Table centrepiece - help needed

[fatsatsuma]

I'd like to make something tasteful
prob involving candle(s) and flowers/greenery.
I am not remotely artistic and cannot do 'flower arranging' to save my life.

Is there a book or website for a novice like me? I bought Sarah Raven's Christmas book, but even that seems too advanced for me...

We always have dinner when it's dark so I love candles. (If my parents are here it's earlier - diabetic- have to eat regular times)

I use a heavy glass bowl (Ikea do nice ones) floating candles and confetti stars to match whatever colour scheme.
This year will be gold stars ,gold candles.

I'm getting one from the florist -about £20.

It's one I can keep for a few years and I can add to it to beef it up a bit if I want - like adding holly, baubles, decorations, candles, butterflies - loads of things, stuff I have already.

Go to a good florist and take the stress out of it for you - I'm sure you'll have lots of other things to do.

The easiest way is to get a small wreath of fresh fir, something like Tesco had last year, put it on a plate and stand a fat church candle in the centre or candle in a storm lantern. Decorate the wreath by tying or wiring on baubles, fake berries, orange slices, cinnamon stick bundles, cones or whatever you fancy.

Or a long trail of ivy down the centre of a long table, with battery powered fairy lights entwined, and the odd bauble here and there. Or you could keep the ivy, and do alternate votive tealights and tiny vases with an individual flower in each along the length.

Last year I just did an artificial garland of gold glittery berries with the battery lights along the length, on a gold organza table runner which was very minimal but pretty.

Google Alison Cork. I saw her at the ideal home Christmas show a couple of weeks ago and she had some great ideas, many were inexpensive too. She has a couple of websites from memory (can't link from my phone, sorry.) One may be called Homes & bargains??
Emma Forbes' site is supposed to be good too but not looked yet so don't know what aspects of Christmas she covers.

HTH.

I've attached a pic on my profile of a display I took a photo of in a Swiss decor shop here in Basel.

If you have a hurricane or glass vase fill it with dry pine cones, dry orange slices, cinnamon sticks, ivy, baubles moss and shake in fake snow in each layer. I'm doing a smaller one for the table with a candle in the top.

Thanks so much for all these helpful replies. Am on my phone so will follow up links and photos when I get home. Some great sounding ideas. Am also a bit tempted by the florist suggestion