Disintegrated Ornaments Revealed

If you read my blog two months ago, you saw these shining Christmas ball ornaments and learned that I was putting them outside to weather in the, um, er, weather. They were free after Christmas ornaments from my local thrift store, so I had absolutely nothing to lose with the experiment.

And, in fact, I have gained everything, by doing nothing.

Two heavy snowfalls, rain, wind and temperature extremes did all of the work.

This is my kind of project!

Now, I have some lovely rust...

Pitting and flaking...



Mottled textures...

And general decay.

Aren't they GORGEOUS?!

The trick is to place them into a container that has drainage (so they don't soak in standing water) and shelter from the wind (so they don't get buffeted around and break).

A basket would be good.

Mine were on a soft bed of dead grass in a large, stoneware crock with no bottom, in front of a friend's antiques shop.

Then you pray for harsh weather and forget about your project for about two months.

Mine were off-site, but even my friend Liz forgot to look in on the ornaments.

Now she swears she is buying every box of old Shiny Brites to do this herself.

I think that means her crock is booked for next winter...

I don't know what I will do with my shabby sparklers, but it just might be something as simple as heaping them into a bowl for display

OR

decorating an unconventional tree.

Can you say, "Junk-le bells?"