Thanksgiving centerpiece pumpkinsA  food-inspired centerpiece for Thanksgiving is not only delicious-looking but also a smart choice for these frugal times. A designer friend of mine put together a simple step-by-step guide to help you create your very own, using food from the farmer's market, grocery store, or even whatever you have in your fridge.

 

 

How To Make Your Own Thanksgiving Food Centerpiece:

1. Start with a base of large fruit or vegetables to anchor the piece. This is very cheap to do with pumpkins and squash. Think in terms of odd numbers—for example, you could start with one 12-inch pumpkin and two 9-10 inch squash in different colors. 

2. Next, compile an even number of fruits and vegetables that are smaller in scale (apples, oranges, limes, pears, pomegranates, etc). You will need some sort of fabric to connect the large and small fruit/veggies and pull the look together; good materials for this could include cloth napkins, vintage napkins, linen towels, dish towel, etc. Scrunch up the fabric (as in the photo) and nestle the fruits and vegetables in and around the connecting fabric.

3. Add elements from nature with the same seasonal theme, such as grape vine, ivy, or branches from outside.

4. To personalize your centerpiece, get the kids involved. You could have them make those hand-traced, construction paper turkeys to tuck in among the fruit or cut strips for construction paper ring garland to arrange around the piece. You could also have them find leaves and pretty rocks (washed of course!) to add.

5. If your kids are old enough, finish with candles. Simple, tall white candles are always pretty and can be used again at Christmas or New Years.

 

For further creative centerpiece ideas: