Have a Ball

Celebrate a special meal by hanging your centerpiece from the chandelier. Using a sphere of florist foam and seasonal flowers, it's easy to fashion this arrangement. Small chrysanthemums work well because the flower heads are fairly flat and long-lasting.

• Step 1: Submerge the florist foam in water long enough to moisten it slightly. (If it's too wet, water will drip on the table.) Cut the chrysanthemum stems to about 2 inches long. Insert the stems, one at a time, into the foam, until the blossoms completely cover the sphere.
• Step 2: Cut two 5-inch-long pieces of twine or cording. With florist pins, attach the center of one piece to the bottom of the sphere. Repeat with the second piece of twine or cording, so that the two pieces cross. Use additional florist pins as needed. Tie the ends of the twine or cording to the chandelier, positioning the sphere at the desired height.
• Step 3: Attach pieces of bittersweet to the sphere, using florist pins to anchor them. On the table, provide additional accents by clustering gourds, oranges, and mini pumpkins in a bowl or basket.