This spool (one of the thirteen from the Mobile lot) began as an experiment. While I had stained a few of the spools I'd hauled home from Alabama, I'd not tried painting any of them. That's what I initially did with this one. I painted the entire spool with the remaining Kelly Green paint from the Green Trees' Light, but in so doing, I discovered that I had lost what I think is unique to so many of these projects, which is the visible grain and the myriad imperfections in the pieces of wood themselves.

So, I went back to work with the hand-sander and several pages of 150-grit paper. The result was a fully distressed look that gave me the best of both worlds (color and grain).

The spool was too large for a single light, so I—instead—opted for three lights, each in the shape of a cross. 

As with the Original, I thought the spool could use some additional color, so I cut the bottom off a heavy wine bottle, and then sat that it the drum hole. 

This spool was purchased as a wedding gift and now resides out on the plains of Amarillo, Texas. I hope Rebekah and Hank are enjoying it.