It's June 30th and that means it's the deadline to have your photo's in for Centerpiece of the Month.  You can find out all the details at Janelle's blog Talk of Tomatoes.

This month I had an idea of what I wanted to do and after taking about 90 photo's I'm still not happy with it.  But that's what is so great about Centerpiece of the Month, it doesn't have to be perfect.  Just a centerpiece.  July 7th is when all the Centerpieces will be posted at Talk of Tomatoes.  May was pretty slim pickins, but hopefully there will be more for June.  If not.  Just look at mine.

Centerpiece of the Month is the brainchild of Janelle from Talk of Tomatoes.  I love participating in it because not only do I love centerpieces, but I love seeing the great ideas everyone else comes up with.  It also gives you a chance to play with your camera a bit.

I missed submitting a picture last month but I've been thinking of different ideas for May.

I thought I would take advantage of the gorgeous weather today and bring out my pink depression glass.

If you would like to participate in the Centerpiece of the Month, submit your picture to Janelle by the end of the month.  She will then post all Centerpieces on her site on June 7th.  If you want to see past submissions click here.

I'd love to be able to say I fooled you and this is actually being submitted at the end of the month like the rules state, and I guess I could have cheated and set the post so this entry is on the last day of March but the simple truth is....my daughter and her boyfriend were out last night visiting and I spent the evening with them.  But I am coming on here after they left at 2:51am because I am one dedicated Centerpiece of the Month fan.  Plus I spent just about an hour taking these really bad shots of my centerpiece, so I want to show them.

I still wanted to participate because I really love the Centerpiece Of The Month idea Janelle came up with at Talk Of Tomatoes.  Some people are so creative and others like me stick some twigs in a vase and hope for the best.  The one thing I've learned is a Centerpiece doesn't have to be worth a fortune.  Some of the simplest things can make up a really beautiful centerpiece.

I am already planning ahead to what I want to do for my next month's Centerpiece...and I want color.  Lots and lots of color!

This month's Centerpiece of the Month is something I made myself.  I've wanted something to put on top of my tea cup curio cabinet for ages now but haven't seen anything that's caught my eye.  So when I was in Michael's Craft store the other day and saw all their silk plant items I said to myself "Self.  You can make up one of those centerpiece things.  I mean, how hard could it be.  A monkey could do it right?"  So I did.  I bought all the goodies and came home and made up the arrangement that is now my Centerpiece of the Month.

Take a peak over at Janelle's Talk of Tomatoes blog on March 7th for all of the February Centerpiece of the Month participants.  The deadline is today to submit for February, but don't hesitate to pick up that camera of yours and submit a photo by next month's deadline. 

When I stumbled upon Talk of Tomatoes blog on the very day Janelle announced she was starting a Centerpiece of the Month, I knew I had to join.  I love centerpieces.  I don't have any, but I love them.  I think they add so much to a room but everytime I venture out to find something, I get stumped.  Is it too wide?  Is it too narrow?  Too tall?  Too small?  Do the colors go?  I think too much sometimes....and end up with nothing on my tables.

I've been looking for something to challenge myself a bit when it comes to my camera as well.  I mean, why have a great camera if you're only going to point and shoot right?

So on that note, here is my Centerpiece of the Month for January.  I took my camera, I pointed and I clicked the button.  Sigh.  Here's hoping each month will bring me closer and closer to not only that great shot every photographer is looking for, but to some inspiration from those of you who actually know what you are doing.

If you're looking for a challenge yourself or you just want to admire some great centerpieces each month, head over to Talk of Tomatoes and  see what everyone has to offer.