For
me, one of the most memorable Thanksgivings came when my niece and
nephews got my Holiday Fun Year-Round book out and came to me
and asked if they could make the Pilgrim and Indian Centerpieces. I
have found that when I have a project to do with kids, it is an
invitation for me to get to know them better and create an experience
for me to bond with them.
As
I left the house after going with them to trick or treat, my niece
looked up to me and said, “When can you come back and play with
us again?” Kids love to do things with adults. After making
the project I am going to share with you, my niece wrote about it in
a book titled, Fun with Dian. It was not dated but, I would
guess that it was written when she would have been in the second
grade. Both it and the memories are priceless.
Here
is what she wrote in her own words:
Thanksgiving
day: “One day on thanksgiving before the party at Grandma
Thomases house Cameron, Daniel, and me came to Grandmas house to make
some stuff. We made a Indyin, and 3 pilgrims. First we made the
Mayflower while we were doing that we started making the Indyin. I
braded it hair. Dian and I made the feathers that go on the back of
its head. Then we made a neclace for it. Then we made the mom.
Next the dad. Then the little boy. By Rebekah Thomas
Pilgrim
and Indian Centerpieces
1 butternut squash
Acrylic puff paints
1 yard narrow ribbon and braided trim
Craft doll hair
Small feathers
1 (14” x 14”) square white felt
Black pilgrim hat
Straight pins
Glue
Pilgrim and Indian Centerpiece
Cut
a slice off the bottom of the squash to allow it to stand upright.
Paint eyes and mouth on the narrow end of the squash. Add small dots
of paint around the Indian’s neck for beads. Paint designs or
use braided trim around the wide portion of the squash. Allow to
dry.
For
the Indians, glue two braids of craft hair to a narrow decorative
headband ribbon or braid. Tuck some small feathers under the
headband. Glue or pin the headband and hair in place.
Adapt
the Pilgrim patterns to fit the size of your squash. Cut pattern
pieces from the white felt. Make pleats in the corners of the cap to
shape it, and fold back ¼” from the brim. Glue on the
craft hair, cap, apron, and collars. Glue on a belt made from a
narrow piece of ribbon. Using puff paint, add a gold belt buckle.
Pin on the man’s hat. Tie a small bow and glue it on the
woman’s neck.
For
more creative ideas like this go to Dian’s website at
www.dianthomas.com.
She has many holiday specials on all of her creative books. Give
books that will keep giving to you and to your kids and grandkids.
It is the way to make memories that last forever, and Dian has done
all the hard work of coming up with the ideas and creating the books
that keep giving and giving.
Dian Thomas was blessed with the good fortune to be born near and raised in
the remote, breathtaking Manti-La Sal National Forest in southeastern Utah,
where her father was the forest ranger. She took the skills she learned in the
outdoors and turned them into a New York Times best-selling book, Roughing It
Easy. Her appearance on the NBC's "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson
boosted her into the national media scene, where she became a regular on
NBC's "Today" show for eight years and then ABC's "Home Show" for six years.
After more than 25 years of media exposure and 19 books, she now shares her
practical insights and wisdom with audiences who want to savor life.
A former Relief Society president, Dian is currently serving as a visiting
teacher. Visit her website at www.DianThomas.com
