Event Recap Chat with Jeff Carter of ChristmasCraftsman.com

[SBellsRikki]

@Jordan Rivers Very understandable. My hubby, an electronics guy, has great ideas. But he's accident prone so I tremble just the sight of him with a ladder, lol.

 

[Jordan Rivers]

LOL @SBellsRikki -- should we tell him you said that?

 

[SBellsRikki]

@GE Jeff when do you start putting up your lights? I know some enthusiasts begin in Oct.

 

[GE Jeff]

Jordan, start with the end in mind. Design a master plan for your house/yard and build it slowly by adding an element each year.

 

[SBellsRikki]

@Jordan Rivers HA! He already knows... lol

 

[Jordan Rivers]

Yeah, that's what my wife tells me. I can do 8 strings this year. We're still in an apartment, so it's gotta be humble

 

[Jordan Rivers]

But this is a bucket list item for me. One of those Christmas diversions I want to get into

 

[Storeytime]

Back to the stars with bells for a minute. Great teaching video. We're going to make some of those.

 

[Jordan Rivers]

@GE Jeff -- thanks for the link!

 

[SBellsRikki]

@GE Jeff I know this is a beginner's mindset, but what about weather for those vintage lights. If you live where you get a ton of snow, would you be concerned about the toll it could take on the lights? How do you protect them?

 

[GE Jeff]

When to start putting up light? That depends. How much are you putting up? What's the weather like in your area? How many people are helping you? I put mine up usually the weekend before Thanksgiving because the weather is still mild in Atlanta at that time, but I don't light it until December 1st.

 

[GE Jeff]

Vintage outdoor lights are better designed for weather than modern outdoor lights.

 

[Jeff Westover]

This is quite the comprehensive listing of those lighting guides! https://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffcarter629/collections/72157635505741139/

 

[Storeytime]

GE Jeff - the hangar wire for your stars. Is that ceiling grid tie wire?

 

[GE Jeff]

Yes, that the wire.

 

[GE Jeff]

You want to get the kind that is straight. There is some drop ceiling wire that comes in a roll. That's not stiff enough.

 

[Jordan Rivers]

I like the old look. Where would you advise I try to find vintage lights?

 

[GE Jeff]

Yard sales, Thrift stores.

 

[GE Jeff]

Your grandparent's attic.

 

[Jeff Westover]

I've looked on eBay...but it's pricey there