Dare to Display Your Doilies

My sweet grandmother passed away last fall and I miss her. She was a talented seamstress and crafter and would patiently teach my three sisters and I how to crochet long strings or cross-stitch basic patterns. Even with six granddaughters she planned ahead and handmade birthday presents for each of us every year from age 11 to age 19. There was a specific item designated for each birthday, but as the oldest, I was suprised every year. My hope chest soon filled up with beautiful items, but by the time I married and was setting up a home of my own, some of my treasures seemed a bit outdated. I love my cross-stitched aprons and soft purple afghan, but wasn't a fan of the three large doilies my beloved Gram made for me. Yet I was proud of them and somehow wanted to display them. So I came up with this piece. I personally like it because it reminds me of my grandmother, but I have also received a lot of compliments and comments from guests. My mother-in-law is expecting one for Christmas this year.

I used a heavy piece of black fabric, mine has a tone on tone vertical stripe, and wrapped it around a piece of foam core display board. You can just duct tape it to the back. I also duct taped some wire back there to hang it. Then I bought ahpolstery tacks and just used them to tack my doily to the board. I thought about starching the doily to keep it flat and attached to the board, or glueing it somehow, but it's been fine for a couple years now. The biggest problem is keeping my display dust-free, since it's not in glass. But it Works for Me! Here's a shot of my project on the wall at a time when my kitchen was relatively clean.


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