastel colored) would look really cool!

{ L } said...

We live by a lake, so I like to use small river rock in glasses with citranella candles for the patio. In the Summer, my lil guy collects his findings (pretty rocks, shells, even sticks) in our big jar. In the winter we fill that same jar with pinecones. For his Lego themes birthday last month, the jar had a Lego ship in it, surrounded by pieces if blue & white curled ribbon to mimic water. Blue & white was also our party colors. We've put ornaments in it at Christmas, and heart shaped art (custom made by lil guy) for Valentines.

Lynda @ Happenstance Home said...

I like to use the light green lentils in my candleholders.

Deborah said...

Lavender buds would be cute filler :-)

Unknown said...

Love these... I have used dried black beans in the past. That might be another option when you grow tired of the rice.

Andrea said...

Love these, what a great idea to use rice. I have used sand and added seashells as well in some of mine. Love the vintage jars! Those will look great on the deck.

Lolo @ The Adventures of Stig and Lolo said...

Love the simplicity of the jars with white :)
Maybe for another idea you can dye your own sand in different shades and create an "ombre" look (since ombre is soooo cool right now!)
Love following you along and cant wait for the house update :)

Lolo @ The Adventures of Stig and Lolo said...

Love the simplicity of the jars with white :)
Maybe for another idea you can dye your own sand in different shades and create an "ombre" look (since ombre is soooo cool right now!)
Love following you along and cant wait for the house update :)
Happy Friday!! XOX

Unknown said...

oooh what a beautiful idea, and they look a safer way to have candles too, love the idea of having them in the fireplace too!

Janet said...

Seashells and loose lavender are my favorite filler materials!

I also put rice into the bottom of hurricane jars because if the candles run, the wax sticks to the rice and can be poured out instead of sticking to the bottom where it's more difficult to remove.

Happy weekend!

xo

gillar girl said...

So gorgeous! The scale is perfect for your fireplace! And I love this idea too, like you said, as your "summer fire.". Wren is so darling with her toolbox. Love our sweet little helpers! :)

mrsvioletleigh said...

I love old jars and containers...looks great. I think seaglass would be fun, or if you have non drip candles I would try rope or jute randomly twisted around the inside at the bottom of the jars. Cranberries at Christmas would be fun too....so many possibilities. Have fun!

Barbara said...

Those look so good simple beauty.

Ash said...

oh i love this! Looks soo great, I might just have to copy!

Holly said...

I change the filler in my hurricanes each season. Winter it was coffee beans, spring was split green peas, summer is crushed shells mixed with the little spiral ones and this fall I'm going to use acorns and teeny tiny pinecones.

birdysmama said...

We used birdseed for an outdoor wedding at a barn! They were beautiful.

kaylan said...

epsom salt! it's especially pretty in the winter because it glitters like snow under the candle light.

xix said...

this is such a fabulous idea. i've toyed with the idea of getting jars and filling them with sand or pebbles to put around the house, but this is so much more elegant. thank you for sharing this!
~xixia
visit my new blog?: thisisxixia.com

Cherie B said...

Sand. I think sand as a filler is lovely especially for outside.
Candy corn in the fall is fun but sand works very well.

Anonymous said...

any suggestions for where I can find a large glass jar like that?

Gretta said...

I use epson salts in my jars that I bought from the dollar store and they look really good --lavender candles

Anonymous said...

I have jars, I have candles**** think I will make this <3

Unknown said...

This is such a great idea. I too have candles and jars, and I can get more in my Mom's basement! I think you could find the jars at garage/yard sales, resale shops like St. Vinnie's, or antique shops.

Unknown said...

U can use large pickle jars

 
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