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Natural Thanksgiving Centerpieces

ByJane & Sonja

Use materials from nature to create a beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece for your tablescape. Here are two natural ideas to help you decorate.

Create a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape with these natural centerpiece ideas. I used olive tree branches in my Thanksgiving centerpieces because it’s an easy addition from my farm. There is so much variety in nature for materials and it’s an easy, low cost way to decorate your table.

Centerpiece with Candle and pine cones in glass bowl surrounded by olive tree branches.

We don’t officially celebrate Thanksgiving here in Greece.  But I was raised in the States and have always loved the warm family atmosphere that is created around this holiday.  I always try to at least roast a turkey or bake a pie and we have a special sit down dinner on this most thankful of days. 

First Thanksgiving Centerpiece Idea

I came up with two easy natural Thanksgiving centerpieces. I started out with this piece of wood that my husband had brought home.  And I am very thankful for that husband of mine, who is always on the look out for little treasures like this.

Piece of wood stump.

Now this piece of wood had an unusual shape but I wanted to add a little more to it. I’ve been on a quest these past few months trying out natural wood stain methods, as you can see on my drunken table.  

This time I went to visit my friend Wendi at H2O Bungalow and borrowed her method of staining wood naturally with tea. I am thankful to have such great friends that share these great tips with me.

Close up of stained wood stump.

I also grabbed some olive branches on my way out of the farm.  Why olive branches? Because they are in abundance and they represent the fall months to me.  The olive trees are in full bloom and we start harvesting the olives and the oil around this time of year.  We are always thankful for the abundance of oil we get from our trees.

Olive Branches.

The next step was shaping the branches into a loose circle. This was placed on top of the wood.

Olive branches shaped into a circle.

I am also thankful that we have an abundance of pomegranates at the farm this time of the year.  Their bright red and orange colors punch the landscape.

Pomegranates in a glass bowl.

I place them in a glass bowl and add a lantern off to the side.

Glass bowl filled with pomegranates inside of olive branch circle and lantern to the side.

And what would fall be like without a few pinecones?  I am thankful for the nearby forests that provide us with a plethora of pinecones that come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

Pomegranetes and pinecones inside glass bowl placed with in olive branch circle.

I am oh so thankful for all the natural “junk” I found to upcycle.  

I am also thankful that there is still hope for the environment if we do our part.

Side view of glass bowl centerpiece with a wood stump

I am thankful for the health of my family and friends.

Overhead view of glass bowl filled with pomegranates and pine cones.

And that I have a roof over my head.

Close up of pine cones and pomegranates in a glass bowl.

Second Thanksgiving Centerpiece idea

Now let’s change it up a bit and add a candle (oops I forgot to add the wick) and some pinecones to the Thanksgiving centerpiece.

I am thankful to all of you reading this who are now overlooking my slight error.

Candle in center of pinecones.

And another homemade candle that mirrors the pinecones.

Glass bowl with another candle and pine cones, placed over olive branches, placed beside a candle and wood stump.

​Using a bit of chalk, I add a “T” for Thanksgiving on the end of the stump.

Closeup of candle and wood stump with T chalked on.
Close up of pine cones and candle.
Wood stump with T chalked on.
Close up of centerpiece with Candle and pine cones in glass bowl.

Most of all I am thankful to be able to come up with these ideas (and to even deal with the computer which fights with me all day).  Because let’s face it, I have the best job in the world!  

Centerpiece with pomegranates, pine cones and olive branches

I hope you all enjoyed my easy tutorials on natural Thanksgiving centerpieces.  

How to make two easy and natural centerpieces using nature and at home products.

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Hello, we're Jane & Sonja, sisters, moms and lifelong crafters.

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104 Comments

  1. Mary your natural Thanksgiving centerpiece is wonderful! That piece of wood is beautiful and the olive branch wreath makes it look so rustic and festive at the same time! I’m thankful for you my friend!

  2. Mary, these centerpieces are so beautiful! I love those natural elements that you used! We have so much to be thankful for. It’s amazing when we take a step back and take the time to see all the great things in our life, we are reminded of how blessed we are. What a wonderful post!!

    1. We truly are so blessed and sometimes we forget that because we live in such a materialistic society. It is always good to remember what our priorities should be. Thank you my friend.

  3. That’s beautiful Mary. We don’t celebrate ThanksGiving in S Africa either and it’s that’s quite sad, because we have so much to be thankful for and sometimes we forget that.
    P.S. You just reminded me, I don’t think I can EVER express how incredibly grateful and thankful I am to have someone like you in my life. You are an inspiration and a truly exceptional person. May the Karma wheel always turn in the right way for you and bring you many blessings, always. <3

    1. Truthfully, we shouldn’t need a holiday to be thankful. It should be something we do as a matter of course. I think it really depends on the person and their outlook on life. But yes, it is nice to remind the rest of the folks that they need to be a bit grateful for all they have.
      And thank you so much Michelle for your kind words. I am a great believer in Karma. And it does work both ways. I am also l thankful to have you as a friend.

