A centerpiece with meaning

Posted: Sunday, November 11, 2007

Between stuffing the turkey, catching up with family and watching football, it can be hard to find time to actually give thanks on Thanksgiving.

But this idea for a Thanksgiving table centerpiece, which can double as an activity for at-loose-ends kids on the big day, gives gratitude its due.

This version of a "Thankful Tree" was created by Katie Metzger and Catherine Clark, co-owners of the Brooklyn, N.Y., General Store, a fabric and yarn shop.

For this Thankful Tree, place branches into a canning jar and decorate them with ornaments made of felt leaves, each embroidered with a single word representing a concept worth acknowledging.

Some examples might include "nature," "music," "family" or "health." Another option is to embroider the names of all the guests at the table. After the meal, they can take the ornaments home and reuse them on their Christmas trees.

Steps for making Katie Metzger and Catherine Clark's Thankful Tree:

2. Embroider

On one of the sides, embroider leaf veins using a back stitch with a brightly colored wool thread. On the other leaf, embroider a single word to represent what you're thankful for.

3. Glue And Tie

Paste the two sides together using fabric glue. Punch a hole in the top and string it through with brown silk cord, tied at the top. It's pretty and blends in well with the branches.

4. Hang And Accessorize

Hang the leaves on the tree. Clark and Metzger suggest branches from a Beech tree, but you can also explore the ground outside and see what you find. Stick the branches into a bell jar. Decorate around the foot of the jar with mossy rocks and more felt leaves.

- The Associated Press

Trending this week:

