Yesterday I shared my Thanksgiving tablescape. It features Lovely Damask Napkins and a Natural Thanksgiving Centerpiece.
Lovely Damask Napkins
I am always drawn to antique and vintage table linens. I often find them quite inexpensively at estate sales. Recently I bought two large vintage cotton damask tablecloths for less than $1. One of the tablecloths had a few holes in it. That was ok. My plans were to make generously sized napkins from the cloth.
Measuring 22 inches across I made a small snip with the scissors and then easily tore the cloth the rest of the way. I then measured 22 inches down and made another small snip and tear. The tablecloth yielded a total of 8 napkins. To keep the edges from fraying any further I sewed a simple zig-zag stitch. The napkins then received a bath in brown Rit dye. (Use your 50% off coupon!)
I love the soft brown shade and lovely pattern on the napkins. They pair so well with the plates.
Natural Thanksgiving Centerpiece
To create the centerpiece I placed a scrap piece of wood on top of the tablecloth.
I then grabbed my gardening shears and went outside. We have a tree in our backyard that has roots that occasionally sprout branches. I trimmed them back as well as a few other plants and flowers. Everything was rinsed off before it was brought inside.
I topped the wood with crystal candlesticks and then began surrounding them with yard clippings until the plank was covered.
I nestled in some votives as well as a few burgundy mums in small glass vases. (Baby food jars would work well too.) The greenery was topped with three leftover pumpkins. My family loves it.
What will your Thanksgiving centerpiece look like?
Laura
I just got our tables set up yesterday in our family room …we will have a total of 17 people over, so I have 3 tables set up in a “U” pattern — I have the altered pumpkin I made on one table, my turkey candle holders on another and a vase I altered on the last 🙂 And then the lampshade I turned into a centerpiece is on the counter where all the food will be out buffet style 🙂 Ohhhhh and I also took fake leaves yesterday and added a strip of paper with everyone's name on it for place settings 🙂 I loveeeeee how you added the greenery and love love love those napkins!!!!!!!
Love the napkins, they are fabulous and yes, I love, love, love, your centerpiece too. The greenery and all the candles are so pretty. It looks so beautiful Laura. Hugs, marty
The napkins are beautiful Laura, I love the soft cocoa color. The centerpiece you created is wonderful. I keep looking at the detailed border of the dinner plates!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Laura, your setting is beautiful! We are still working on the reno; so, I will probably be using some of mom's vintage china and crystal, that we found in the house, and clippings from the yard, as well. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Your ideas along with your talents are amazing!
I love the soft brown of the dyed cotton damask. Great idea to use vintage cloths.
You really are so resourceful, Laura, and I love that about you. Dying the damask and cutting into napkins was brilliant! So many of those have yellow stains that just won't budge, even with repeated soakings. Great coloring!
I love all of your little touches! Turning an old tablecloth into napkins & then coloring them the way you wanted was so smart. When I show our tablescape tomorrow I'm showing how I dyed one of our many sets of white napkins to have some that I wanted. Love RIT. 😉
Happy Thanksgiving to you!!
Laura, thanks for visiting my blog today.
I love the brown damask napkins, too. They look great.
Helen