Wooden Spindle Trees - SO EASY!

@JagCagDesign
by @JagCagDesign
4 Materials
$20
1 Hour
Easy

I ditched my bottle brush tree collection for a new idea this year — wooden spindle trees. I love their unique beauty, and if you have materials on hand they’re a quick n’ easy last minute decor item that can stay up all winter!

First, I gathered a collection of brass and silver candlesticks.

Since I like everything to have a patina, I decided to darken the brass (no shiny gold in this house, LOL— it’s all rust and crust!). If you want, you can skip this step or use other types of candlesticks. But if you like my idea, you can darken brass in a few easy steps. First, fill a large pot with vinegar, enough to cover the candlestick(s).

Then dump in some salt. The more, the merrier. I did not measure, sorry, but you can Google this method to get people’s different formulas. Mix it all up so the salt dissolves.

Let your candlesticks soak in this mixture for 24 hours or more.

Look how much they changed!

If you want them even darker, rinse them off and place them on a foil-covered cookie sheet in the oven at 350 degrees for awhile. Caution: some candlesticks are clear coated. You’ll know this is the case if the vinegar did not alter their color. Do not place these in the oven; you’ll end up with a toxic smelling mess of melted goo. Don’t ask me how I know this. 🙈Another method for darkening (that I read about online) is to buy a chemical brass ager - Google it, it should pop right up!


After your candlesticks are aged to your liking, use a few drops of hot glue to attach your spindles to them. You could also use poster putty or tacky clay, available online. I tried that method first, but found the glue more effective. If I want to take them apart, the hot glue easily pops off both the metal and wood.

These spindles came from a friend. I got tons of them and think they came off old chairs or an architectural salvage piece. The green and white chippy paint on them is perfect for trees!

Here’s the rest of them, in my windowsill.

What do you think? I’m in love! If you make some, please share photos! And I’d love it if you could follow me on Facebook or Instagram @jagcagdesign, where I post lots of home decor and DIY projects. Your likes, comments, and follows make my day!


Happy Holidays!

xo,

Jamey

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  • Teresa Teresa on Dec 27, 2021

    In thé first picture of the “trees”, the one at an angle, there is a long sconce. It looks like it is made from pipes. Did you make that? If so could you please post a link to your design? I love it! Especially the knob in the front!

    Than you!

    I also will try the vinegar and salt trick. I have a box of of brass pieces that will be fun to play with.

    Warmly, Teresa

  • Stacy Stacy on Jan 25, 2022

    Wow! I love this idea!! Great job, but I am with Teri. What step did I miss...the trees look like you created a mercury glass affect? I love them, but the spindles I have do not come to that lovely point. I will have to save this one for the day I find the spindels! I also like some other things I saw in your home. I do have questions because I like quite a bit of your stuff!! He, He S.

  • Eleanor Eleanor on Dec 16, 2023

    You have no idea how much salt you used? A tablespoon…a cup? Looks beautiful.

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  • Mira Mira on Dec 27, 2022

    gorgeous...!!!

  • Ore27096857 Ore27096857 on Dec 14, 2023

    If you are into patina, try this: freshly opened ammonia vapor. I would do this with smaller items like this:


    use a sealable dish, plastic or glass.

    put an inch of ammonia in bottom.

    pull a leg of pantyhose over the dish, making a hammock like shelf.

    place your small items on the hammock.

    put a lid on it.


    it can be as soon as 3 hours if the ammonia is freshly opened, when you see results. You can take things to nearly black by leaving it in longer.


    the key is to surround the object with vapor, but not wetting the item. We did this a lot with jewelry findings


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