    1. Linda, if I tell you what I did you will laugh. I had a whole bunch of wax that was left over from bits and pieces and used all of it to add to an old disfigured candle. I figured I had nothing to lose at that point.

  5. I love the rustic nature of your centerpiece. I can’t decide if that piece of wood and the olive branch are my favorite.

    1. Thanks Anika. I always try to use what is around me and not spend a ton of money on things. Also nature is so much prettier than anything we can make in a factory.

  6. Mary, how wonderful it must be to have olive branches and pomegranates at your disposal. I can only dream of being able to run out and scoop such beauty up.
    I love that you are keeping the spirit of Thanksgiving alive and well.

    1. Lisa it is so important to keep up with our favorite traditions. When we moved here they opened the Christmas gifts on New Years Eve. This was horrible for me because I grew up opening them on Christmas day so I kept that tradition from my child hood and didn’t adjust to the Greek tradition.
      Ultimately it’s all about what you learn at home when you are a kid. And Thanksgiving has always been close to my heart.

  7. Hi Mary: Beautiful natural centerpiece, I envy you your live garden.
    I smiled when I saw the T in chalk, I have a partial French Canadian background so Tourtierre is a must have at Christmas. I pierce the meatpie with a T, to give thanks.
    Very pretty and I am thankful for your mentorship.

    1. Thank you so much Leanna. I too am so grateful to have all of you wonderful ladies to meet up with every day.

    1. Julia thank you so much. The most important thing to remember here is that we are blessed with abundance. And all of this is free. If we open our eyes we can appreciate it. Of course you know that better than anyone with your amazing creations.

  9. Good morning Mary, I love the fact your center piece has very Greek tones to it. The pomegranates look beautiful on the bushes this time of year and the contrast against the olive leaves is lovely. We do indeed have plenty to be thankful for and it’s good to acknowledge it every once in a while.
    xx

    1. Absolutely Debbie. There are a lot of wrong things with this country but it does have it’s positive side too. And for that I am always grateful.

  10. Dear Mary,
    I do prefer the bowl with the “candle” and the pinecones. And I have to admit the olive branches are a feast for the eyes. Beautiful centerpieces indeed!
    Have a lovely day,
    Marjan

    1. And all these things are free and in abundance. For that I am always grateful. I need to work on that candle lol!

    1. Yes Rachael we are blessed to have this farm which gives us fresh olives and more importantly oil.

  12. Love the beauty of the natural elements you used to create this Thanksgiving centerpiece.
    Indeed we all have so much to be thankful for!
    Jemma

    1. Richella this was such a lovely blog hop. I am so happy to have participated and met all of you lovely ladies.

  15. Hi Mary,
    Love your centerpiece. Quite frankly, you had me at olive branches. What beautiful color and great texture. I am so grateful for you and for your friendship in this blogging journey. Looking forward to learning and growing with you in 2017. XOXO Susie from Chelsea Project

    1. Aww Susie. We are going to take over the blogging world next year. Hah! Actually I am very happy just to be in my niche and to have made so many wonderful friends. That to me is worth all the page views in the world. We are truly blessed.

    1. Kim these are the things that speak to my heart. They bring me such happiness. And I use every chance possible to reuse these natural elements.

  17. Mary – you always have such wonderful ideas! The thought that you get to walk outside to gather some olive branches and pomegranites just blows my mind! The world is an amazing place!

    1. Paula thanks for your sweet comment. We may be in the middle of an economic crisis, but some things are worth more than what money can buy.

  19. That piece of wood really had me doing a double take Mary! It’s really cool looking, and kudos to your hubby for bringing it home.
    How lovely that you can go outside and grab some pomagranates. They’re super expensive here, so it’s a treat I rarely indulge in, but I do so love their color and texture.
    xxx

    1. We have become two peas in a pod when it comes to repurposing, Doreen.
      That is one of the nice things about Greece. Veggies and food are relatively cheap compared to the US prices. Of course we make pennies in income so there is that to think about. But these things grow on the farm and for that I am blessed.

  20. Nice job, Mary! I love all components – the olive branches, the pomegranates and the wood. That piece is so interesting, I wish you didn’t hide it that much, but all in all it looks cozy! Just don’t light the candle 😉

    1. Thanks Jas. The olive branch will dry out and then the wood will show thru. It is a work in progress. And no I won’t light the candle.

  23. Oh Mary, your centerpiece is stunning. You are so creative to have used such an interesting piece of wood as the base for it all. And I LOVE all those wonderful olive branches and pomegranates. How wonderful to have access to it right at your fingertips. Your sweet thankful spirit spills out through all the photos, too. Thanks so much for the inspiration!

    1. Thank you so much for your sweet comment Diane. I just received the highest compliment from a great photographer such as yourself.

