Making a candleholder... Need some base ideas.

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I'm working on a candleholder / table centerpiece and looking for some ideas on how to do the base.  Basically I'll have 5 sheet metal flowers that have a cup big enough to hold a tea light.  Each flower is roughly 3'' in diameter and mounted on 1/4'' rod for the stem.  Since I don't have the skill to make a really nice base, I ordered a 10'' diameter 1/4'' thick steel disc to use for the base.I'm trying to figure out a nice way to "grow" them out of the base.  One of the flowers turned out a bit bigger than the others, so I figured I'd make that the center one, then the other 4 will be at various heights around the main one.  Some thoughts were just 5 separate stems coming off the base, each one with some free form curves in it.  I could start all of them from a cluster right in the center, then the 4 curving away from the center.  Almost like a bouquet.Lastly, a sort of hybrid.  Each stem starting out separately from the base, but all curving in to the center, where they could be tied together with some thin wire maybe 5 or so inches above the base, then the 4 curving away from the center.I sort of like the third idea because my gas welds are pretty ugly.  If the rods all start separately but curve towards the center, instead of doing a T style weld, I can grind a pretty big bevel onto each rod as they "grow" towards the center.  I'd think a weld like that would be easier to grind clean.Almost something like this, except 3 dimensional instead of flat, and mounted to a base...
Reply:You could use small chain welded together to bend however you like.
Reply:I think you got to go with your own ideas. If you don't like the way it comes out at least you have more experience now. A lot of times I thought what I was doing was going to do would turn out crap and was blown away by what happened.I don't think much of the image you linked.
Reply:Yeah, just thinking out loud.  I've put enough hours into it so far that your reminder about being a learning experience is needed.  I suppose that if I don't like how it turns out, I can just torch the ends of the stems off, grind the base down and do it again.With the exception of the rod, I've never worked with such thick steel before.  Just been messing around with 18 and 16 gauge sheet so far.
Reply:Might find something that will work or get an idea from these folks.  They sell a bunch of ornamental castings that can be useful for projects such as this even if it is just for an idea to build yourself.  Can't wait to see how it turns out but looks great so far.  www.kingmetals.com.
Reply:You have flowers, so some sort of "vase" automatically comes to mind. Some pipe or tube welded up might be an idea to play with. Another might be to look at some of the wire style bonsai trees that are usually done like they are growing from rocks. Tough to say without seeing the scale we are talking about..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks for the ideas! That pic I linked to wasn't mine, just an example of roughly what I had in mind. Mine isn't nearly that well executed
Reply:Be sure and show us your finished piece.  One thing I would recommend if the center piece is to be left on a/the table that people sit around - keep the piece low so it doesn't block eye contact of people conversing.Some kind of Big Blue constant current welding machineAnother smaller yet, Blue machine (it's got wire in it)
Reply:Good point. I sort of wanted it to be tall to leave plenty of room for curves in the stems, but I think that'll look unweildy somehow. I'm shooting to keep it under 14ish inches.
Reply:Hi I'm new to this forum. How do u like my 4" weld neck ?BuddyL