Setting the Table: Use Drinking Tumblers for Candles

We love the warm flicker of just one or two candles on the table during our evening meals. But you don't have to break out the formal candelabra, or keep a lot of extra candleholders around: just use one of your ordinary tumblers to hold a tealight.

For my wedding last summer I bought several dozen classic Duralex tumblers to hold beeswax candles on the dinner tables. They're all-purpose tumblers: they're great for juice, water, and wine. I still use a few to light up the dinner table, too. They're simple and casual, and when I'm done with the candle I put the glass back into use.

Other good multi-purpose glasses that will double as candleholders or even vases include Mason jars, glass yogurt pots, jam jars, and small glass bowls. The recycled glass tumblers pictured above are also very nice, but they're rather overpriced (we think). Try Pier 1 or Target for a similar look at a lower price.

• Recycled Oversized Stemless Wine Glasses, $66 for 6 at At West End

To get wax out of little cups (or regular candleholders for that matter) freeze the cup overnight. The next day just push and pull on the wax; it should all lift out in one piece.

(Images: Faith Durand; At West End)

Or you can just put a little water in the bottom of the cup - as the wax melts it sits on top of the water and then pops right out.

posted by Marie on March 16th 2009 at 5:56pm
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I just did this last week and now have a glass with tons of wax stuck inside. (I used a small rocks glass from Ikea.) Now I'm going to try the freezing tip -- thank you!

posted by heylittlebird on March 19th 2009 at 2:11pm
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