Dear Studio 54 – your legend pales in my shadow.
My entire approach to home décor, (and life in general) is: how can I make this shinier?
I’m like Liberace. But without a piano. Also, I don’t like loafers.
I walk around shouting—BORING! Give me more rhinestones! Bring me sequins!
Where are my leisure suits???
So considering that, I’m not sure why it took me so long to break out the disco balls for Halloween.
Why did I not make a disco light fixture before now?
What is wrong with me?
A while ago, Paul brought home this sad, antique brass chandelier he got out of the neighborhood trash… It’s spray painted black, has all the crystals stripped off, and is missing one of the light sockets.
I was not enthusiastic.
Until I was out in the garage for the Halloween decorations and realized: Whoa… what that needs is some disco balls.
And? Since I’m me? I have ALL the disco balls anyone could possibly need to make a disco chandelier without leaving their house.
My foresight is impressive, no?
I hot-glue-gunned disco balls to where the light bulbs should go.
I did try to keep the glue out of the socket. Just incase at some point Paul takes leave of his senses and thinks he has nothing better to do than refinish it.
I hung the other mirror balls using Christmas hooks in the holes where the chandelier’s crystals used to be attached.
Obviously if you’re going to make your own, you could use something other than disco balls. I don’t know why you would, but maybe you feel really strongly about mini pumpkins. Or tiny flashing skulls.
Or actual Christmas ornaments, if you’re planning ahead to December.
As a light source, I’m using a string of tiny, LED battery-powered lights– also out of my Christmas supply. I’ve seen them called rice lights. Or fairy lights. But what you actually want are micro led lights.
Rice or fairy lights have an actual visible socket, but the micro lights are incredibly small, and incorporated into the cord. The ones I got are on a slim wire that you can mold and shape. I just draped them like garland from one arm to the other.
Mine have a timer in the battery-pack so you can set them to come on and off automatically. I got them last Christmas and am happy with them… One set of batteries lasted the whole season.
I definitely need more light surrounding the mirror balls I glued in the chandelier sockets… once it’s dark, you really only notice the largest disco ball.
But? For completing an entire project from start to finish, using only what I already had, and not leaving my house for supplies, I’m pretty pleased.
Obviously, my chandelier will go back up with my Christmas porch decorations.
Hopefully by then, I will think of a better way to get more light where I want it. I had tried propping battery-powered tea lights in the cups of the candelabra arms… which did look nice—the votives give off a surprising amount of light, but I want something I can set to come on automatically, not something I have to remember to go out and turn on every night.
Also for next year, I need to figure out a light source for my disco skull’s eyes. It would be so much better if they were sparkly at night.
October 28, 2012 @ 4:32 pm
Victoria,
You are amazing…and I don’t even believe,based on your picture, you were born yet when disco was all the rage! I love the way the chandelier sparkles. Where did you find battery operated l micro led lights that have a timer. I know the flameless candles set from Costco has timers but a string would be so much fun for outdoor lighting. The jars of candlelight look great with the mums and pumpkins. I love the idea of a chandelier on the front porch…I am now looking for where I could hang one. Wonderful display! The skulls with their googly disco eyes must be just the right amount of scare for little kids trick or treating. 🙂
Karen
October 28, 2012 @ 6:28 pm
Sadly, you’re right Karen… I missed the disco-era. And white polyester, and shaggy hair. All the fun kitschy stuff happened over forty years ago… I guess thirty years from now people will think colored denim and leggings are kitsch. Which, I’m sorry but skinny pants do not have the same cultural gravitas!!
The micro lights I ordered on Amazon… they happened to be perfect, but the description didn’t even say they had a timer, so it was a rare case of actually getting more than you paid for. I will have to look for the led candles with timers, since I’d like to use the pillar candles for the holidays, but only light them for Halloween.
October 29, 2012 @ 9:23 am
I will peruse Amazon, its one of my favorite things to do, they seem to have everything. The timers are really great, they should put them on all lights for outdoor use especially.
Ah, yes, polyester…it’s scary to think what used to be in my closet…hot pants, boots, oh my.
Karen
October 29, 2012 @ 11:16 am
I buy everything from Amazon. Seriously. They are incredible… If only they sold time-machines, I’d really be happy.
