Grater Vase

Here's a simple project to try.  A pretty autumn centerpiece... or not!  Use it anywhere you could use a little color, or add it to an autumn display. 

While visiting my parents this weekend, I noticed a new light on the counter, made by re-purposing an old grater.  Seeing it motivated me to get my grater out and do something with it.  So thanks Mom for inspiring this post today!

You might already have an old grater sitting around, like me.  If not, they're fairly easy to come by at antique or thrift stores.  Pretty inexpensive too.  As for the other supplies:

1.  Anything non-metal to center the grater on... I used a vintage potholder.  

2.  A small container, such as an old spice shaker.

3.  Flowers, leaves, or berries... I used hydrangeas.

4.  A few apples, pears or mini-pumpkins/gourds.

To put it together, first place something down to form the base of the arrangement (instead of a vintage potholder you could use: a cloth napkin, handkerchief, crocheted doily, kitchen towel, placemat....)  The reason to put something down first is to keep the metal grater away from water... and rust. 

Next fill the spice container with water and center on the base.  Place the grater over top.

Use your choice of flowers, branches of autumn leaves*, or clusters of bittersweet.  Grasses or dried seed pods can also be a nice addition.  Just take a walk outside for some ideas.  

*In an arrangement, anything with a 'woody stem', such as a branch, should be smashed with a hammer at the bottom to allow for more water flow to flowers or leaves (I do this with lilac in the Spring).

To finish, gather 2 or 3 apples, pears, mini-pumpkins or gourds at the side... and that's it!

"Winter is an etching, 

spring a watercolor, 

summer an oil painting...

and autumn a mosaic of them all." 

 

~ Stanley Horowitz