About Lampadas

 

This is for Pilgrim who wrote on Monday that you wished

you had a lampada but they seem so expensive.

NOT so (unless $2 or 3 is a lot of money which if that is, I am really sorry :( ) 

(not sure on shipping costs above)... 

(well plus wicks, which are 4$ there for the 'string ones') 

I know that some Orthodox make wicks out of cotton balls, they just kind of

spread the cotton ball out and kind of 'roll it' with their hands.

I've seen that done but have not done it myself.

***

So....

Go HERE to buy very inexpensive ones from a great Orthodox Monastery 

called Hermitage of the Holy Cross. (The 2-4$ options are there).

Go HERE to see how I did mine and cleaned them

and also HERE to when I began using them at our new home,

when I was newly married. 

***

(HERE is an Etsy account that sells the wicks I use

(and got earlier at Greek Monasteries)

 via Cyrus for not a lot of money,

these are the kind I use BUT with the metal wick holders)...

(Note my blog post on how I began using them above,

as the wicks in the metal wick holders need to be split in 2

and I show pictures about this.)

***

The Votive holders I use for my lampadas are commonly called

'flower pot votive holders' and you can get them

cheap via amazon or a craft store.

Smaller ones you can get at Holy Cross for one dollar, 

you would need to be careful with those,

in terms of making sure the lampada wick holder you use is one that

works with it... 

as they may be harder to use with the oil, but we do have one lampada that

is more that size so it is doable.  

(Feel free to ask me questions!)

***

Now the hanging lampadas, like I have a two of,

those are a bit more, usually in the low 30$ for a brass (or brass coloured!) one.

You can get them at Orthodox Monasteries, some churches and also HERE, for example.

(this source I used for icons for our goddaughter when we could not find them 

any where else!)

So those are a bit more costly.

I think there may be even MORE costly ones but I don't have those! :)

I have a really pretty one in our bedroom but that was Mr Husband's so

I don't know how much it cost... :)

***

While I have a bit more ease, in terms of fiances, 

I had some hard knocks and even poverty. 

(I went through a few months where I could not pay my rent)...

I used to use vegetable oil as it was more affordable

(When my then newly met boyfriend now Husband bought me a 

big tin of oil for my lampada, I thought it was the most

romantic thing ever!).... :)

***

But both icons and lampadas should not be costly esp. if you can't afford it.

I used to make a lot of my icons, printing them on one of the 

picture machines (like Kodak etc) that are at stores and buying

a dollar store frame to put the picture/printed icon in.

Those cost me less than 2$ for one icon...

My icon of St Nectarios (very left in the picture) above is one of those icons.

***

I don't always talk about the 'where to get' for Orthodox things

but if you or anyone ever wants to know, 

I am happy to tell you what I can about the topic. :)

***

I got my hanging lampada from Holy Dormition Monastery years ago,

before I ever had contact with my now married-8-years Husband.

Because of the you-know-what-virus they are closed to visitors

and their giftshop online (it's fun!) does not seem to have them right now. 

***

I find lampadas (and candles etc) to be a great encouragement

and I would hate you to think that they have to be fancy

or costly!!! 

If I can be of more help about this topic do let me know.

You all know I am a "maximalist" (as opposed to a minimalist) when it comes to 

everything I love... but I have ALWAYS maintained that you

can have a beautiful (and peaceful, prayerful) home without spending a lot of money.

I love thrift stores, rummage sales and bargains. 

Much of my most beautiful things (linens, dishes...) were found at thrift stores

or rummage sales.  Frankly my best towels that we use personally

are from either the VNA rummage sale or thrift stores in Michigan.

(of course I wash these well first and actually put all used towels or clothes

DRY in the dryer first to be sure nothing living is well, alive! LOL, and then I wash them

as per their instructions, or as per household logic)...

***

I VERY much believe in living below your means if at all possible

and NOT going into debt for unnecessary things or for something you really want

but is costly, like if you wanted a pure gold lampada (I don't know that this exists!)

that cost HUNDREDS of dollars, well, I would never do that for my home...! :)

***

Anyway, there's my thoughts on that.

I do hope it helps :)

God bless you!!!