A Floating Centerpiece

I know I'm far from the first person to be inspired by shop window displays!
This window I saw in the Free People store at the Prudential. I wasn't too surprised to find out that Free People is associated with Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie- both stores I've trolled for decor ideas!


It's a bit hard to see, but they've suspended a branch from the ceiling and decorated it with everything from pom-poms to Christmas baubles and jewelry from the store! I loved it!
They actually had an even better one in the store, but I felt awkward taking pics in the store itself- I know some stores frown on that!

Of course my first thought (well, second after "Wow, cool!") was, "I can totally do that!"

I started out by hauling a few branches in to find the right size and shape. Actually, I started out by hauling in a whole darn tree limb that had come down in a storm- it barely made it through the door! After pulling in a few smaller options I actually ended up going at the tree limb with a pair of lops and cutting it down to just what I wanted. DIY all the way, baby!

Then I screwed three hooks into the ceiling, tied my stick up with fishing line, and started draping it with sparkly things!

I started with a couple of pearl necklaces, one fresh pearl and one black pearl, looped around and secured with fishing line in a few places.


Then I added on the mercury glass baubles, which are from Crate and Barrel (this year, $1.95 ea.) Then went on the glass teardrops, also from Crate and Barrel (box of 20 for... $6?), which you can see best in the next picture. (They're the shimmery things hanging about an inch below the stick.)

At that point I though the whole thing needed some white. I briefly considered taking the whole thing down and dusting it with white spray paint, but I thought there was too much chance of that going horribly wrong! So instead I used some of this mini pom pom trim I found at Walmart and wound it around. (I left a bit whirling down to look like snow falling!)

A single pink satin ribbon tied on the end brought in my other seasonal accent color, and made sure the pearls didn't run away in the middle of dinner!

And that's how it looks in context! I love it, though I wish it was easier to take a chandelier down temporarily, because my light fixture really gets in the way!

Although, as a little aside, I will confess to you my friends that I really want a new light fixture in there. I really want this light fixture:

Coastal Living

But as the only versions I've found round $1000.00 (ZGallerie had one for around $500, but I missed that boat- oh, HA! I love accidental puns!) I don't think that will be happening anytime soon.... but wouldn't it be fun?