Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Sticks n' Stuff



Fall and winter table decor always causes me to question the guidelines I have set for myself.

For example, Blushing Commandment #6 reads quite unequivocally: Thou shalt not use random twigs and yard waste for centerpieces or (highly questionable) decor which looks like random trees and yard waste (stylized cool stuff is still acceptable, however).



Bittersweet generally falls into the pile-of-standing-twigs-and-stuff-in-a-jar category for me.



Various stylists have wrestled with these unruly branches recently, however: Spanked them, tamed them, and then proved they clean up nicely. This has me reconsidering the bittersweet at the flower market for things other than enormous highly-styled arrangements which allow them to blend in without looking like a bramble patch...



Are you using sticks n'stuff elegantly this year?

photo credits: bedfordaudubon.com, countryliving.com, bhg.com, southernaccents.com

9 comments:

Jessica Ryan said...

oh some of my favorite "pieces" have come from twigs and yard waste!!

Karena said...

I do love bittersweet and have it wound around my dining chandelier. If you as you say clean it up, remove all of the leaves, then it is beautiful. I am the one doing less and less holiday or seasonal decor.

Jaime @ laviejaime said...

The last picture of the place settings is so pretty! I think when used well, "sticks and stuff" can be lovely

The-Countrypolitan said...

I loved the available natural materials that I had growing wild on my property when I lived in MA... I would make garlands out of bittersweet for interior door openings and tablescapes. It would be cost prohibitive to buy it for that use here in Texas!

The birch was a favorite too,... I would wrap them with the tiny white lights and lean them in corners. I brought some with me when I moved back to Texas... but they finally gave out.

LindsB said...

I dont know how elegant it is, but I stuck an oak branch that fell on my sidewalk in some water, I think it looks pretty good for free.

sandra said...

I love the table decor. The texture of the placemat, and the use of silver and orange/brown are simply stunning! Thanks for sharing...

Pigtown*Design said...

My brother-in-law has an amazing estate and he always gives us bags of magnolia, boxwood, rosemary, holly, etc. My sister calls it hedgeclippings. I call it a brilliant gift!

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

C- I don't do sticks-as it were,But I do like bittersweet. To me-all this sort of stuff looks best en masse. One of the most stunning things I have seen in the last 10 years- was a friend's wedding recept at her parents home (quite grand in a 3 generations have lived here,with the paint occasionally freshened up- sort of way)In the Main Hall on a old gilt console-a massive urn with all the fall things imaginable-leaves, bittersweet, other berries, pyracantha towering to enormous proportions. Amzing.Stix are Us in a Grand setting. G

A "cheery" disposition said...

I lvoe that table setting.