Blog Edition | Thrifter’s Thanksgiving Table Setting
In the November 2023 article in 517 Magazine, I shared a Thanksgiving table setting with items sourced mostly from my own yard. Since not everyone has a garden or the opportunity to collect foliage at the perfect moment to preserve it for decor, I wanted to share some other sources here so you can create a similar look at home. A shopping list for these items or items like them is available here and at the end of this post.
The foundation for my table was a really inexpensive 10-foot cheesecloth table runner. I first laid that on frayed burlap placements. (I had wanted to do a hyacinth water-grass placemat because I am in love with the color and texture of it, but I didn’t want my placemats to compete with the texture of the cheesecloth and the foliage I was planning to use.
Next, I used stems from my Annabelle Hydrangea shrubs that were the perfect shade of green with rust-colored edges where they’re dying. I also snipped some branches and seed pods from my Blue Falls Indigo plant and several clusters of bright orange rose hips from my pale yellow rose bush. I even gathered a few large turkey vulture feathers I’ve collected around my neighborhood.
I am always collecting unique glassware and vases and have no shortage of beautiful items people have given me, using any assortment of glass vases in assorted shapes and sizes would work for your table setting.
It was lucky that a vase-filler set I bought on clearance last year had some gorgeous wooden flowers while I also have an old set of “sugared” artificial pomegranates for a little sparkle. I’d been holding on to a bag of wood slices I bought from a tree cutter/artist I met at ScrapFest 2023 to sprinkle the setting with and just added a few antler ornaments I got on clearance after the holidays last year.
My plates… I was in love with these white plates with dots long before I found a massive supply of them at my local Dollar Tree in 2020. I use them constantly and will never NOT love them. (Fun fact: last year, TJ Maxx had tons of serve-ware to match that I stocked up on). They’re absolutely perfect for every day use and occasions that just call for something fancy.
The napkins (that hold the beautiful rose hips from my garden) were found on clearance at World Market following the 2021 holiday season. The napkin rings were from the dollar tree party section. My stemware is by Mikasa and was purchased when I bought my first home in the 90s.
Finally, the silverware. I went back and forth on these because I really wanted some sustainable wood-handled pieces but I also have teenagers and a dishwasher so I opted to get the plastic ones that LOOK real but are safe for the conditions as my house.
To see all of these items in one spot, check out my Amazon shopping list for this article.
