Step 1. Purchase large to medium artichokes and 2.75" diameter pillar candles from grocery store.
Step 2. Cut the stems off artichokes so bottom of artichoke is flat and stands upright on own.
Step 3. Open up artichoke and spread out leaves. Artichoke leaves are relatively flexible and you can pull open by starting from the outside leaves and working your way in. Once you get to the very center you may want to wear gloves because the core is sharp and can cut your fingers.
Step 4. Once you have separated the leaves and opened up the artichoke to fit the size pillar candles you are using, pull out the very center leaves to create space for the candle to sit. Leaves should rip out by pulling pretty easily. Be sure to keep tearing the center leaves out until the center is as flat as possible.
I am always up for different ideas to make a table or vignette look natural and new for an occasion. As Thanksgiving is just around the corner I thought I would pull out some easy ideas for dressing up the table. Pumpkins and gourds are always nice, of course, but it's cool to throw in another element that is not as expected. I am going with artichokes. I love the way they look and how their leaves appear like petals. The cone shape and frosty green color pairs well with a mixture of assorted gourds and pumpkins. Having seen ceramic candle holders that were designed to be artichokes in the past, I thought what better way to incorporate real artichokes into the table decor. I purchased a few of the larger artichokes I could find at Whole Foods Market and turned them into medium size pillar candle holders. The best part about this DIY, is that it requires minimal prep that can be done the day before Thanksgiving.
Note: You will not want to prep much farther in advance than that, as the artichokes will wilt and not appear as fresh. However, if you would like the artichokes to last longer you can always use clear shellac. In that instance, you will need to paint, with a paintbrush, at least two coats of clear shellac all over surfaces of the plant. The shellac step will add on a day to the DIY project.
xo RCN