Two years ago, around this time, Maxwell posted a solution to covering exposed pipes, especially steam pipes in the bathroom, with rope. It was an idea that we loved and we stored the technique in the back of our mind to use somewhere someday and not necessarily on a steam pipe (we don't have any in our current abode). That's why we cottoned to this idea while flipping through the January 2009 issue of Glamour. We've always loved the idea of covering a table with various bottles filled with single flowers. Here those plain bottles are tightly wrapped with rope, twine or ribbon for a pop of colour and texture...

• Find rope, twine, ribbon or even shoelaces.
• Starting at the bottom of your bottle or vase, anchor the end with a spot of glue.
• Wrap material closely around your vessel, anchoring at various points with a spot of glue
• Finish by gluing and tucking in the end, then clip and let dry.

While these bottles are wrapped in bright colours, we'd like a row of bottles covered in natural rope and white twine, filled with curly willow and hung with silver balls, for a festive and inexpensive centerpiece on a holiday table.