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An array of Nancy’s work, including containers with nautical and beach themes, a bottle with an owl theme, and a bottle with a daisy theme.

Inverness artist Nancy Andersen strings “fairy lights” inside jars and bottles, then decorates the glass in a variety of themes.

Nancy’s Jar decorated with a bicycle theme. Her business is Country Craft Creations by Maude.

Nancy’s bottle with a nautical theme.

An array of Nancy’s work, including containers with nautical and beach themes, a bottle with an owl theme, and a bottle with a daisy theme.

Inverness artist Nancy Andersen strings “fairy lights” inside jars and bottles, then decorates the glass in a variety of themes.

Nancy’s Jar decorated with a bicycle theme. Her business is Country Craft Creations by Maude.

Nancy’s bottle with a nautical theme.

Nancy Andersen of Inverness has found a way to trap light in a jar.

She said after she retired in 2013 as an information technology specialist in Hollywood, Fla., she moved to Citrus County and discovered people weren’t recycling as much as in Broward County, and “It broke my heart.”

So, Andersen got busy. She started looking on the Internet for ways to repurpose jars and bottles. She discovered a simple centerpiece of a Mason jar, burlap, and a bow. The jar had no handle and there was nothing inside.

She figured she could improve on the design. And she did.

Today, she strings “fairy lights” inside jars and bottles, then decorates the glass in a variety of themes, ending up with unique mood or nightlights.

“When I was a kid, I’d collect fireflies in Mason jars and they would look cute,” she said. Now, she’s got her own business, bottling manufactured firefly light in jars and bottles repurposed as lanterns.

She told of one jar she has with a pink flamingo ribbon, a wooden hand-painted flamingo attached, a flamingo charm around the neck, and a flamingo on the lid. Of course, there are lights sparkling inside the jar.

A lemon-themed wine bottle bears fabric with lemons on it, yellow ribbon, a wooden lemon, and the slogan, “Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy.”

Then, there are the many nautical-themed containers, including blue, Blue Nun bottles, with anchors, pebbles, jewels, lace – you name it – as well as fabric with ships, beach scenes, or lighthouses.

Andersen said when she goes to a craft shop, she can spend all day there, dreaming of the many possibilities for her creations.

Although it’s not a big trick to put lights inside a Mason jar, how do you string them inside a wine bottle or other tight-lipped vessel?

Simple. You call on Andersen’s husband, Torben, to drill a hole in the bottom. After the fairy lights are strung inside, the bottle is resealed.

“I can’t even count on how many diamond drill bits I have bought him,” Nancy Andersen said. Torben also helps twist wires that serve as handles or as other decoration for the lanterns.

Nancy said Torben is a car aficionado, as well, and has his own man cave, while she has a she shed for crafts.

“It’s so much fun doing it,” she said of her craft. “It just makes my heart feel good.”

She said she enjoys participating in the Craft Council shows and being “amazed by the new craftsmanship that comes in.”

There is antique jewelry, picture frames with shells or jewels, knitting and crocheting, and acrylic picture frames with beach, turtle, and starfish themes.

“People have to see the talented craftsmanship in this county,” she said.

She will be selling her creations at the Harvest Moon Arts and Crafts Show Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Florida National Guard Armory in Crystal River.

Andersen can be reached at Country Craft Creations by Maude at 352-419-8463; ncandersen813@gmail.com. She said her lanterns sell for $20, and the batteries for the lights are easily replaceable.

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