| Start a New Tradition for Thanksgiving |
Crafter Michele Beschen, creator of the B Original series, shares ideas for creating new crafty traditions this Thanksgiving.
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By Michele Beschen
Nov. 5, 2007 — "Without creativity, there would be no progress"
— Edward de Bono A natural topic of conversation at this time of year is one that reflects on gratitude and the things in our lives we're thankful for. It goes without saying that for most of us that family, friends and good health are what top the list. Another one that is right up there (in my book, at least), is the beautiful ability to think and act creatively — an underappreciated ability that unfortunately for most gets less and less exercised as the years pass. So, as you gather around the Thanksgiving table this year, look at your guests with wondering eyes and ask each of them what creative gifts they're thankful for. Prompt them by defining "gifts" in relation to their natural-born talents or their carefully cultivated ways of thinking, not necessarily the latest line of glitter or the hottest new tool! The conversations that ensue will be most refreshing, so be prepared to capture those thoughts right then and there, at the table. Start a tradition of preserving what everyone is thankful for each year on your linens. Here's how: Carve out a small pumpkin, squash or gourd and fill it with fine-tipped permanent markers. Sharpies work great on cotton fabrics. You can even color-coordinate the inks with your tablescape. Set them out at your table, and invite all your guests to write about their creative gifts right there on the linens. It's up to you to decide if you would like this creative contribution to be written out on the tablecloth or just the dinner napkins or both. (Do a test-writing sample on your material before setting out your supplies to make sure that your pens of choice write properly without too much of a bleed and that they can be washed.) Bring them out each year and have your guests keep adding to it. You have built-in conversation and decoration all in one. Be sure to have everyone sign their addition and date it, so you can also reflect back on the different guests you've had at your table each year. Another thoughtful Thanksgiving decoration involves a unique way to fill your cornucopia. Instead of the traditional fare of Indian corn, breads and decorative gourds, go out into the yard and gather up a collection of nicely sized rocks. Paint them up in various fall colors using acrylic paints. Lay out some inspiring quotes that have to do with gratitude and Thanksgiving. You can either tear some out of magazines or print your own. Tear the quote out rather than cut it because it makes the edges more interesting, and use a decoupage glue to secure to your rock surface. Seal with two to three coats of varnish or polyurethane, and offer them up to your guests as a parting gift! They can add them to their gardens or use them as a paperweight at the office. They'll be thankful for an invite to your feast year after year. Don't be afraid to mix things up a bit and try something different, and by all means, have fun with it. Creativity can be expressed in so many ways; it doesn't just apply to art techniques or the way you decorate a room. It could be expressed in your parenting skills, or the way you prepare a meal or how you manage to live like a king on a pauper's budget. We all have it (yes, ALL) and the empowering discoveries that come from innovative thinking and imagination is unmatched. It's important to keep fueling that energy, to motivate its use and to provoke self-awareness. It's what keeps relationships with family and friends vibrant and interesting and it even aids in good health and cheery dispositions. Start by celebrating creativity at your Thanksgiving table this year. Cheers to you and yours! (Michele Beschen is creator of the B Original series for the DIY Network. Contact her at www.couragetocreate.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.) | Get DIY On Your TV. Just follow the instructions to see if DIY Network is available through your cable or satellite provider. |
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