Handcrafted Ceramic

5 Oct, 2004 in art pottery by admin

Handcrafted Ceramic

Lighting Up the Day and Night with Outdoor Lights, Part One

Around wintertime, people are feeling the blues of having to stay cooped up inside the house. You gaze at the windows into the backyard, imagining the sun beaming down as you’re sipping a margarita by the pool underneath your gazebo (that has a Garden Winds replacement canopy on it!). You anticipate the day when the first signs of spring break through, and as soon as you know it, you’re outdoors again, enjoying the fresh, clean air, and taking in the lovely surroundings of your outdoor oasis. Well, you don’t have to wait any longer! Why not get a head start and prepare your backyard for all of your spring and summer gatherings? Or you can brave the winter cold and start enjoying your yard again, with outdoor lighting? This article is part one in a series of three articles about lighting, and the many different types available to add ambiance and warmth to an outdoor setting. In part one, fire pots and torches are discussed.

As homeowners, lots of labor and love are placed into making the home a place to entertain, to live, and to enjoy. The same goes for the outdoors. Lots of time and effort are placed so that the backyard can become a getaway without having to travel far. You can create your own escape with flowers, trees, grass, a pool, gazebo, and other things. Why not add another dimension with lighting? Artificial lighting or natural lighting (fire) are options to consider when decorating with outdoor lights.

Vesta Fire Pot

A fire pot is a container made of earthenware that carries fire. Fire pots have been used since prehistoric times to transport fire from one place to another for warmth while travelling. In addition, they were used for cooking, for religious ceremonies and as weapons of war. Today, fire pots are handcrafted, ceramic works of art that come in a variety of shapes and colors. They create a stunning display without the smoke and the hassle of cleaning up messy ashes. Fire pots use alcohol-based, environmentally friendly gel fuel. The gel fuel burns cleanly and can be used indoors.

The Vesta fire pot combines the strong lines of a rectangle with the ever-changing shape of the fire. It was named after the Roman goddess of hearth and home. The Vesta fire pot displays exciting fire and adds a unique look to a garden or a tabletop. Its body creates clean lines and its dual tones lend interest to the piece. In addition, it can easily be distinguished with a metal snuffer. The four pads on the bottom of the fire pot enable it to sit on a flat, fireproof surface, and its ceramic construction offers versatility. The finish is hand applied, making each fire pot look distinct.

Torches

Set the mood while entertaining with a torch. Torches are great for parties and get togethers, or just relaxing after a long day’s work. You can easily create a warm, festive and tropical environment with a lighted torch. The most commonly known type is the tiki torch, but they are also available in various materials such as copper, steel, and bamboo. A Vesta torch, Maderas Hanging Tealight, Copper Spiral Lawn Torch, are just a few examples offered.

Vesta

Add a Mediterranean inspired Citronella flame to the outdoors. The flame lamp features a bronze powder coated finish on all aluminum construction, featuring a leaf and bowl motif with a large candelabra wick system for maximum flame. The container is easy to fill, and uses a standard lamp oil or citronella oil. The citronella oil repels insects. Adding just 20 ounces of fuel will light the torch for over eight hours—that’s the entire evening! The wick, made of fiberglass will never burn down. It has a heavy weighted base that provides good stability. The attached flame cup easily extinguishes the flame.

Maderas Hanging Tealight

As we discover that entertaining outdoors is an excellent alternative to entertaining indoors, the use of lighting has a great effect on the setting and the mood. The Maderas Hanging Tealight set are candleholders that are an ideal accompaniment to an evening of dinner, drinks, and good conversation at the end of a summer’s day. This tealight holder is made of wrought iron with a chocolate brown powder coat and includes twelve tealight glasses, for a stunning cascade of illumination.

Copper Spiral Lawn Torch

These copper brushed torches are a great way to add light and ambiance to your backyard gatherings. The two-piece pole design allows you to stake them into the ground with an overall height of 50”. It is topped with a thick, long-lasting fiberglass wick, and a snuffer cap on a chain to quickly put the flame out. It can burn for up to five hours, using lamp oil or citronella oil.

Make Garden Winds your #1 online shopping store for all of your outdoor lighting needs. Set the mood and choose the type of lighting to fit your backyard and garden landscape. Don’t wait until spring or summer! Get started on decorating just in time for entertaining with many different products from the online retailer to get you ready to celebrate—visit Garden Winds today!

About the Author

Charmaine Ferrer is an associate writer for Garden Winds and The Lucky Clover Trading Co. For questions or comments, she can be reached toll free 877.479.4637.

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