Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ®

Lets talk candles. . .

Into the mix with my very own pearls of wisdom, and expertise for today’s show and tell     .     .    . are a couple of .   .   .“a picture is worth a thousand words” examples.

Pictured above is one of my Fall buffet tables. To get up close and personal, just click on photo. Come on, go ahead you know you want to. The best part of a buffet table from a designers point of view is .   .   .’the’ get out of my way, whoa baby .   .  . coming through, my creative juices are bubbling over, no holds barred, pause .   .   . hmmmm .   .   . maybe, I can add a few more doodads .   .   .   . or .   .   . yup .  .   . need to add extra votives, super tall tapers, chunky pillars, and mini LED string lights that will collectively give this table the razzle, dazzle that I’m working toward. Wow… sky’s the limit! Yay!  No height restrictions on candles .   .    . Not for cross conversation, or being able to see someone at the other end of the table. This table is strictly for the wowee zowie factor, and for foraging food! This table is a peruse, pick, and move on to greener seating pastures!

The same above table design could be stretched to a Halloween motif, by simply adding a few DIY witches brooms, hats, and .   .   . for that extra snap, add  a few strategically placed plugin spooky fog misters found in any party, or hardware store. I personally have placed them around the table on the floor for that scary ooooooooo feeling !!!

This was one of last year’s New Year’s buffet tables. I’ll wait .   .   . go ahead, click on this photo to get the full impact of a healthy mix of different size candles, playing off glass, crystal, gold, and silver with touches of wood to warm it all up. Then I added in a half dozen battery operated strings of mini LED lights, that I wound up, down, around, and even filled a couple of cloche domes set on pedestal cake servers. It’s not just about the food people .   .   . But to me It Is all about the presentation!

It’s time to clarify when, where and how to use candles, safely and effectively.

First, make sure the wicks are trimmed to between 1/4” – 3/8″ in length before burning the first time, and every time thereafter.
Secondly, to prevent candles from dripping on to your table, tablecloth, carpet, keep them away from drafts, such as air conditioner vents, open doors, and windows. Easy people it’s not all doom, and gloom. I know you are thinking that there is no way to prevent a draft. Of course there is .   .   . ye of little faith .   .   . allow me to enlighten you! It really is sooooo so simple .   .   . light your candles, remember after you have trimmed the wick(s). Now it’s ‘flame watch’ time .   .   . O K are you all done giggling yet .   .   . hmmmm??? Hello .   .   . people .   .   . excuse me, this is me being serious .   .   . no joke!!! Now that you have caught your breath, from your hearty giggles, all you have to do is move the candles until the flames stop doing a jive hip hop dance, and start behaving like good calm little troopers. Oh pleeease .   .   . this is NOT rocket science, just a teeny-tiny, itty-bitty test of patience and planning, I know you have it in you.

Third, and just as important as the first two pointers on how to blow the flame out. If not using a candle snuffer, cup your hand behind the flame  .   .   . from a safe distance of course, and lightly blow out the candles. Oh yes please when I say to blow the candles out .   .   . this is not the story of the three pigs .   .   . sooo .  .   . no, I repeat, no huffing, and puffing necessary.

Til next time .   .   .

MORE CANDLE TIPS NEXT TIME

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the popular Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… as well as former contributing columnist for Beverly Hills Courier Newspaper.

I WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS and QUESTIONS  .   .   . sharons3@me.com

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