Let your light so shine...

It's Candlemas today.  It's one of the more obscure catholic holy days.  In the middle ages, it was one of the high Holy Days, as it celebrated the end of Christmas and the return to work. Now, it's simply the feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple.
It's also the day the priest blesses candles for use in the church throughout the year, and in some churches, hands them out to anyone who goes to mass that day.

My parents happened to receive a couple candles (they go to mass most every weekday), and brought them home, to me, where I happened to be reading a blog post about, you guessed it, Candlemas.

Inspired, I decided to create some light in my own home for my loved ones this evening, and to share that glow with you.
Enjoy!

Incidentally, the tealight candle holders are old insulaters from industrial electrical wires.  I've upended them.  Some of them stand up great by themselves, but others I supported, using various thrifted vessels and stands.

Hanging Lantern Tutorial, (plus why MS Weddings rocks.)

This post is a tutorial for netted hanging lanterns like this:

But first, I have to say that I got the idea for hanging lanterns like this from Martha Stewart Weddings, and then go on a long tangent.

Have I ever told you how much I respect and love Martha Stewart weddings?

In high school, my best friend and I used to buy them, and look over them together, the way our peers were bonding over issues of 17 and Cosmo. Since we were/are both planning on being virgins on our wedding day, we found the craft tutorials, and beautiful dresses much more informative, useful and inspiring than the sex tips and make-up how-tos could ever have been.

We dreamed of the day that we would actually be able to use their tutorials and guides to plan our own weddings.