“Loco” is Spanish for “creative” right…?

I have less than a week to come up with a fabulous Thanksgiving tablescape and decor.  I just reposted what I did last year, hoping to inspire someone out there in blogland, but also hoping to inspire myself.  Just yesterday I was telling my friend Betsy that I needed Creative Defibrillator paddles to shock me into action.  I was creatively flat-lining over here.

Then on the way out of my neighborhood to run some errands, something on a side street caught my eye…

I made a quick U-turn and found these guys.

They were trimming these beautiful Liquid Ambers.  Big branches with gorgeous leaves all over them.  The trimmed pieces looked like little saplings themselves.  I asked them if I could have some of the trimmings.

They thought I was a little strange.  They must have initially thought that I wanted just a thin branch or two that had some pretty leaves on them, but I started grabbing 8′ branches and shoving them into the back of the Suburban.  They offered to help me.  I said OK and let them put a few bigger pieces in.  We filled it up and I drove the few blocks back home.

This was my first load.

I unloaded my branches, then decided I wanted more.When I came back for my second load, all of the guys were on their lunch break, kicking back and resting.  They were gentlemen and extremely polite.  A few of them got up and offered to help me some more.  I waved them off, thanking them and telling them that I could manage just fine.  They sat back down and resumed their lunch and conversation.  I overheard the word “loco” a time or two.

You know what?  I’m totally OK with that.  I’d even answer to Crazy Stick Lady, because I got two more loads that looked just like this…

Yep.  I drove through my neighborhood like this.  (With personalized plates on my car, too!)

But is was worth it.  Look at my haul!

Times are tough.  Money’s tight.  I’m hosting Thanksgiving dinner for 20 people next week and wanted to do something fabulous.  All of these free branches and leaves will allow me to create something amazing.

Here’s a shot of the patio which (I hope) will be transformed next week.  Stay tuned for more.

Please take note of the dog who has to be in the middle of the action. Always.

I see it in my head and it looks pretty cool… I’m hopeful I can execute it next week.

In the meantime, 5 tips on how I end up getting cool things for free:

1. Be prepared to drop what you’re doing and take advantage of opportunities as they come up.
2. Recognize opportunity.  Look at everything with an eye towards how you could use something or what you could do to it.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask if you can have something.  If it looks like someone is about to chuck something, just ask if you can take it off their hands.  Don’t be scared.
4. Don’t worry about what other people are thinking.  This is soooo important! You’re never going to see these people again.  (OK, in my case I very well might, but I don’t care.) Worrying about what someone else is thinking can make you feel self-conscious or inhibited… two things that never help the creative process.
5. Frequency builds confidence.  The more items I pick up and actually do something cool with, the more emboldened I become to get another one.

 

I am so thankful for sticks.