How to make a Spring Centerpiece: Filigree Iron Candlestand

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to do a little decorating! Since American Idol completely messed up my schedule this evening, I decided to be a little bit productive.
The Nester recently did a series called "10 Minutes to a room you will Love". It was encouraging, a little kick in the pants if you will, to take a few minutes, "shop" your house and use things you already have to make our homes beautiful. Because we're worth it!

I had not decorated my Dining Room since I put the Christmas decorations away. It was looking a little bare, and making me a little sad. I don't like an empty table! I have a LOT of pretty things (I have a small obsession with dishes. and serving pieces. It's an addiction really...) SO, I gathered a few things I had around the house and made a centerpiece this evening. I was a good little blogger and took pictures to show you how to do one too!

I found this throw at Hobby Lobby on clearance for 80% off! I loved the soft colors and the texture of it, plus HELLO! 80% OFF!! Score! So I put that on the table first. Then I got out my Filigree Iron Candlestand (you can see one HERE) and a couple of garlands I had.

See how pretty this is! It's a nice, heavy weight too. Back to the centerpiece...

Work the greenery around the bottom of the candlestand. It doesn't have to be perfect! You want it to look natural - like it grew that way!

Grab some candles. I used two Vanilla 4x6 pillars and four 3x3 cinnamon and nutmeg pillars. The candlestand holds eight, you can use as many candles as you like, this is what I already had. For the two end candle holders, I used a little bird's nest I made with stuff from the craft store.

Then I took some loose silk leaves and just stuck in here and there. If you go to The Lob, in the Floral Department they have a basket full of plastic bags they have filled with random junk. They are usually $1.00 or $2 per bag. I've gotten these a few times and found some real treasures! You know how torn up the stems of flowers get - especially when they have them all at 50% off. They cut up those stems that most of us would call trash and bag them up. That's the stuff I tucked in here. There were even a few feather balls in there.

Isn't that little birdie cute?

Next, I set the table! Those of you that know me, know I LOVE to leave the table set. Might as well show off those pretty dishes! I have used a copper charger (Canterbury Charger for you Southern Living at HOME collectors). On top of that I used my Gallery Collection dinner plate and topped that with the Pacific Accent plate. The colors all blend beautifully with the throw that I found on clearance and am now in love with.

I like how the Tuscan Everyday Baker and Tidbits look with this too!

This took very little time to do, even with stopping to take pictures in between steps! Just a little effort makes a big difference in how the room "Feels". Look around your home - I bet you have lots of pretty things you could try in a different room than you are used to seeing them in. Even my Husband commented on how pretty it looked. That made my little effort worth it!