The Cornucopia: Far from Corny
Many share the memory of the corny FTD cornucopia delivery. Granted, some of these have a quaintness to them that may tug at the nostalgic heartstrings, but that's not really the point.
The memory of the ubiquitous FTD cornucopia, festooned with a somewhat random candle, sprig of wheat or cinnamon stick, is a familiar one for many of us. If I think back to the 70’s and Thanksgiving holidays from my youth, Charlie Brown tv specials and commercials featuring the iconic golden messenger promoting the odd-shaped basket stuffed full of carnations are the b-roll that play on a loop in my mind. A nice nostalgic moment, but this is not necessarily what I want on my Thanksgiving table.
The historical significance of the cornucopia and its allusions to Zeus’ giant goat horn or the Holy Grail make it the perfect motif for celebrating this season of abundance. And yet so often, this horn of plenty has wound up looking more like a cone of shame (see above photos), hardly befitting any modern pilgrim’s Thanksgiving table. Having been lured by my own sentimentality this year, I began an earnest quest to find a cornucopia that’s NOT, well, corny. As you’ll see in the photos that follow, the solution to one problem has created a new one: an abundance of choices! (A good problem. I’ll take it!) Here are just a few of the ones I loved:
Though magazines, websites, and, of course, Pinterest, provided great inspiration for my quest, I needed a more hands-on approach to figure out how to turn my idea into a real tablescape. I stopped by Lucy’s Market to ask owner Kim Wilson how she constructed her fantastic cornucopias. She recommended a few simple steps:
Think of the cornucopia as a vase on it’s side–put longer pieces on the bottom, bigger elements in the back.
Bottom line, making a cornucopia centerpiece is really simple, I’ve discovered. And keeping it simple prevents it from appearing hokey or dated. I’m ready to conquer!
Thanks, Kim!
SB Note: From bountifully-sized baskets to bittersweet branches, Lucy’s Market carries everything needed to build these showstoppers. If you’re not confident about your own abilities, there’s still time to order one of Kim’s creations. Head over to the Buckhead store or check them out online at www.lucysmarket.com for more details on products, menus, and specials.
