FOUND!ISO pretty candle tray for balancing

[bdlana]

Hi everyone! I'm completely clueless with this prop! Not only do I not know where to buy one, but I also don't know which candles to buy and how to arrange them the best possible way for balancing. Any advice and pointers as well as where to find a decent one would be much appreciated. Thanks!

[bintbeled]

My hubby, who loves to shop, has found nice trays at thrift stores.

[Monica]

Like Latifa (or like her hubby, I guess!), I see great brass trays all the time at thrift stores, as well as at flea markets. I also see brass/metal cups and tea sets that you could use to balance on the tray.

[dunyah]

I got my tray at Goodwill. I use frosted glass candle cups and battery-powered candles, which I purchased at a crafts store. No muss, no fuss. Just arrange the candles in a symmetrical, balanced way. I have a taller one in the center. The battery-powered candles "flicker" and look pretty realistic on stage.

[bdlana]

Originally Posted by bintbeled

My hubby, who loves to shop, has found nice trays at thrift stores.

Wow, that's great...a man who likes to shop! Thank you, I will try some local thrift stores. Is there a diameter that works best?

[dunyah]

Just try it on your head when you are shopping and see how it feels. A really big one is probably going to be more difficult to balance, but you don't want it to be really small, either.

[steffib]

I found it rather difficult to locate a good tray. I ended paying $60 for mine (it is beautiful, and in the center has a bump that is shaped like a little cap), and that was well below the ticketed price at a Moroccan store.

Around here at least, every once in a while, brass or other metal trays show up at estate sales, but I have never seen anything suitable at Goodwill. Sometimes one has to look a fairly hard and be persistent - don't give up!

[bintbeled]

Just saw a nice engraved one at Salvation Army for $1.99.

[nimah]

I know this thread is kind of old, but I was at Ikea today and saw the cutest silver tray and thought of this thread. I LOL'ed at the fact that the name of the tray is "Groggy." :)

IKEA | Serving | Trays & bread baskets | GROGGY | Tray

It's not quite as heavy as I'd prefer, but still a good weight, and it's a very nice size. I put it on my head in the store and it felt pretty good. :) I like that it has the "lip" on it. That way, stuff won't slip off, or you could fill it with flower petals and whatnot. I've seen some dancers put a pool of melted wax all inside the bottom of their trays, to keep the candles in place. This tray would be good for that.

[ravenadesigns]

Another place I found great trays is World Market Cost Plus World Market - unique gifts, handcrafted furniture, home decor, baskets, jewelry, food/wine and more from around the world

Pier One sometimes has good trays. worth a look...

[bdlana]

Thanks soo much Nimah and Ravena (I am sill looking). The Groggy tray looks promising but for some reason Ikea is not offering it online so I checked the store closest to me. No such luck. Hmmm....I bet Cost plus or Pier one might have one. Doh-can't believe I did not think of that. Off to check tommorrow;-)

[bdlana]

Yay!!!! I bought one at Cost Plus today. It is basic but good! Now I just need to experiment with some candles! I'll see how it goes.

[ravenadesigns]

excellent - I have always had luck at the cost plus/world market stores.

[phillyraqs]

Just another plug for Groggy - I use a Groggy with some flowers and fake candles on it and it's a bit light, but a good size and still a pretty good weight. Not really antique-y or aged looking, but it works well in restaurants.