Natural Thanksgiving Centerpieces
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.
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.
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.
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.
The next step was shaping the branches into a loose circle. This was placed on top of the wood.
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.
I place them in a glass bowl and add a lantern off 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.
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.
I am thankful for the health of my family and friends.
And that I have a roof over my head.
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.
And another homemade candle that mirrors the pinecones.
Using a bit of chalk, I add a “T” for Thanksgiving on the end of the stump.
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!
I hope you all enjoyed my easy tutorials on natural Thanksgiving centerpieces.
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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!
I too am so thankful for you Katrin and your continued support and invaluable freindship.
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!!
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.
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
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.
Mary, love your natural centerpieces, their both really pretty! Love the pomegranates with the pine cones, but I think my favorite is the candle and pine cones. I have a thing for candles.
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.
I love the rustic nature of your centerpiece. I can’t decide if that piece of wood and the olive branch are my favorite.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thank you so much Leanna. I too am so grateful to have all of you wonderful ladies to meet up with every day.
Your decoration looks lovely, Mary. All the nature elements are right along my alley and the pomegranates are wonderful eye-catchers.
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.
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
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.
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
And all these things are free and in abundance. For that I am always grateful. I need to work on that candle lol!
The olive leaves really are beautiful! How neat to have olives to harvest too!
Yes Rachael we are blessed to have this farm which gives us fresh olives and more importantly oil.
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
Absolutely Jemma and we should always remember that, not just when Thanksgiving rolls around.
How very beautiful!! Absolutely lovely. And yes, we all have so much to be thankful for!
Richella this was such a lovely blog hop. I am so happy to have participated and met all of you lovely ladies.
This is beautiful, Mary. Natural is my favorite type of decoration. There’s nothing better!
I agree Stacey and when the flowers and leaves dry they have thier own special beauty.
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
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.
Mary, you are a master of creating the most beautiful decor from what you have on hand. How lovely!
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.
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!
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.
I love the rustic look! They are beautiful! Hugs and blessings, Cindy
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
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.
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 😉
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.