Christmas Roses

OK--so I haven't finished any kind of a quilt in the last few months. It's been busy at work. The holidays were hectic. I had other stuff to make and finish, none of it particularly artistic. But--since I've done a little bit of floral design, I thought I'd make a centerpiece for my Dickens Christmas party this last Saturday.

Since the Dickensians were really into roses, I got gorgeous red roses from my friend Monique, owner of Rose's Flowers in Wauwaotsa, WI (http://www.rosesflowershop.net/ --a shameless plug...) along with some ornamental cedar branches. I also used a few pheasant feathers, ostrich feathers, pine cones and faux berries that I had lying around.

So, this is how it came out:

This was atop a four-foot tall glass tower that I put in the center of the table. I wanted something spectacular that didn't take up any room on the table, as we were serving dinner family style and needed the table space. I like the way it turned out. Maybe a new career for me??