Let me first introduce myself, my name is Monica Burke. I am a welder and metal designer with a background in historic preservation and home restoration. My woman-owned & operated metal shop, Monweld, is located in New York, USA, and now online on Shop The Château. Each piece I create is hand-made to order...

My journey creating with metal started humbly 4 and a half years ago when I decided to make a major career change at the age of 49. I quit my 9 to 5 job and took a seven-week welding intensive course through a local adult-education organization. I am eternally grateful for this experience and the path in life that it has put me on. Since then I have used my welding skills to create many custom pieces of furniture, handrails and gates as well as perform repair work on farm equipment for neighbors and friends in my rural area of Upstate NY.

I source decorative, recycled-cast-steel pieces from various foundries and metal suppliers to create my range of handmade iron and steel candlesticks, candelabras, ritual offering bowls, incense vessels and other home furnishings that I have designed especially for Shop the Chateau.

Each piece is unique and made from all kinds of different recycled steel pieces - old cars, appliances and other steel “junk” that is repurposed in to something beautiful. I love that I can incorporate recycled materials in to my designs and I hope that it makes you love them even more!

My candleware designs borrow from historic French and Italian influences and it is my hope that they bring that old-world, charming glow, just like at Château de Gudanes, to your own entryway, living room, fireplace mantle or dinner table.

Sourcing decorative cast metal pieces from foundries all over the world, I weld them together blending traditional scrolls and curls with functional elements such as bobeches and candle pans. I also hand apply a variety of finishes using non-toxic, professional-grade paints and patinas. Altogether from start to finish there are over 35 different steps involved in the creation of each candleholder I make.

The result is a collection of unique, beautiful, durable pieces that explore the edges of where past and present meet - and sometimes overlap. Above all, my greatest wish is that they will bring light, comfort and joy to you and your family for many years to come.

I believe we are all vessels of light and love. And so, I am ever so grateful that through creating candleholders and other tools that guard, protect and carry warmth and light that I am able to make my living.

I thank you dearly for reading my blog post on Shop The Château and am wishing you a bon week-end,

Monica from Monweld