How to create a holiday centrepiece.m4v

One of my favourite things about spending the holidays with my family is setting the table. Thats right—setting the table.

From the time I was a little girl, my grandmother—a casual artist at heart—would set me to work collecting knick knacks, trinkets and decorative greenery from around the house and the farm yard for an elaborate one-of-a-kind table centrepiece. The idea, besides keeping grandkids occupied while the adults prepared the meal, was to create a feast for the eyes that drew from personal items and the natural world to tell a story about who we are and where we came from.

One of the key advantages of this type of holiday centrepiece—especially when there are special dinner guests at the table—is that it offers instant fodder for conversation. A miniature statue of the Empire State Building, for example, may prompt a funny story from a past trip to New York City. A colourful shell swiped from the beach at Spanish Banks could offer the opportunity to reflect on a family barbecue in Vancouver. And an antique glass Christmas ornament can inspire memories of holidays past from family members all around the table.

As well, by incorporating plant materials from the yard, indoor plants or a bouquet given by one of your guests brings life and vibrancy to the table, energizing conversation and reminding us of our debt to the earth for the bounty upon which we feast. Read more at GardenWiseOnline.ca.

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