Thanksgiving Arrangements

I made two arrangements this year for Thanksgiving. There are two photos of the centerpiece in the copper trough. The other arrangement is in an ikebana pot my husband found on Ebay a few years ago. I used eucalyptus leaves and pods, miniature pumpkins, chrysanthemums and some other foliage.

Thanksgiving

I love the burnt oranges and browns of Fall! We had a simple Thanksgiving this year. I used copper Arts & Crafts candlesticks, a copper trough for the centerpiece and a Heinz copper wine coaster. The plates are 1929 Wedgwood of my alama mater Vassar College. The gravy boat is a metalic glazed, single piece from the '50s.

60th Birthday Party

Two years ago, I gave a birthday party for my mother. Her actual birthday was on December 23rd, but with the chaos of moving into a new house, hosting Thanksgiving two weeks later, flying off to Texas for Christmas with the in-laws, we opted to have the party at the end of January. Given my predilection for white flowers post-Christmas, I stuck with white hydrangeas, white calla lilies, slightly green chrysanthemums, white roses, eucalyptus leaves and berries, and from my garden jasmine and ivy vines. I wanted this arrangement to be wild and slightly over the top. So, I peeled off bark from a large log and put it inside the glass vase to create the illusion of a "log vase." Unfortunately, I should have put a few drops of bleach in the water or rinsed off the bark, as it turned the water a dirty color. (Live and learn.) I then used a grid of floral tape across the opening of the vase, put int branches as an anchor, and worked my way up. The hydrangea went in first. Then, I used floral wire to anchor several long stemmed flowers to the branches to create height, and finally I filled in the middle region of the arrangement with flowers. Unfortunately, the arrangement was a bit difficult to photograph, and I used a flash in one of the photographs. I also should have purchased the day lilies a few days ahead to give them a chance to open.

Texas Christmas Past

I found a couple of photos from two years ago when we last spent Christmas in Texas. Here is a pair of bouquets I did for the dining room mantel, and another tall arrangement I did for the living room. Both have white lilies, two types of red carnations, and from my husband's family ranch in the hill country- Texas cedar branches. Over the mantel is a plein air painting of a classic Texan landscape of rolling hills, prickly pears and oak trees.

To heighten the living room arrangement, I used floral wire to attach a few long stems to the upper parts of the branches. For vase arrangements, I use a grid of floral tape across the top of the vase to act as a "frog." I put the branches and greenery in first, and finally the flowers. Unfortunately, when I took the photos, I used the flash and an unsteady hand.

Christmas Brunch and Dinner

I especially enjoy going to my mother-in-law's house in Texas because she and my father-in-law spent years antiquing and collecting wonderful things. It is quite fun to "play" with their dishes, vases, sterling pieces and plates. My mother-in-law serves a simple Christmas brunch on these wonderful blue and silver art deco plates with matching cups & saucers and sugar & creamer. The flatware is called "Six Fleurs"and was first produced by Reed & Barton 1901. It's an extremely ornate pattern with flowers literally popping out of the handles. At dinner, she used jewel-toned napkins and place mats- green, purple, navy & maroon. I don't know the name of the dinner plate pattern but they are a lovely rusty red with hand gilted edges. The candleabras are Mexican sterling, and I believe in a commonly produced pattern called "Desert Rose." The house was full of flowers from my sister-in-law's wedding five days before, so I just did a simple pair of arrangements on the dining room mantel of tulips and greenery from outside.

A Texas Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas in Texas with my in-laws. All of my husband's siblings live within walking distance of my mother-in-law's house. So, Christmas is a lively affair. The family house was built in the early 1900's and has stately rooms, perfect for holiday celebrations. On the front door was a spineless, prickly pear wreath. (Very Texas appropriate.) The staircase was decorated with long bows of magnolia leaves and red wired ribbon. In the stone walled, and slate floored den was a 12 foot tall Christmas tree covered in large, multi-colored lights. (Notice the wrought iron agave chandelier and agave sconce to the right of the tree. The fireplace screen and fireplace tools also have the agave motif, though I some how managed not to photograph them.)

Winter Brunch

My sister-in-law was married just before Christmas. A group of female family members threw her a brunch the morning of her wedding. Here is a centerpiece I did for the table. I was very excited to finally be able to do a nice tall arrangement, since no one was going to be sitting at the dining room table. I used a footed punch bowl filled with cranberries to conceal the oasises. The arrangement is a mix of white roses, white lilies, white tulips and several types of eucalyptus.


We served punch in a wonderful Heisey glass punch bowl with matching cups. In the center of the punch is a giant frozen ice cube with cranberries in the shape of a heart.