This will be long, but informative! Enjoy!
(and sorry my photos are mirrored, that's how my computer camera takes them. And Elaine, I put the black trays on the piano bench in the DRE/Choir Director room)
I found some ribbon labeled for "saving seats" during weddings and memorials. A nice bronzy color!
Terre and I were trying to decide if we could avoid taking off the paper wax catchers (to speed up the process).
This was essentially a decorative cookie tray that was as deep as a pie tin. This depth is sufficient for holding candles! Even tough keeping the paper wax catchers skips a step, it seems a bit more cumbersome to try and place the candles with the paper on.
Ooh! We found a square tray that was shallow and made of plastic.
And a round one!
But when I filled the round one with sand it was noticeably flimsy. Scratch the round one.
But the square one was much firmer....
It holds 27 candles (with shown spacing). Note: the candles cannot go too close to the sides because (1) you want a good place to grip the edge, and (2) the tray is less deep there, so the sand is not deep enough to hold the candles.
The depth is about 1.5 - 2"
Top view of the unlit candles in square tray
Half of them lit...
I blew them out to try and gauge how much smoke came off. There was a little puff that disappeared rather quickly.
Here's how the candles could get added... First you grab the top of the candle...
Then remove the paper wax catcher, discarding it in a basked (or some container the candles helpers have)...
Place the lit candle in the sand, next to the others... This took 1 large Foldgers can of sand.
Another thought was the shallow dish SS has.
Note: it is not very deep on the edges. It is also rather heavy.
Inventory in SS hall closet:
51 candles in rectangular purple box
30+ candles in square purple box
150+ candles in white rectangular box
a bazillion paper wax catchers
3 rolls of 2.5" X 3yd bronze ribbon for roping off aisles (if we don't have anything else already)
Yellow plastic lining material (like for table cloths) - could be used to line baskets that hold candles and wax catchers
We have plenty of Sand! one Tidy Cats bucket (probably 6 large Folders cans worth)
Need for congregation candles collection:
Estimating 70 - 120 people, we would need 3 - 5 trays for holding candles (including the one black square one)
Baskets to hold wax catchers after removed (helpful if they have a large handle to look on your wrist, or have a second helper designated for just this).
Ideas
Use these pot trays (for potted plants) as shallow vessels to hold sand. They're plastic (also come in green and terracota red) and sturdy. Couldn't find them on Lowe's website, but they are at Home Depot in Seneca: Fiskars 24 in. Resin Terra Pot Tray, Model # 51624 Store SKU # 214617
Fantastic work, Heather! Great use of the blog!
ReplyDeleteI will go investigate my garden supplies and see if have any such plant holders than can be cleaned up enough to look good. I like how sturdy they are, and the roundness of them. So we need 5? I can pick them up by Monday and we can try them and return them if they arent what we want. I'm into symmetry so matching trays would please me.
Fire Safety is a top priority.
ReplyDeleteWe can talk more on Monday-- Terre is worried about large bowls of fire being carried out because they will be at the same level as people's heads. Heads have hair ( well, often they do) and hair can have hair products on them that are extremely flammable.
She'd preferring the bowls remaining in the room--
For small kids whose parents determine not ready for fire, we need to get some glow lights. I'll do a little research on costs
holy cow - great work!! I'll of course help with whatever we decide! standing by...
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hear other's thoughts on keeping the candles in the room at the end. Personally, I do think this is easier, safer, and can be visually symbolic of the hope that remains burning. My question then is more logistical, does the congregation part in darkness (lights down) or do we raise them? And when to (eventually) extinguish those candles?
ReplyDeleteI think it would be good to decide this _before_ monday. Monday's rehearsal is going to be packed with teaching volunteers and readers where to stand, how to be present, etc. and the less deciding we have to do the better. The clearer, more direct guidance we can give the volunteers the less likely there will be confusion and safety hazards. :) I also want to be mindful of their time (and ours) and use it efficiently to practice practice practice!