A Fall Centerpiece of Magnolia Leaves and Feathers

Okay, first my disclosure here, getting back from a two week vacation and having the wonderful surprise of my daughter and her family here to greet me has put me a little behind on my blog projects, so today you are getting a recycled post.  This centerpiece has been very popular since it was published in 2014.  I hope it inspires you to get in the Fall frame of mind!  Magnolia leaves are a staple of Fall decorating in the South.  I love being able to use them from the yard for decorating.Fall CenterpieceI began by gathering a number of magnolia leaves, some brown from the ground and some green off of the trees.  I painted the brown ones with metallic gold paint.  I then cut the curled end of the stem so it was straight and easy to push into the foam.

Magnolia Leaf Centerpiece

Gold Magnolia LeavesI wedged two piece of dry floral foam into a neutral colored container.  I alternated gold and green leaves and just began at the top edge of the container and worked my way up adding more and more leaves.  Normally I would cover the the foam with moss to hide it, but I wanted a clean surface to be able to stick the magnolia leaves and feathers into.  Fall Centerpiece2Every once in a bit I would stick one leaf in upside down so that the fuzzy brown underside would show.  Magnolia CenterpieceYou can see how the stiff leaves stick into the floral foam easily.  Just keep working your way up to the top.Magnolia Leaf Centerpiece8When the leaves were all in and the arrangement looked full I added these cute little artificial gourds I picked up on sale at JoAnns.  I simply stuck a stiff wire into eack one, and then tucked it betweent the leaves.Pheasant Feather and Magnolia CenterpieceNext thing I did was just add feathers wherever I wanted.  I used tall pheasant feathers for height out the top, and used some smaller duck feathers tucked into the lower section of the arrangement.  The feathers filled any holes where the floral foam still showed.  Pheasant feather arrangementWhen my guests arrive, I move my impressive arrangement to a side table where it is admired by me and by my guests!  You can see how I used this as part of my Fall Tablescape here.

I will be sharing this at the following link parties:    A Bouquet of Talent |  Dishing it and Digging It |  Thank Goodness It’s Monday | Brag About It | Waste Not Wednesday  | Sweet Inspiration | Share it One More Time | Dare to Share | Bouquet of Talent  | Silver Pennies Sundays | Inspiration Monday | Saturday Sparks | Amaze Me Monday | The Scoop | Inspire Me Tuesday | Show and Share | Brag About It |  Too Cute Tuesday | Two Uses Tuesday  | Creative Spark Link Party | Your Inspired Design | Creative Circle  | Best of the Blogosphere |  Make It Pretty Monday | Home Sweet Home | The Inspiration Gallery  |Friday’s Five  | Your Inspired Design | TaDa Thursdays

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53 Comments

  1. Oh, I just love the pheasant feathers! I stood in the craft store for 15 minutes trying to find something to use them for this year, but drew a blank. I’m just going to have to save this for next year – it’s just beautiful.

    Thank you for linking up again with us at the Thank Goodness It’s Thursday party, Chloe. See you later this week!

  2. You should go into business, this looks professionally done! Magnolias are gorgeous trees and the combination of their size with the wispy feathers is perfect! Thanks for sharing it at On Display Thursday!!

  3. Great designs, you out did yourself, and the bulk of your materials are ‘finds’. Made me smile the pheasant feathers…were always a favorite to work with. Thanks for the ideas, Sandi

    1. Thank you Sandi. It is great when I can gather up magnolia leaves! I already used those feathers in a different centerpiece this year, but I am thinking they need to go on a wreath next year!

  4. Beautiful arrangement but nothing was mentioned about wetting the foam…how long will the leaves holdup if none is added?

    1. Hi Diane! Thanks for stopping by. I used the dry Sahara foam for this arrangement. The leaves stayed green for at least 3 weeks, after that I took the arrangement apart and disposed of the leaves and then changed it out fo r something for Chirstmasy. I don’t know if the individual leaves would soak up any water from the Oasis Floral foam anyway.

  5. Gorgeous centerpiece Cloe! And I loved how you showed us you put it all together. Believe me, that helps me sometimes!

    Thanks so much for sharing this with us at the DI & DI Link Party. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed having you!

  6. Chloe…this is lovely. And you and I must be sharing a brain…I’m loving on magnolias and pheasant feathers this fall too…guess it’s being in the South! I recently just made a wreath for my front door using magnolias and feathers, but added a few oyster shells in given my coastal locale.
    Thanks for the inspiration. So glad I found you today!

    Hugs, Lynn

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