November 5, 2013 @ 12:01 am
I CANNOT believe that I didn’t see this post yet! I check your blog religiously, because I adore your taste, and I am obviously now pining for my own chandiscolier. What powers the lights in the jars? What powers the brilliance in your brain?
October 28, 2012 @ 5:00 pm
Your porch looks beautiful. After recently going to all that trouble to stain that wood, be careful that your pumpkins don’t leave a mark. I love the candles in the mason jars. It is all lovely.
October 28, 2012 @ 6:31 pm
Thank you! You’re right… when I was setting out the candle jars, I moved one of the pumpkins and saw that it was starting to get gummy on the bottom… it hadn’t even been there very long so I was surprised.
They’ve been banished to the front steps, now that their photo-shoot is over.
October 28, 2012 @ 5:13 pm
Great fun, love your crystal balls. I like LED string lights too. Hope you find something for the skulls.
Jim
October 28, 2012 @ 6:32 pm
Thank you! I love them too!! Happy Halloween!
October 28, 2012 @ 5:53 pm
I don’t even like Halloween decorations and I think this is awesome! (granted, that may have something to do with this not being an entirely traditional approach) It’s also pretty great that those white stands the skulls are sitting on resemble spines… well done!
October 29, 2012 @ 9:33 am
Until you pointed it out… I didn’t even notice the spine-like appearance of the plant stands!
I’m not usually into anything creepy like skulls, but they’re unusually large, and I do always like anything that’s outsized or kind of odd…
October 28, 2012 @ 7:02 pm
You have fantastic tastes! What a lovely porch, decorated perfectly for one of my favorite holidays.
October 29, 2012 @ 9:34 am
Hey, thanks! Happy Halloween!
October 28, 2012 @ 7:46 pm
Looks great! Hope it is all inside safe and sound with the storm coming!
October 29, 2012 @ 9:37 am
I am SO hoping we don’t lose power. I can forgo opening the refrigerator or watching TV, but the idea of no Internet for days on end is the worst thing I can imagine…
October 28, 2012 @ 8:27 pm
Your porch is amazing. I would never have thought to use disco balls.
October 29, 2012 @ 9:40 am
Thanks! Happy Halloween!
October 28, 2012 @ 8:41 pm
I couldn’t agree more about holidays and tacky decorations!! I love decorating the house at Christmas. Halloween isn’t really big in Australia…well not yet. I’m noticing more and more Halloween merchandise in the shops every year!
October 29, 2012 @ 9:42 am
Maybe you can be the blogger that makes it popular!!
I love any excuse to play dress up, and as an adult, there’s really only Halloween!! Plus, it’s just fun, and kind of random… one of the few stress-free holidays.
October 28, 2012 @ 11:33 pm
That was great. I can’t believe you had all those disco balls in storage!! In fact I did not even know they still made them!! LOL. I love what you did though. Its spook-tacular.
October 29, 2012 @ 10:34 am
LOL… yes, I kind of didn’t even realize just how many I’d accumulated!!
October 29, 2012 @ 2:03 am
Love it! Now I regret giving my disco ball away. Lesson learned: hoard everything.
Do they make tiny solar tea lights? Would your porch get enough sun to charge the cells for them to light up at dusk? That’s all I can think of, other than actually wiring some battery-powered lights together and hooking them up to a timer.
October 29, 2012 @ 10:38 am
Oh the things I should have hoarded!!!!
I have to do some research on my light options. A solar option would be great as long as it had a panel I could put on the floor or something… the roof-overhang shades the upper part of the wall most of the day.
October 29, 2012 @ 3:40 am
I’m on my way for candy and a makeover!
October 29, 2012 @ 10:41 am
Bring your jumpsuit.
October 29, 2012 @ 4:09 am
Oh my goodness… I want a disco light fixture and my family is going to hate me for it!! How did I not know this was missing from my life; it’s genius!
Your porch looks actually quite elegant which is well deserved after all the hard work you guys have put into it.
Happy Halloween!
October 29, 2012 @ 11:08 am
I clearly think Disco balls are the ultimate in high style… so I can’t imagine your family would turn their nose up at the idea!!
