The art of holiday decorating

Hungry for ideas, more than a dozen women gathered in Daniel Island Park on Dec. 1 to feast on the creative insights offered by Louise Thackeray of the Charleston Flower Market. The event, "The Art of Holiday Decorating," was presented as part of the Garden and Art Tour on Daniel Island. Standing behind plentiful mounds of magnolia leaves, gold tipped cedar, seeded eucalyptus, and Chinese tallow berry, Thackeray addressed her eager audience.

"The rule for the holidays is keep it simple," said Thackeray, holding up a bundle of vibrant red dogwood branches. "It doesn’t have to be elaborate, just creative and fun!"

Thackeray, who developed her love of nature as a child while helping her father grow tomato plants, began her floral business about 5 years ago on James Island. The Lowcountry’s own version of Martha Stewart, Thackeray says she enjoys using a lot of different materials and unusual products.

"It’s all about bringing the outside in," added Thackeray, whose arrangements graced several of the homes on the Garden and Art Tour. "When you take something out of its environment it becomes so different…You can find great things right in your own backyard."

Thackeray’s talents and eye for "what works" were evident as she thumbed through her greenery at the Daniel Island event like a master painter mixing a palette of colors. For her first artful idea for the day, she offered a simple tip for dressing up a mantel for the holidays. She suggested filling the bases of two clear vases with coffee beans and then placing a cluster of red dogwood branches inside for a "great burst of color."

***image2***"Oooooh!" exclaimed her audience, hanging on every word.

"Another idea for mantels is to use it as a place to display your holiday collectibles," added Thackeray to the group. "You can put them at varying heights by using different sized blocks (to elevate) them and adding greenery and candles."

Hanging snowflakes in front of a mirror using fishing lures to weigh them down behind the mirror was another Thackeray "pearl" for the audience. She also suggested hanging wreaths from mirrors with festive ribbon.

Next, the group got the chance to get some real hands-on experience creating holiday décor. Using cone-shaped pieces of Styrofoam, pins, small clay pots, and fresh, glossy green magnolia leaves, each student crafted a trio of Christmas trees.

"You can use these as a centerpiece on your table, or they would also look great on a mantel," said Thackeray, demonstrating how to pin the leaves on the Styrofoam.

"Everyone’s magnolia tree is now at risk," quipped Mary Ellen Engle of Mt. Pleasant, who was participating in the class with friends Briony Young and Londa Nau. "There may soon be a magnolia shortage in Mt. Pleasant!"

Thackeray concluded the class with yet another colorful idea. She pinned red carnations to a round Styrofoam ball and suggested using them with the magnolia Christmas trees as centerpieces.

"It’s been fun," said Adrienne Heekin, who traveled with friends from Pawley’s Island to take the class. "I don’t know where the time went!"

***image3***All of the students gave Thackeray high marks for her creative tips and seemed content to have accomplished their mission. As one proud participant picked up her Christmas trees, we heard her exclaim as she headed out of sight, "Just call me, Martha!" Surely, the "Domestic Diva" herself would have found this event a decorating delight.