  25. I do think the best centerpieces are the most functional/use what you have ones! It goes to show that you don’t have to spend gobs on making a table look great!
    Although I have to laugh, because my mom just picked up a piece of wood the other day and brought it home—and my husband & I made fun of her! Shame on us!
    jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    1. Jodie, I knew there was a secret reason why I have taken such a liking to your mom! Great minds Jodie!!

  27. Mary, It is wonderful to get to know you. I am just enamored by your vision. You beautifully crafted Thanksgiving centerpiece is simply lovely. Thanks for sharing and inspiring me.
    Thanks also for joining the blog hop. You are the best.
    xoxo

    1. Thank you Meegan for hosting this most “thankful” of blog hops. It was a great opportunity for all of us to remind ourselves and our readers why this most blessed of holidays is so important.

  29. Hi Mary,
    Your wreath is lovely! Why I never thought of looking at olive trees to cut off a few branches to create a wreath before, I don’t know. Soooo beautiful, easy, and natural! 🙂
    Thank you for sharing!
    p.s. I don’t think I have shared that my maiden name is Simonalle {was Simonelli until my father went into the US Army back in the 50’s}. His adopted father and mother emigrated from Genoa and Napoli around the turn of the 20th century. 🙂
    Happy Thanksgiving to you!!!
    Barb 🙂

    1. The more I blog Barbara the more I see beauty in nature. Olive trees and leaves are really gorgous. They have a silvery shine to them on one side. I learned to appreciate them when we go on our yearly harvest of the olives. So with your Italian background can I guess correctly that you know all about olives? Happy Thanksgiving.

  30. Oh Mary, love your centerpiece with that interesting piece of wood! The pomegranates are just the right touch with their brilliant colors and they taste so good too. Everything comes together with the olive branches, pomes, pinecones, wood, and your other touches. It’s very beautiful and Thanksgiving-ey. Pinned.

    1. Florence you are always so sweet. I always look for ways to improvise and work with what is around me. I need to get creative because I usually don’t like what is in the stores and also we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here.

  31. Mary, I love using natural elements in my decorating! The wood piece is so unique and I love the addition of the olive branches and pomegranates. Great job! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    1. Aww thank you sweet Katerina. I owe it all to the inspiration I get here in blogland. I could not have done any of this 2 years ago. The right side of my brain was rusty!

  34. Like I always say, Mary, you come up with the greatest ideas! Olive oil and Pomegranates – two expensive commodities here in Canada. How lucky are you to have them at arm’s reach. Love that your hubby, like mine, brings you treasures.

    1. I may have those Marie but you have snow and log cabins and maple syrup. We always want what we don’t have. We have the best kind of hubbies!

    1. I absolutely agree Melanie. We have so much to be grateful for and it is the little things that mean the most, like those olive branches.

  37. Such beautiful elements and so artfully displayed, Mary! Thanks so much for sharing your posts with us at Vintage Charm 🙂

  38. I am thankful for you and that I feel I have gotten to know you through your blog! I am always amazed at what creative projects you come up with, and this one is no exception!

  40. How lovely Mary. I always love to see how you use natural elements so beautifully! Mother Nature has given us some lovely gems for us to cherish and for that I’m thankful! xo

  42. Mary, as I read this I was reflecting back on all that I am thankful for. And one of those things is you, my friend. You help me see things in different ways, how to reuse what I already have, instead of buying more, and recycle it into a new piece.
    The olive branches have the best leaves, they make a gorgeous wreath, and the pomegranates add great color and the pincones more texture! Bill is the best, that piece of wood in so cool, I love the shape! Tell him to keep his eye out for one for me! LOL

    1. Thank you Nikki. I am answering this a month later but as the saying goes “better late then never!” I too am thankful to have a great friend in you.

    1. I too prefer using nature over buying plastic or fake things when I can get to it. Thank you Helen.

  44. Your centerpiece is really lovely, Mary. I’m quite partial to natural decor during the holidays! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm–pinned!

  45. How did I miss this one last year???!!! I would love to see what you come up with this year as a centerpiece Mary. Do you have space for one or are you still settling in after the big move?

    1. Right now we have no space at all. I will be able to start decorating after the new year. Now all I do is corners of decorating. hah!

  46. What a beautiful centerpiece, Mary! And I thought your candle was perfect, even without the wick. 😉 My fall decorations are looking a little run down, and I’m trying to freshen things up with more natural items this year, too.

  48. Beautiful centerpieces. So much nicer I think, to make something with natural materials than to buy some synthetic tat. The olive branches are especially lovely but rather thin on the ground where I live. lol.

  49. That’s so lovely Mary.
    I’m thankful I have a lovely ‘virtual blog friend’ who I can visit for lovely recycling and upcycling ideas. (I mean you.. you got that yes? !!)

  52. Hi Mary, I love anything that nature has to offer! You created a gorgeous display using natures beauty. Thanks for sharing with SYC. I will be featuring you this week.
    hugs,
    Jann

  55. Your centerpiece is beautiful! I always love the natural look, especially around this time of year! The piece of wood is amazing! Thank you for sharing at Celebrate it!

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