Making a hanging centerpiece for an outdoor Thanksgiving.

I love Thanksgiving.  We host the dinner at our house, and I love having friends and family around.
The more, the merrier is our motto so we need a big space for dinner.  We set the dining room up as the buffet and everyone eats out on our patio.  (Fortunately, Southern California weather usually allows us to do this.)

I do my best to create an outdoor room, and to change it up a bit each year.  A few years ago I told Handsome Hubby that I wanted a hanging centerpiece... basically a floating shelf.  This is what he made for me, and it was pretty much what I had pictured in my head.  (I love it when that happens.)

I love the rusticity of the wood and the rope when paired with the shimmer of the candlelight and the ribbon.  Everything else?  Clippings from the hedges and trees in our yard and pine cones gathered on a hike.  Practically free.  Yay.  (Then a simple runner of tulle, candles and fresh pears.  Simple is good.)

It was very easy to make.

You can use whatever size board you want.  The base of this is about 18 inches wide by 7 feet long.  I can't remember if this was built to specific measurements I gave HH, or if this is what he had on hand.  Either way... Once the base is cut, frame it out with 1 x 2 and then add a bit of decorative trim.  Stain it or paint it.  (Or don't.  It's up to you.)  Put an eye hook in each corner for hanging.  We added them in the middle for added stability because it was so long.

It looked very pretty at night too.  (Forgive the blurry shots.  These photos are from 2007.)

I'm going to use this again this Thanksgiving and incorporate these green, blinged out pumpkins.

I'll show you how it turned out later this week.

The other thing that is a necessity anytime we are out on our patio is lots of little white Christmas lights.
We have them up 365 days a year because it creates such a pretty atmosphere, but we had a string burn out earlier this summer.  You know the only place you can get Christmas lights in August...?
Ace Hardware.
And if they don't have them on the shelves, they will order them for you.

From now until November 26 if you visit Ace Hardware’s Facebook page you can enter their Merry Paint Makeover contest.

You just need to submit a photo and a 100-word description of a room in your home that needs a little more “merry” this holiday season for a chance to win a complete room makeover by one of Ace’s Design Experts.   Based on these submissions, Ace, with the help of its Design Experts, will select a grand-prize winner and three runners-up. Winners will be announced in early December.

• One (1) Grand-prize: A complete room makeover valued at over $10,000, which will include a consultation and on-site management by one of Ace’s Design Experts and volunteers from the winner’s local Ace Hardware store. The makeover will feature Clark+Kensington®, a new paint+primer in one available exclusively at Ace.
•  Three (3) runners-up: A custom “e-design” package, which will include a custom makeover plan by one of Ace’s Design Experts, as well as a $500 Ace gift card to purchase all the paint and sundries they’ll need to complete the makeover design.  

Sounds pretty easy, right?
Ace has also generously provided a $100 gift card to give away to one of my readers.  Just in time for your holiday shopping!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

about Vivienne Wagner