Possibly martial law is necessary? Where you explain that there is no room for discussion—once a year your house gets to have its own party outfit.
Happy Halloween!
October 29, 2012 @ 7:31 am
Thank you! I’ve been looking over my Halloween decorations trying to figure out what was missing. After reading your blog, it’s clear. Disco balls.
Also, since you clearly subscribe to my belief that sparkles make everything better, check out ‘Christmas in the South: Or If You Can’t Fry It, Spraypaint it Gold’.
October 29, 2012 @ 11:10 am
Everything is better with Disco balls. EVERYTHING.
The only way it could be better? If I had big hair and a southern accent.
You think maybe I’m kidding. But I’m not.
October 29, 2012 @ 8:46 am
This is amazing, Happy Halloween! 🙂
October 29, 2012 @ 11:12 am
Thank you!! Happy Halloween!!
October 29, 2012 @ 9:23 am
Soooo cool!!! I am very envious of your disco ball collection!
October 29, 2012 @ 11:12 am
Now if only I had a time machine, I’d really be happy!!
October 29, 2012 @ 1:34 pm
That’d be awesome!
October 29, 2012 @ 10:34 am
So elegant! And great up-cycling, woo! I am also a fan of the disco ball – though I have only one (a Christmas ornament). Love all your candles and the big smooshy pumpkin (surely that’s its official name…)
Am assuming you had to pull all this inside for The Storm? Hope you are okay down there!
October 29, 2012 @ 11:15 am
Ugh… Yes. We brought it all in. What a mess… Some of it will go back out if Halloween clears up, but I won’t bother with all of it.
I’m so glad I have a blog, so I didn’t feel like it was a total waste of hot glue and enthusiasm!!
Hopefully Halloween night is fine. I’ll be disappointed if we don’t get any trick-or-treaters!!
October 29, 2012 @ 3:00 pm
I love this! Glam and tacky simultaneously. The lights/disco ball/chandelier combo is genius! I’m sorry the storm looks like it may derail Halloween… and definitely hope all remains well with your safety, power, property, and Internet!
October 31, 2012 @ 3:15 pm
Well, we lost power until yesterday afternoon… nice to have hot water and Internet back. We were incredibly lucky not to have any bad damage.
October 29, 2012 @ 3:20 pm
Oh I love what you’ve done here. The disco ball chandelier is amazing!
October 31, 2012 @ 3:16 pm
Happy Birthday/Halloween! Have fun tonight!!
November 1, 2012 @ 1:09 pm
Thank you! I had a great night, hope you did too. 🙂
October 29, 2012 @ 8:50 pm
I love this. I have my mason jars ready. Tealights bought at IKEA. Alas no disco balls. Though my sorry ass did forget to buy the top thing on my To Buy List – the HYLLIS shelf – but that has nothing to do with Halloween. I’ll let you know if the tealights get blown out by the Hurricane winds. At this point if I get to get out trick or treating not in a snowsuit, score!!
October 31, 2012 @ 3:18 pm
Our electricity went out nearly immediately. I couldn’t believe it—it hadn’t even gotten bad yet!
Looking at some of the photos of places not too far from us, I feel incredibly lucky we were spared that kind of disaster!!
Happy Halloween!!
November 21, 2012 @ 5:54 pm
oh man, I LOVE this! I was doing a google search for battery operated tea lights in mason jars since that’s what we’re using as decor/ambiance for our evening NYE (10yr wedding anniversary) renewal ceremony next month and yours look so fantastic! I was worried they might look tacky but I think they’ll be just dandy! 🙂 I seriously adore that disco ball chandelier, so genius. Things that sparkle just speak to me 🙂 Hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving!
November 22, 2012 @ 7:32 am
Sparkly and me are best friends… Clearly, you are a woman after my own heart.
I think once they’re lit, you notice the overall effect, rather than the actual tea light. I mean, they’re not quite as charmingly-hazardous as real fire… but once you get them all on and arranged, I think you’ll be happy. Plus, I think it helps if you have a LOT. You know, more is better…
Your party sounds amazing! And so much fun to plan! I want to do something like that in a few years too… mostly because I miss our wedding so much.
Happy Thanksgiving!!