Day 14. Flowers or Weeds: Lovely Work of Art!
I love entertaining. And I really appreciate the different seasons in which we can create a lovely table setting. My table settings are so simple, one might even criticize me for being too simple.
I always think ahead to what I want my table to look like. I use what I already have and come up with a simple plan. The idea is to not get stressed-out over “the look.” Most of the time the guests will not even notice. Can you believe that? All the work you seem to put into having a dinner party, and the guests walk away and 2 weeks later probably won’t be able to tell you the details of how your table looked.
We worry way too much about things that do not matter. We live in an image-driven world that derails us. We get sidetracked, limited, and suckered in.
A year ago we were over at the High Desert at our friends’ house, which they generously shared with us. My daughter and I went on a walk and we created the table centerpiece from some weeds. We added them to a canning jar that I had just washed out.
Our lovely work of art!
Whether it be your piece of creativity, or your children’s work of art, I’d love to hear of your most simple, classy, inspiring, creative centerpiece – one that surprised you with little time it took to make?
You know mine. Weeds in a jar. Candles will do. A single bud. Tree branches or garden herbs!
And friends, if you’re just joining in today, here are my previous 31-Day posts of this series that I am blessed to be a part of. I also want to introduce to you Kendra, from My First Kitchen, who is sharing for 31 days about The Table. If you can, catch up with her posts thus far. YOU will be INSPIRED.
Day 1. Why Entertain: The People
Day 2. Perfectionism: Learn More About Yourself
Day 3. Mistakes Happen: Think up Plan B
Day 4. Inviting: Is it Really an Art?
Day 5. Actual Invite: How Do You Do It?
Day 6. Help: They Won’t RSVP!
Day 7. The Dinner: Theme or No Theme?
Day 8. The Menu: 3×5 Card System
Day 9. The Menu: What’s in Season and Bush’s Beans Peach Pear Salsa
Day 10. Space: Even a Cardboard Table will Work
Day 11. Stress-Free Entertaining: Forget It! We have Kids!
Day 12. Money-Honey: I Don’t Have the Stuff
Day 13. My Ten Commandments: Print, Use, Share, Love
And my lovely, talented 31-Day friends …
Chatting at the Sky, Nesting Place, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, My First Kitchen, Life With My 3 Boybarians, Remodeling This Life, The Inspired Room
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I live in a city apartment, but I am lucky enough to have a few wild chesnut trees around.
My favorite autumn centerpiece consists of a couple handful of those wild chesnuts and a couple of pine cones, placed in an orange colored ceramic bowl…so sweet :)
Thank you Sandy, for the inspiring posts.
I love how simple your arrangement is. I always love mason jars!!
I just love this site….I love the fact that people like me will be encouraged to open their homes to people they love (or just like!) and enjoy the gift of friendship and fellowship. We so need this! I deeply regret all of the wonderful times I and my family have missed out on because of my stubborn refusal to have anyone over because everything is not perfect. I love the simple, homey and sweet idea of using what we have to decorate our table. In this world of stress, troubles and increasing isolation this is the medicine we need to bring us together for comfort and connection! Thank you! and thanks for all the great comments! :)
Pingback: Blog Her Food: The People, The Friendships — Reluctant Entertainer
Sandy,
Your centerpiece is so simple yet so elegant. I need to take a walk out in the field behind our house and see what I can find!
One of my favorite centerpieces is one that I make for Christmas.
Take a mason jar (or any other jar), fill with some short sprigs of evergreen, fill with water and a some cranberries and then place a floating candle on top. I’ve even used a tea light and it works.
I love that you took something typically seen as ugly and made it beautiful. It’s true that people rarely remember the specifics of table-settings, but it seems that they often remember the feeling that the setting evoked. It’s all about atmosphere, right?
Hmmmmm….I’ll admit I don’t usually take time for a table centerpiece…shoot I don’t even use a table cloth, but you have inspired me to try it.
We’re going to the High Desert in a few months and I can’t wait!!!
I think they are really cool!
http://ashleyanderic.blogspot.com
Whatever I use, I don’t like it to be so big/tall that I can’t see over or around it while we’re eating. I got some pretty yellow flowers for our coffee this morning- it was a buffet, so it didn’t matter that they were tall. And I found the most beautiful ORANGE roses! One of our favorite centerpieces is our German pyramid with a nativity scene- the children love to watch it while we eat dinner during the Christmas holidays!
what a great idea…that has never occurred to me…still loving your series
Your centerpiece is elegant in its simplicity. Our antique table is long – and can be made longer – but rather narrow. Sometimes I don’t have room for a centerpiece in which case I like to have a seasonal display (flowers, weeds, veggies) on one of my counters.