Sneak Peek: DIY Centerpiece

So what will be adorning my thanksgiving table this year (besides the food of course)? I've come up with these do-it-yourselfer, inexpensive, right on trend centerpieces. The big style ideas for the season are everything that's earthy, natural, and especially "environmentally conscientious".

Here's what all of you recycling, thrift store shopping, young and old hipsters will need:

glass bottles (recycle bin)

burlap or some other fibrous fabric (thrift store)

ribbon

shallow glass dish

pine cones

acorns

branches

driftwood

pebbles

screw eyes

dowel rods (pre-cut, prepackaged @Walmart)

paint

old paper

sewing machine

drill

hot glue gun

Burlap was pinned to size around glass bottles from the recycling bin. The burlap was sewn to fit, and any raw edges were tucked in or under the bottles and glued in place.

Pine cones and driftwood were drilled in the bottom and then dowel rods were twisted into the holes. Some pine cones and acorns were painted green, not at all necessary, but adds a pop of color. Acorns and mini pine cones were drilled using a small bit and screw eyes were added. These were then dropped onto the branches.The branches were from a scraggly tree that I trimmed in the backyard.

Pebbles were added to a shallow round dish and then you can add a small tea light later.

Add personal touches with special paper, fitting your colors and style. Be careful not to overdo the ribbon.

Now not everyone will have to get as involved with the entire method. The main point here is that there is no need to spend oodles of money on professionally arranged centerpieces when you may already have beauty to gather from your own backyard or home.

*If any of you are inspired to make a DIY centerpiece, don't hesitate to share in the comment section below and if you can post a pic. (not sure if you can) please do!

Drift Wood and Pine Cones

I came up with a use for some of my drift wood pieces and pine cones. I've painted the pine cones in three different shades of green and tied a gray grosgrain ribbon onto them through a screw eye. I found these neat playing cards via etsy and added two different vintage papers to them and attached a gray grosgrain ribbon as well. Green is in ya know...and I'm loving drift wood right now.

So I made up a bunch of them and good news for you. If people don't fully grasp their coolness as much as I do, they may end up gifted to some of you. Now don't cringe, they're not that bad really. Best yet, you could always re-gift them next year.

I may or may not admit to having three currently hanging in my house. This could be because I needed to photograph them, but they do look good grouped together, and look good in a living room, kitchen, or dining room.

By the way, I was not silly enough to use those big type of pine cones that are all sappy and sticky---these are the cute little chubby pine cones.

Snow Stopped by in the Middle of the Night

There's snow on the ground resting softly between blades of grass. It should melt off by the afternoon with the help of a little sunshine.
Today the planter pots containing wilted, brown mums will go into the garage. They put up a good fight and adorned my porch for many days, but the snow had the final say and put an end to them.
Bacon Bits and I went into town yesterday to pay our utilities bill and drop off mail (two of his favorite things, only less important than a trip to the library). We walk up a steep hill to get into downtown, and Mommy is always out of breath when we walk into city hall.
The lake was absolute glass and if the clouds had been more spectacular there would have been a great photo. The visitor center is closed now except for Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Bits and I picked up pine cones and acorns from the backyard. If anyone has unique ideas using pine cones leave a comment. I'm thinking of dipping them into latex paint of fun colors and making them into ornaments.