cen·ter·piece
ˈsen(t)ərˌpēs/
noun
1) a decorative piece or display placed in the middle of a dining or serving table.
2) an item or issue intended to be a focus of attention
I enjoy creating fun and unique centerpieces for each season or holiday. I think keeping a centerpiece on the table encourages us to keep the table clean and free of clutter.
I like to hunt around my home to find things to create a centerpiece.
I think centerpieces should have 5 basic elements:
An Anchor--a tray, a platter, a cutting board. Not only does the anchor create some cohesiveness, it also makes it easier to remove the centerpiece from the table when needed.
For this one I used a garage sale tray painted with Fusion Mineral Paint in Laurentien, my current favorite Fusion color. Fusion Mineral Paint is so smooth and lovely and nice AND it has a built in finish! You do not have to wax or finish it for most projects.
Height--most centerpieces have and need height. Height can come from candlesticks, flowers, sticks, greenery.
Natural Elements--Every centerpiece needs something natural (honestly, I think all decor and vignettes need some nature). Flowers are lovely (and a beautiful BIG vase of flowers can stand alone as a centerpiece), but in Montana flowers I can afford, i.e. ones cut from the yard, are only available about two months of the year. Think outside the flower box--twigs, feathers, evergreen branches, antlers, dried leaves--just something from Mother Nature.
I cut out (intentionally) lopsided hearts from cardboard
and painted them with Matthew Mead's Fusion metallic paint in copper. Don't shame me for those messy paint bottles. I love this paint and it goes so well with the Laurentine. I punched holes in the hearts and hing them on the sticks. For Easter if I don't make a new centerpiece, I will change out the hearts for eggs.
Once you have those 5 elements, add other touches--something to set the candles on, something to put the natural elements in, favorite things. I used a balance that I repaired with superglue, and a few old books.
The books were the colors I wanted to incorporate and the balance is a visual reminder to practice balance in my life.
Hunt around your house or the thrift store to create your next centerpiece.
This comes spookily handy! We just got a table and it is "dying" to have a center piece.
ReplyDeleteWell, I wasn't so sure how to go about it and your post is super helpful.
Also: a-we-so-me scale!
Thanks, I am glad it is helpful! The scale I got for $1 at a garage sale because of the broken balance.
DeleteAt Hobby Lobby the other day, I couldn't find anything as cute as your lopsided hearts. Thanks for the inspiration to make my own decorations.
ReplyDeleteThanks, yes I did think about buying little wood hearts, but I wanted lopsided ones. Call it my lopsided way of thinking ;).
DeleteI love this! I have a scale like that and nothing to do with it, I do now. Can't wait to start my centerpiece.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
Hint....when you buy a new jar of paint and first open it...spread some
ReplyDeleteVaseline on the inside threads of the lid and the outside thread of the
jar. when you are done painting just wipe the jar threads clean (Vaseline
makes this easy) and put lid back on.....no more messy jars stuck tight
with paint...been doing this for 60 PLUS years....less frustrating happier
painting.....Love your "stuff"
What a fantastic idea! Thanks!
Delete