I’ve been a blogger for more than 10 years now and I’ve upcycled a LOT of baskets over that time. But I still always check them out whenever I go thrifting, since I never know when a new idea will strike. Case in point: this hat-shaped basket on the top shelf. Right away, it reminded me of a pilgrim hat and I wondered if I could turn it into a Thanksgiving centerpiece.
Upon turning it over, I realized that it really did have that pilgrim-hat shape that I sensed when it was upside-down.
And yes, this is not the first time I’d gotten the pilgrim hat vibe from a thrift store find. Remember these place cards that I made from light fixture parts?
Anyway, the basket came home with me to turn into a centerpiece for the upcoming holiday. AND I have a fun announcement to make, too!
This post contains affiliate links for your crafting convenience. As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. All blue, bold, and underlined text is a clickable link, either to a product or to a related post. The tablescape portion of this post is also sponsored by the Charlotte Region ReStore(s).
Making a Thanksgiving Centerpiece
Truth be told, this thrift store basket was pretty dusty up close. So, the first order of business was to give it a solid dusting and wipe down before anything else.
Once I did that (vacuum attachment, damp cloth wipe-down, and a quick spritz of Lysol for good measure), I could get to work.
And by work, I mean very little of it. Transforming this basket into a Thanksgiving centerpiece was going to be incredibly easy. All I needed was some fall ribbon and a large fall flower.
To me, the basics of a pilgrim hat are: the hat itself (basket); a band of some sort (ribbon); and the quintessential buckle (large faux blue chrysanthemum).
First, I wrapped ribbon around the base of the “hat”, right above the brim. Then, I used hot glue to secure the ends of the ribbon.
Next, I clipped off the flower head right at the base of stem using wire cutters. I did everything I could to make the back of the flower as flat as possible.
Lastly, I hot-glued the flower over the glued ribbon ends to make it neat and tidy!
Now I could use it as a Thanksgiving centerpiece…but that’s not all. I have an autumn tablescape to share with you as part of my announcement!
Thanksgiving Centerpiece and Autumn Tablescape
My exciting news/announcement is that I am once again collaborating with the Habitat ReStores here in Charlotte, NC! You may recall that I worked with them a few years ago but took some time away to focus solely on my own website, which they graciously understood.
But they recently tapped on my door (aka, inbox), asking if I’d come back and create content for their website again and I said yes! So, while I made this Thanksgiving centerpiece as a tutorial for my website…
I put together a Thanksgiving tablescape for their blog using items found at the Charlotte Region ReStores!
If you’re curious about what I thrifted and how I put together the look, check out that blog post on their website here!
Unsurprisingly, there’s quite a bit of blue in my autumn tablescape. And if you’ve read this thrifting post, you’ll recognize our vintage MCM dining table, as well.
Since I love all things blue, there’s quite a bit of blue in our home as it stands. So, it probably comes as no surprise that I’m into fall decorating with blue, too. I have to admit, I’m not a “tablescape blogger” and this is my first attempt at one. But I love how it turned out.
Let me know if you have any questions about the tablescape! Some of it is thrifted, while much of the pottery has been collected from local North Carolina artists. I even made the napkins from thrifted fabric!
Anyway, thank you for taking some time to read about my Thanksgiving centerpiece and the tablescape I put together for the Charlotte Region ReStores. And if you’re looking for a few more upcycled Thanksgiving project ideas, this collection is a great place to start.
Craft on!
S
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Sarah Ramberg is the owner of Sadie Seasongoods, a website that celebrates all things secondhand. From upcycling ideas and thrifted decor to vintage-centric travel itineraries, Sadie Seasongoods is a one-stop shop for anyone who loves thrifting and approachable repurposing ideas. Sarah is also the author of “Crafting with Flannel” and has been featured in numerous media outlets and magazines.
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