I like to think of this material as "gold mesh." Others, who have a more literal bent, may see it for what it really is and call it "brass screen." That's right, this sparkly candle shade is made from the same material you will be using soon to keep the bugs out of your house.

If your mind is turned more towards entertaining for the outdoors, buy some "gold mesh" by the foot at the hardware store and you will have the makings for the perfect finishing touch to your picnic table.

A word of caution: this screen is made of tiny brass wires, which are woven together. The wire ends are extremely sharp and somewhat difficult to control until you get used to handling this material. Therefore, you must always wear work gloves when working with screen, and still, be careful. Also, always place votive candles into glass holders before inserting them into the shades. Place larger pillar candles on appropriate bases.

Directions below are for several styles of mesh shades. The one shown here is the large pleated shade for a 4" pillar candle.

What You Need

For the two small votive shades: strips of screen about 4" tall and 12" wide
For the star basket votive shade: piece of screen about 10" square
For the large pleated shade for a 4" pillar: strip of screen about 8" tall and 24" long
Glass votive candle holder
Base for pillar candle
Votive candles
Pillar candle
Tin snips or junky scissors
Tapestry needle and thin brass wire
Beads or parts of old jewelry
Wood ruler
Newspaper pad
Work gloves
Scrap of parchment or other thin paper

What To Do:

1. Which ever shade you are making, the first step in all case is to "hem" the material. This will keep most of the prickly wire edges out of the way while you complete the shade. For the three shades made from long strips of mesh, you will "hem" the long top and bottom of the mesh. For the star basket, "hem" all four sides of the square. Here's how: place a pad of newspaper on your work surface, bringing it to the edge. Wearing gloves, bring one edge of the mesh about 1/2" past the edge of your work surface. Use your fingers to bend the edge of the mesh over the edge of the work surface. Pick up mesh and place flat on the newspaper pad. Use your gloved fingers to press the mesh edge flat against the material. Run the ruler along the edge to firmly press the "hem" in place. Repeat with other long edges.

2. Note: if you are making the square footed shade, place a 3" x 12" piece of parchment paper on the mesh before hemming it. The hem holds the paper in place. To finish the square shade, next crease the lined, hemmed mesh at 2 3/4" intervals, with the hem towards the inside. Overlap ends and use the needle and thin wire to sew the edges together, so that you now have an open cube. Use the wire to sew a large round bead at each of the 4 corners to form the shade's feet. Sew a small bead at each of the top 4 corners for decoration.

3. To make the round votive shade, make a small pleat every few inches in your hemmed strip. Then make a small pleat in the center of the strip, going the long way. Overlap ends, tucking one hemmed edge into the hem s of the other, and sew together as above. Sew a small bead wherever the pleats intersect.

4. To make the star basket, place the hemmed square of mesh on your work surface, wrong side up. Place votive holder in center, and use your gloved hands to crease the mesh up the sides of the votive holder. Don't be afraid to really push the mesh into shape. Use needle and wire to sew mesh, holding it into a cup shape Continue manipulating mesh corners until they form a shape that you like. Sew dangly beads on each of the 4 corners.

5. To make the large pleated shade, Simply use your ruler and the edge of your work surface to make pleats about 3/4" wide all along the hemmed strip. Sew ends together as above, then finish by sewing a dangly bead to the point of each of the pleats.