It is the start of November, Halloween has passed, and though the department stores have been decorated for weeks, we can all finally turn our thoughts towards the festive season to come. There is something that happens when the calendar turns from the tenth to the eleventh month. Daylight Savings Time is nearing its end, snow begins to fall, (depending on where you live), and fa-la-la-la-las start creeping into every mind and mall playlist.
So, what does November mean for collectors like you and me? It means it is time to dust off the storage crates and begin planning for a festive season filled with family, friends, home and comfort.
The first item on the agenda is Thanksgiving! How many pounds of butter you need to buy is not the biggest question that will face you in the coming weeks; the question that I always find racing through my head is this: what will I do for my centerpiece?
Steiff Disney Winnie The Pooh Limited 20 Inch Bear
I know that the stuffing, pumpkin pie and heavenly mashed potatoes that grace the tabletop will inevitably be gobbled up, but my centerpiece will stand strong and beautiful even after the food has disappeared. So, each year I enjoy creating a special centerpiece using my collectibles and heirloom decorations that were passed down through my family. I also like to add natural elements, be they whole nuts in the shell, freshly gathered red and brown leaves, or interesting pumpkins and gourds from a local market.
This year I am going to take a creative approach to the Thanksgiving centerpiece by starting with an unusual and traditional element. I will use my Steiff Winnie the Pooh teddy bear as the inspiration for the centerpiece and build in Thanksgiving elements from there. This adorable, old-fashioned bear just screams family and tradition to me, and his golden hue and burnt red vest even echo the colors of the holiday. I think he will be a hit with my family – especially the younger generation.
To accompany Pooh, I plan on displaying an autumnal mix of gourds and colorful silk leaves next to him. A mixture of colors, sizes and shapes will provide visual interest, so I will choose a mixture of dark green, deep orange and earthen colored gourds such as those pictured below from The Silk Garden.
Harvest Centerpiece
In order to create visual interest all the way along the table, I won’t stop with Pooh beside the autumnal display. I plan to draw the eye down the table by creating a winding path of whole nuts in their shell. To make the nuts more festive, I will lightly spray them with adhesive and toss them in a bowl with copper colored glitter. Along the path I will place a mixture of taper candles and tea lights, which will make the nuts glitter and shine. And, for a bit more fun I will place my sweet little Disney Pocket Eeyore and Pocket Tigger along the path since they are among Pooh and my own favoritel friends.
R John Wright Winnie the Pooh Pocket Tigger Limited 3500
R John Wright Disney Pocket Eeyore Limited 3500
So there you have it: my centerpiece idea for Thanksgiving 2011. Do you love coming up with a new centerpiece theme each year? Share your unique ideas in the comments below – we love to hear from other collectors!
